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July Sale Returns In Traditional Format

NEWMARKET, UK——With what could be the final sale in Britain to be held under Covid restrictions, Tattersalls launches its three-day July Sale in Newmarket on Wednesday, when fillies and broodmares form the core of the first all-day session. Trade on Thursday and Friday will be conducted in morning and evening sessions around racing on the nearby July Course.

Last year's auction was reduced to two days, with an extra mixed sale introduced in August to allow for the fact that racing had only resumed from its enforced shutdown in early June. The number of horses catalogued and the resulting turnover were therefore significantly reduced in 2020, but we can expect to see a return to the level of trade witnessed in the preceding four years, when an aggregate of between 12 and 14 million gns was posted in what can be considered pretty consistent trade at this popular midsummer sale. Granted, there will still likely be fewer international visitors on site for the horses-in-training section but, as we have seen over the past year, the option of online buying platforms and interaction with agents on the ground have been taken up readily by buyers from afar.

The death of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum in March cast a long shadow over the sport, which has been lessened by the recent announcement that his daughter Sheikha Hissa is keen to continue his labour of love that is the Shadwell breeding empire. The operation has the largest draft of 82 broodmares, breeding prospects and horses in training spread across the three days, including the half-sisters Bulbul (Ire) (Shamardal) and Dubai Fashion (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who are great grand-daughters of one of the celebrated foundation mare Height Of Fashion (Fr). Sold consecutively as lots 41 and 42, the mares are in foal to Tamayuz (GB) and Blue Point (Ire) respectively.

Major owner/breeder operations Godolphin, Cheveley Park Stud and Juddmonte are naturally represented by consignments, with Cheveley Park's draft including the former champion 2-year-old filly Hooray (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Now 13, she has produced three winners and is offered in foal to the stud's Ulysses (Ire) as lot 175.

The former Cheveley Park Stud stallion Garswood (GB), the son of Dutch Art (GB) from the family of Infallible (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}), makes his third appearance in the ring at Tattersalls, having been sold there as a foal by his breeder in 2010 and the offered during the Craven Breeze-up Sale two years later. He went on to win the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and G2 Lennox S. among his four career victories and now, after standing two seasons in France, he will be offered as the final lot on Wednesday (340).

Prior to that, the 3-year-old filly Auriga (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), will be put through the ring as lot 155 by WH Bloodstock. Though unraced, she has much to recommend her as there has been plenty happening in her family in recent seasons. Her mother, the speedy Look Busy (Ire) (Danetime {Ire}), was a prolific winner who was successful in 12 of her 51 starts, including the G2 Temple S. and the G3 Flying Five, which has subsequently been upgraded to Group 1 status. Her daughter Keep Busy (Ire), a 4-year-old Night Of Thunder (Ire) half-sister to Auriga, shows similar sprinting prowess, with her five wins including this season's listed Land O'Burns Fillies' S. Furthermore, Look Busy's half-brother Unfortunately (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) was France's champion 2-year-old in 2017 after winning the G1 Darley Prix Morny and G2 Prix Robert Papin.

Another family which has been in the news often in recent years is that of Roodica (GB) (Due Diligence), who is catalogued as lot 162. An unraced 4-year-old half-sister to G1 Queen Anne S. winner Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}), she is offered by Baroda Stud and is in foal to New Bay (GB) on a March 31 cover. Her dam Roodle (GB) (Xaar {GB}), a dual winner, is a half-sister to new Shadwell stallion Mohaather (GB) and the GII Monrovia S. winner Prize Exhibit (GB), both of whom are by Showcasing (GB) from a clan which has served the Johnson Houghton family very well over a number of generations.

Kirsten Rausing's 'Al' family continues to go from strength to strength, with the most recent group winner to emerge being Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) , heroine of Saturday's G2 Lancashire Oaks. There are two chances to buy into this family's from Rausing's Lanwades draft, which offers the young mare Alchimista (GB) (Archipenko), a grand-daughter of the champion racemare Alborada (GB) (Alzao) in foal for the first time to Sir Percy (GB) (lot 81). Two lots later (83) comes another Archipenko mare in foal to Sir Percy, Alveda (GB), who is a half-sister to Sir Percy's listed winner Madrileno (GB).

Wednesday's session also features eight wildcard entries. Among them is the 86-rated Bringsty (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), the recent winner of a seven-furlong novice contest for David Simcock. The 3-year-old gelding is out of a Zamindar half-sister to Juddmonte's G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Mutual Trust (GB) (Cacique {GB}) and is offered as lot 283B.

Selling gets underway at 9.30 each morning, with the evening sessions on Thursday and Friday beginning at 5.15 after racing.

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Eric Eldin, 89, Passes Away

Classic-winning jockey Eric Eldin passed away at 89 on Sunday, Racing Post reported. Apprenticed to Ryan Jarvis, Eldin rode his first winner, Penfair (GB) (Fair Trial {GB}), in 1950, and his greatest win as a reinsman was aboard Front Row (Ire) (Epaulette {GB}), in the Irish 1000 Guineas. The Yorkshireman was also in the saddle for Lucasland (GB) (Lucero {Ire})'s wins in the 1966 July Cup and Diadem S. Abroad, Eldin also rode Derby winners in India and the Netherlands. All told, Eldin celebrated about 1,200 winners before hanging up his boots in 1979 and later becoming a trainer in Newmarket. He trained from 1981-1991, before retiring.

Eldrin had two daughters, Michelle and Lorraine. The latter married jockey Allan Mackay and the couple have two sons who also became jockeys-Jamie and Nicky.

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Attendance Restrictions Set to Be Lifted From English Courses From July 19

England is on course to remove the COVID-19 enforced limit of attendees at sporting events from July 19, according to an announcement from the UK Government. A final decision on easing restrictions, which currently limits attendance to just 4,000 spectators at each race meeting, will be made on July 12. During Royal Ascot, up to 12,000 were allowed to attend through a Government pilot scheme. In addition to ending spectator limits, the one-metre social distancing rule will end, as will the compulsory wearing of masks.

“If we do find another variant that doesn't respond to the vaccines, if heaven forbid some really awful new bug should appear, then clearly we will have to take whatever steps we need to do to protect the public,” said Prime Minister Boris Johnson at a press conference in Downing Street on Monday evening. “But on balance, given the massive success of the vaccine rollout, given the fact that this is a propitious moment, a good moment to do it given the coming summer holidays, the natural firebreak we have there, and given the difficulty of then imagining us opening up in the context of the colder autumn/winter months, I think this is a balanced and cautious approach.”

The Prime Minister's announcement affects only English racecourses, with both Scotland and Wales under their own specific lockdowns restrictions. Both the British Horseracing Authority and Racecourse Association welcomed the news.

“We are delighted to hear the Prime Minister's announcement today,” said BHA Chair Annamarie Phelps in a statement. “Monday 19th July will be a significant day for all sports, and very much so for British racing. This news comes as a huge boost to an industry which relies so heavily on its nearly six million racegoing fans each year. A day at the races with the wonderful atmosphere generated by our racegoers is an experience unlike any other. Everyone involved in our sport has been looking forward to this news for the last 13 months, and worked tirelessly and with great patience to safely keep the show on the road in this time.

“While racing is perfectly suited to spectators enjoying a sporting experience in a safe environment, it may remain the case that some protocols around the operation of sporting events for participants and officials remain in place in order to protect sports from the potential impact of positive cases and close contact self-isolation requirements, and permit international competitors. We are currently working with our industry colleagues to consider how this might apply to racing and how our racedays will therefore operate from 19 July onwards, and we await further clarity from Government. We also look forward to spectators being permitted to return to sporting events in Scotland and Wales in greater numbers in due course, and continue to engage proactively with the Devolved Administrations on this issue.”

RCA chief executive David Armstrong added, “It has been 476 days since British racecourses were able to welcome racegoers without restriction. Clearly this has been a difficult time for racecourses on both a commercial level, we estimate the pandemic has cost racecourses £400 million, and human level–we have deeply missed the atmosphere and presence of racegoers.

“The clarity provided by today's Government announcement is wonderful news for racecourses in England and we will continue to work closely with our industry partners and the devolved governments for an update from Wales and Scotland.

“With some of the sport's marquee events to come including the Qatar Goodwood Festival, York's Ebor Festival and the Cazoo St Leger Festival at Doncaster, our attention now turns to helping racecourses prepare for a fantastic summer.

“Certain restrictions may remain in place to protect racing's participants, but we will work closely with our partners across the sport to remove these as quickly as is possible whilst maintaining their safety.”

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The Weekly Wrap: Full Mark’s For Top Colt

A fortnight to go, apparently, until England casts aside all restrictions following the 16-month weirdness of the pandemic era. 'Freedom day', as it has been dubbed by those of Boris Johnson's government who are not currently serving time on the naughty step, has unfortunately not come in time for the regular 'July week' festivities in Newmarket. There will be racing with a reduced crowd and a sale taking place pretty much as normal, but without any of the parties and stallion parades that have become the staple of the town's midsummer highlight. As long as there's still an ice-cream stall at Tattersalls this week the bloodstock press bench will be happy.

It is fervently hoped that Ireland is granted similar freedom by its government before too long, for in our own small world the ongoing uncertainty regarding dates and locations of the yearling sales, in particular the Orby, is not helpful at all. The conflicting press releases of last week first clarified then muddied the situation and as much as it provides ongoing headaches for the sales companies, it can also be no fun for the consignors currently trying to line up staff for the season.

The past week's highlight came of course in the Coral-Eclipse, courtesy of the increasingly admirable St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). Last season's champion 2-year-old and the second Classic winner bred by Bob Scarborough from the Galileo (Ire) mare Cabaret (Ire), the colt was apparently oblivious to the lofty, globetrotting reputations of Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) as he strode past them up the Sandown hill. A potential rematch in the Juddmonte International is a thrilling prospect, as is the potential battle between Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in the Sussex S.

It seems crazy to think that up until this weekend there had been the pervading feeling that Aidan O'Brien was having something of a quiet season. He had by that stage won six European Classics, which is hardly slacking, but the overturning of talking horses High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the latter managing just seventh in the Derby as the lone Ballydoyle runner, exacerbated that impression.

We've come to expect the Ballydoyle colts to dominate, but so far this year the stable has been largely carried by the fillies. Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) made a sensational belated return at Royal Ascot and she is backed up by a strong Classic generation that includes the mightily impressive Oaks winner Snowfall (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), English and Irish 1000 Guineas winners Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Empress Josephine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and Prix de Diane heroine Joan Of Arc (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

That is, of course, apart from St Mark's Basilica, who emulated Shamardal, Lope De Vega (Ire) and Brametot (Ire) in winning both the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Prix du Jockey Club since the latter was reduced in distance to 10.5 furlongs in 2005. Beating a pair of seasoned older horses, even in a small field for the Eclipse, puts him to the head of his generation for now, until we see how Poetic Flare fares at Goodwood and Adayar at Ascot, in what could be a King George for the ages.

Also of significance for St Mark's Basilica, whose future lies at Coolmore, will be the early stud careers of his aforementioned half-brother and of Sottsass (Fr), who is bred on the same Siyouni-Galileo cross.

Sweeping The Board

In the mix for the King George among the older brigade is the quiet achiever Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who secured a memorable international Group 1 double for Aidan O'Brien over the weekend when landing the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. The 5-year-old, who became his sire's fourth Group 1 winner, has been a model of consistency this year, winning at each stakes level up to Group 1 since the opening day of the season, as well as being beaten a short-head when second in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and finishing runner-up to Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) in the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot.

While Australia's season is gathering a head of steam, credit must also be given to Broome's dam Sweepstake (Ire), who was a member of the first crop of Acclamation (GB) and became his second black-type winner in a matter of days when landing the listed National S at Sandown in May 2007.

Though she visited Galileo in 2012, her best results to date have come from her two matings with his son Australia, with Broome's full-brother Point Lonsdale (Ire) adding further lustre to the family by winning the listed Chesham S. The 2-year-old is also the most expensive of her yearlings to have passed through the sales. He was bought at Book 1 last year for 575,000gns, while the mare's 3-year-old Malathaat (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was a €500,000 purchase by Shadwell from breeder Croom House Stud at the previous year's Orby Sale.

Acclamation's first crop also included Dark Angel (Ire), who became his first group winner and has done more to enhance the line than any of his paternal half-brothers–though he may yet be challenged for that accolade by Mehmas (Ire).

While his male line is thriving, Acclamation is also enjoying a decent season as a broodmare sire. In this field he had three winners at Royal Ascot, with Point Lonsdale being joined by Perotto (GB) (New Bay {GB}) and Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}), who is to be supplemented for Saturday's G1 Darley July Cup.

High On The Hill

The weekend's results also provided the second stakes winner of the season–in fact, in eight days–for Tiana (GB) (Diktat {GB}), the pride of Fiona and Mick Denniff's broodmare band.

Racing in Fiona's own colours, Tiana's 3-year-old daughter Auria (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) landed the listed Coral Distaff at Sandown the Saturday after her elder half-sister Chil Chil (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) had won the G3 Chipchase S. The latter will line up again this coming Saturday in the July Cup.

The pair are the second and third stakes winners for their dam following the hugely talented Beat The Bank (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}), who notched five Group 2 wins as well as a Group 3 and listed success among his nine victories for Andrew Balding. He was also an important first group winner for his late owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha of King Power Racing, who was then emboldened to give 500,000gns for Chil Chil at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Tiana was herself also bred by Denniff from the second mare she purchased, Hill Welcome (GB), back in 2001. The daughter of Most Welcome (GB) was bought as a 3-year-old at Doncaster having placed just once in seven starts for Barry Hills. Despite an underwhelming race record, she owned a decent pedigree as a half-sister to the G1 Middle Park S. winner Stalker (GB) (Kala Shikari {Fr}), but she was overlooked at the sale by all bar Denniff, who picked her up for just 3,000gns. The breeder will undoubtedly view that sum as money very well spent.

Hill Welcome went on to produce 10 winners from her 12 foals, with the Oh So Sharp S.-placed Tiana being one of three black-type performers along with the G3 Molecomb S. runner-up Mary Read (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) and the 103-rated Aboyne N Beyond (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}).

Tiana is not the only daughter to have established her own successful branch at the Denniffs' Nottinghamshire farm as Mary Read's treble-winning daughter Dubai Bounty (GB) (Dubai Destination) is the dam of the late Kachy (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), whose nine wins included the G3 Molecomb S.

Now a black-type winner herself, Auria will be an exciting returnee to Denniff Farms eventually, but her next task looks likely to be the G3 Atalanta S. back at Sandown in August.

Tiana's current 2-year-old by Dubawi (Ire) could broaden the family's success as she is now in America having been bought last October by Mike Ryan. The agent is pleased with her progress and told TDN that she has been given some time to mature before she heads into training this autumn, most likely with Chad Brown.

Breakthrough Success For Isfahan

Sisfahan (Fr) may have been bred in France but he brought about a notable breakthrough for his German-based sire Isfahan (Ger) when emulating his father by winning the G1 Deutsches Derby on Sunday.

It was not only an important first-crop Classic winner for the Gestut Ohlerweierhof stallion but it also makes Isfahan the only one of the second-crop sires in Europe to have been represented by a Group 1 winner this season. Of that group, Mehmas was the only sire to achieve that feat last year.

Isfahan was bought by Holger Faust for owner Stefan Oschmann's Darius Racing for €35,000 at the BBAG Yearling Sale of 2014 and, following a racing career which saw him win the German Derby, G3 Bavarian Classic and G3 Preis der Winterfavoriten, he was retired to stud by the owner. Oschmann has supported Isfahan not just with his own mares but also at the sales, and was last year rewarded with the stallion's first group winner, Isfahani (Ger), who landed the G3 Premio Guido Berardelli in Rome on debut.

Isfahan was the second-busiest stallion after Soldier Hollow (GB) in his first year at stud, but German covering numbers are significantly lower than those recorded by some stallions in Britain, Ireland and France. He covered 67 mares in 2018, followed by 46, then 35 in 2020.

Sisfahan, who is the first winner of Germany's most prized race for the country's champion trainer Henk Grewe, is also yet another feather in the cap of Guy Pariente's Haras de Colleville. Pariente is currently the leading breeder in France–ahead of such luminaries as Wertheimer & Frere and the Aga Khan–and so much of his success rests on his stallion Kendargent (Fr), the broodmare sire of Sisfahan.

Now 18, it is perhaps remarkable that Kendargent only notched a first Group 1 winner this season with Skalleti (Fr), who was also bred by Pariente, as was his Group 2-winning brother Skazino (Fr).

He had, however, already been represented with a top-flight winner as a broodmare sire when Sealiway (Fr) won last season's Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. That result was doubly pleasing for Pariente as not only was the colt another Haras de Coleville graduate but he is by Kendargent's young stud-mate Galiway (GB).

In France this season, Pariente has already celebrated 38 wins from 65 starters bred at his Normandy farm, which has now also supplied the toast of Germany.

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