Buyers from over 30 different countries helped drive a trade at the Tattersalls July Sale that ended on Friday in Newmarket with a record-equalling median and high clearance rate of 90 per cent.
Led by the sale of Sweet And Lovely, a Galileo sister to the Yorkshire and Irish Oaks heroine Seventh Heaven, for 350,000gns to the BBA Ireland in foal to Wootton Bassett, the expanded three-and-a-half day auction saw the sale of 574 horses for a total of 16,986,000gns. The average dropped by eight per cent to 29,592gns but the median remained at last year’s record-equalling figure of 15,000gns.
“To have bettered last year’s wide margin record breaking Tattersalls July Sale turnover is a clear indication of the robust and vibrant market which year after year makes this fixture so popular with vendors and purchasers alike,” said Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony.
“The key feature of the Tattersalls July Sale is its unique combination of quality and diversity which cannot be found anywhere else at this time of year and as ever Park Paddocks has been alive with a global melting pot of buyers from every continent in the world who have faced strong competition from British and Irish buyers, both Flat and National Hunt.
“A record 12 lots making in excess of 200,000gns and 35 selling for 100,000gns or more demonstrates the strength at the top of the market, but equally important has been the consistent demand at all levels resulting in a record-equalling median and for the fifth consecutive year the Tattersalls July Sale has achieved an enviable clearance rate above 90%. While the high class consignments from Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell Estates have as ever proved to be amongst the highlights of the July Sale we have also seen some smaller operations spectacularly rewarded, none more so than Tipperary-based trainer Michael O’Meara and owner Emma Kennedy whose three year old homebred Ethical Diamond sold for 320,000gns. Results of this nature are the hallmark of mixed sales at Tattersalls and we now look forward to the Tattersalls Summer Sale, relocated from Ascot, which numbers 120 lots and takes place at Park Paddocks in Newmarket on Tuesday 18th July.”
Tabaretta: will race on in Saudi Arabia after selling to Najd Stud. Photo – Tattersalls
International interest was again key to yesterday’s proceedings with buyers from Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Qatar accounting for the top four lots, all of whom were sold by Godolphin.
They were led by the Dubawi gelding Tabaretta, for whom Tattersalls representative Jimmy George outbid Khaled Salami at 210,000gns on behalf of Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz’s Najd Stud.
Najd Stud have been a major player at the top end of the European horses in training market for some time now and hopes are high that Tabaretta, a dual winner who is rated 90, can make his presence felt on the Saudi Arabian circuit.
“This horse stood out a bit today and came from a great Godolphin draft,” said George. “He looks like a horse who will suit the country’s racing perfectly. The scene in Saudi Arabia is getting stronger and stronger – Saudi Arabian buyers have been buying with us for many years but as we’ve seen recently, their racing is going from strength to strength. Like everything, it is success driven – the more winners they buy, the more they come back.”
The Godolphin draft was also the source of Mount Tambora and Changing Colours, both of whom will continue their careers in Dubai after selling for 72,000gns and 56,000gns respectively.
Owner Nasir Askar, in whose colours Secret Ambition won the 2021 Godolphin Mile, signed the ticket on the placed Mount Tambora while Changing Colours, the impressive winner on his second start at Haydock Park for Charlie Appleby last year, he will race on for Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi after selling to Abdullah Muammer.
“We really liked his pedigree – Dubawi does very well in Dubai,” said Muammer. “And he has a good shape. We liked sprinting, fast type. I don’t know who will train him yet but there should be lots of opportunities for him in Dubai.”
