Ryan Mahon Snaps Up Ittack Blue For 310,000gns to Top Tattersalls May Sale

Ittack Blue (Fr) (Coastal Path {GB}) brought a sale-topping 310,000gns from Ryan Mahon during the inaugural Tattersalls May NH Sale on Thursday. Part of the Ballycrystal Stables consignment, the grey (lot 8) has already won a three-mile point-to-point at Punchestown on May 14.

Four other lots brought six figures, with the gelding Divilskin (Ire) (Doyen {Ire}) (lot 28) and the filly Seeyouinmydreams (GB) (Telescope {Ire}) (lot 9) both catching the eye of Tom Malone and Paul Nicholls at 245,000gns and 235,000gns, respectively. The former was offered by Milestone Stables, while the latter hailed from the draft of Blackhall Stables. The duo won three-mile point-to-points from their only starts at Largy on consecutive days, with Seeyouinmydreams in action on Apr. 29 and Divilskin the day after.

Besides the point-to-pointers, the session also contained store horses, and the top-priced lot in the category was a 3-year-old son of Youmzain (Ire) (lot 132) who sold for 35,000gns to Matthew Flynn O'Connor's Ballycrystal Stables. Consigned by Peter Nolan Bloodstock, the gelding is a son of All Star Lady (Ire) (Presenting {GB}), herself the granddaughter of the listed winner Auntie Dot (GB) (Hallodri {Aut}), who was placed in the Grand National.

At the close of trade, 56 of the 83 lots offered sold (67%) for a gross of 2,884,500gns. The average was 51,509gns and the median was 37,500gns.

Head of Sales Matthew Prior said, “Tattersalls Park Paddocks in Newmarket has already established itself as a proven venue for selling high quality point-to-pointers and National Hunt horses in training having hosted relocated Tattersalls Cheltenham sales over the last two COVID-disrupted years. Those sales produced record prices as well as numerous top quality racecourse performers all of which encouraged us to host today's inaugural May NH Sale in Newmarket.

“That decision was borne out with a sale that has achieved turnover of just shy of 3 million guineas as well as five point-to-pointers selling for 150,000 guineas or more and a top price of 310,000 guineas. Many of the British and Irish National Hunt fraternity's most familiar faces were present at Park Paddocks resulting in solid trade and plenty of competition for the most sought after lots.

“We also took the decision to sell a number of store horses for the first time in Newmarket and whilst a top price of 35,000 guineas and an average of 13,368 guineas are respectable, the clearance rate was less than we would have hoped for. We are very appreciative of the support shown to us by store consignors and will reassess whether combining point-to-pointers and store horses is the optimal format for this fixture.”

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O’Briens and Coolmore Sue Over Contaminated Feed Debacle

Aidan O'Brien and his son Donnacha are among a group of plaintiffs associated with Ballydoyle and Coolmore who issued legal proceedings against animal feed supplier Glanbia over the contaminated feed debacle on G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend in 2020.

The multi-million euro lawsuit was initiated this week and comes after O'Brien's runners could not take part at the Arc meeting due to positive test results from a French laboratory for the prohibited performance enhancing substance Zilpaterol. 

None of the five horses who tested positive were trained by O'Brien but Gain Equine Nutrition, which is owned by Glanbia, issued a statement to trainers on the eve of the Arc on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, advising them not to feed the products to horses.

Traces of the substance were linked to a contaminated batch of the Gain Equine Feed product and the announcement left the O'Brien family with no choice but to withdraw their 11 intended runners from ParisLongchamp, including four in the €3-million feature of the weekend, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

The plaintiffs are being represented by leading corporate law firm Mason Hayes & Curran. The feed company is said to be facing a loss of up to €9 million.

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Derby Favourite Desert Crown Leaves Connections Purring After Gallop

Connections of G1 Cazoo Derby favourite Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) were left purring after a scintillating exercise gallop on Thursday as Sir Michael Stoute put the finishing touches on what could become the legendary trainer's sixth win in the Classic.

Stoute will forever be remembered for managing Shergar (Ire) to win the Derby in 1981 and followed up on that breakthrough success in the race with Shahrastani (1986), Kris Kin (2003), North Light (Ire) (2004) and Workforce (GB) (2010).

Desert Crown advertised the trainer's claims of bolstering his Derby record when running out an ultra-impressive winner of the Dante at York a fortnight ago and, despite not normally being the flashiest in his work at home, is reported to have sparkled in a gallop at Newmarket on Thursday.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to Desert Crown's owner Saeed Suhail, said, “He went nicely and everyone is happy. He went on the watered gallop and we're very pleased with him.”

A best-priced 9-4 chance for the Derby on Saturday week, Desert Crown was ridden in the key workout by Richard Kingscote, and is understood to have pulled well clear of group-winning stablemate Solid Stone (Ire) (Shamardal), ridden by Ted Durcan.

It was on that same watered gallop that Stoute readied all five of his Derby winners and, similar to the 76-year-old trainer's first winner of the Classic, Desert Crown will be bidding to emulate Shergar in winning the race off the back of just two starts.

Raymond, who was one of a small group of onlookers to witness the morning workout, added, “He's not a great worker, but I believe everyone was very happy with him this morning, both the jockey and Sir Michael.”

 

Masekela Given Derby Mission

   Masekela (Ire) (El Kabeir) has been confirmed to be on course to take on Desert Crown in the Derby by Andrew Balding after the colt passed a stalls test.

Winner of the Denford S., Masekela was also a short-head second to Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the Superlative S. as a 2-year-old and returned to finish an encouraging runner-up to Eydon (Ire) (Olden Times {GB}) in the Feilden S. in his first outing at three.

Although withdrawn at the start of the G2 Dante S. earlier this month, his intended Derby prep, Balding has now confirmed it is all systems go for Epsom.

Balding said, “He passed his stalls test on Monday and that (Derby) is the intention. I think the horse has improved a good deal since Newmarket, especially in his home work. Obviously, there are stamina question marks on his sire's side, but also some room for optimism on the dam's side.”

He added, “I've been impressed by the way he has worked since the Feilden S. and on his 2-year-old form he's not a million miles away from at least deserving his place in the field.”

Meanwhile, Charlie Hills has swooped to book Tom Marquand for 50-1 outsider Sonny Liston (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), who is set to be the trainer's first runner in the Derby.

Hills said, “We all know how well Tom is riding at the moment. He's in great form, is riding with huge confidence, and those are things you can't beat really. We're really looking forward to having him in the saddle next Saturday.”

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First Black-Type Winner For James Garfield

Off the mark on debut over five furlongs at Thirsk May 14, the David O'Meara-trained filly Maria Branwell (Ire) (James Garfield {Ire}–Princess Pearl {Ire}, by Teofilo {Ire}) took the next step in her stride on Thursday to capture Sandown's Listed Coral National S. Settled with two behind early by Danny Tudhope, the 3-1 shot had to chase hard after the Listed First Flier S. runner-up Crispy Cat (GB) (Ardad {Ire}) inside the final two furlongs and despite running away from the whip initially focused enough to run down that visitor close home for a neck success. “She was green and is still learning, but was up against the boys today and has taken a nice step forward,” her rider said. “She has a great attitude and is a very likeable filly. We were outpaced at halfway, but she really picked up and did her best work in the last furlong so I'm sure she'll get six.”

Rathbarry Stud's first-season sire (by Exceed and Excel {Aus}) is off to a flying start, with this being his first black-type winner from only a handful of runners.

“She was a lovely, balanced, athletic filly with a good powerful hind quarter and she had a lovely sweet temperament. Her breeders Barry and Anna Murphy, recommended her highly and well done to them.” – Joe Foley, who purchased the filly for €22,000 at Goffs Autumn Yearlings.

 

Maria Branwell's unraced dam, whose yearling colt by Zoffany (Ire) was a prescient €40,000 purchase by Ballyphilip Stud at the Goffs November Foal Sale, is a half-sister to the listed-placed sprinter Samminder (Red Ranson) and to the dam of the Listed Prix Ceres winner Invitational (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}). The third dam is the G1 Prix Morny heroine First Waltz (Fr) (Green Dancer).

CORAL NATIONAL S.-Listed, £40,500, Sandown, 5-26, 2yo, 5f 10yT, 1:02.79, g/s.
1–MARIA BRANWELL (IRE), 126, f, 2, by James Garfield (Ire)
     1st Dam: Princess Pearl (Ire), by Teofilo (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Gimasha (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
     3rd Dam: First Waltz (Fr), by Green Dancer
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. (€22,000 Ylg '21 GOAUTY). O-Bronte Collection 1; B-Barry Kennedy & Anna Murphy (IRE); T-David O'Meara; J-Daniel Tudhope. £22,968. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $38,826.
2–Crispy Cat (GB), 131, c, 2, Ardad (Ire)–Mara Grey (Ire), by Azamour (Ire). (7,500gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; £105,000 Ylg '21 TATIRY). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-Saeed Nasser Al Romaithi (GB); T-Michael O'Callaghan. £8,708.
3–Rumstar (GB), 131, c, 2, Havana Grey (GB)–Stellarta (GB), by Sakhee's Secret (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Vincent Ward; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Jonathan Portman. £4,358.
Margins: NK, 6HF, HF. Odds: 3.00, 0.91, 6.50.
Also Ran: Michaela's Boy (Ire), Waiting All Night (GB), Democracy Dilemma (Ire), Dunnington Lad (Ire).

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