West End Girl will carry new colours in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday after she was purchased for £420,000 and topped the first-ever Tattersalls Online Ascot Sale.
The daughter of Golden Horn, who was third on her reappearance behind Miss Yoda in the Listed Oaks Trial earlier this month, was bought by Badgers Bloodstock and will now enter the ownership of Cayton Park Stud.
Out of the Dansili mare Free Rein, herself a half-sister to Group 1 winner Reckless Abandon, West End Girl took the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket last year during her juvenile season.
Tom Pritchard-Gordon of Badgers Bloodstock told the Racing Post: “She’s a lovely filly and she runs in the Ribblesdale Stakes. Mark Johnston’s horses are in great form, so she’s got a squeak, but in all honesty, she’s already done everything she needs to do to make a great addition to anyone’s broodmare band.
“As a Group 3-winning two-year-old from a great Car Colston Hall family she’s a lovely filly to have. Anything else she does on the racecourse now is going to be a bonus.”
The sale also saw the Archie Watson-trained Igotatext, who made a successful debut at Lingfield ten days ago, snapped up by The Cool Silk Partnership for £165,000. The two-year-old currently holds an entry for Saturday’s Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Matthew Prior, Head of Tattersalls Ascot Sales, said: “A big team effort has gone into getting the inaugural Tattersalls Ascot Online Sale off the ground and we are very pleased with the results.
“There were a few technical glitches along the way which were quickly resolved, and we will learn from today’s sale, but overall it was a genuinely encouraging start for Tattersalls Online.
“We had wholehearted, enthusiastic support from the vendors as well as bidders from throughout the world, and we would like to extend our thanks and gratitude to all who supported and participated in this new venture.
“In particular we wish all the connections the very best of luck with their purchases this week if taking up their engagements at Royal Ascot.”
