Recent Royal Ascot third Balalaika was the star turn of an international third day of the Tattersalls July Sale in Newmarket yesterday when sold for 330,000gns to the BBA Ireland.

Offered within the opening exchanges of trading, her sale topped a day that featured the sale of 4,445,500gns worth of horses for an average of 30,241gns.

A minor winner at Newcastle for Rebecca Menzies last autumn, Lady Ogden’s Balalaika lined up as a 66/1 shot in the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot but turned in a personal best under Hayley Turner to finish a closing third. With the Ribblesdale Stakes third Bluestocking also enhancing her immediate pedigree, it was little surprise to see the daughter of No Nay Never spark her share of interest, with the likes of Matt Coleman, Gavin Hernon, Mark McStay and Richard Brown each exhibiting interest before giving best at 330,000gns to the BBA Ireland’s Eamonn Reilly.

“She’s for an existing client but there are no plans yet,” said Reilly. “A trainer is to be decided but she’ll probably stay here in the UK. 

“She’ll go racing first – she ran very well the last day, it was a very promising run – but she’s been bought as a long-term broodmare prospect. She’s a good-topped filly, a good walker, and she behaved well up here. It’s a good pedigree as well, there is plenty happening in the family.”

Balalaika: recent Royal Ascot third was sold for 330,000gns. Photo – Tattersalls

Outside of the top lot, it was a day where international interests remained extremely competitive. They included Armando Duarte, who went to 135,000gns in conjunction with Australasian agent Paul Moroney for progressive three-year-old Whisky On The Hill. The three-year-old gelding has won each of his last three starts for Ado McGuinness, rising from a rating of 61 to 83 in the process.

“He’s for Ballymore Stables in Australia and will go straight down there,” said Duarte. “He’s the only horse we looked at closely here – he fits our profile. He’s fits the bill and vetted well.

“He reminds me of a horse we bought for the same team here a couple of years ago called Emissary, who went on to win the Geelong Cup down there. Hopefully he’ll be as lucky for them.”

Recent Goodwood scorer Vega Sicilia, meanwhile, is set to head to Bahrain on behalf of Al Mohamediya Racing –  owners of yesterday’s July Stakes winner Jasour – following his sale for 125,000gns.

Trainer Ali Majeed signed on behalf of HH Sultan Aldeen MS Al-Khalifa for the Lope De Vega gelding, who has finished in the top two in six of his seven starts for Harry and Roger Charlton this year and returned a personal best last time when the easy winner of a 1m4f handicap at Goodwood.

“If only every day was like this day – a Group 2 winner and then I think we have bought some nice horses here as well,”  said trainer Ali Majeed after signing on behalf of HH Sultan Aldeen MS Al-Khalifa. “He will go straight to Bahrain. We bought him for the Classic races. He’s a mile-and-a-quarter, mile-and-a-half horse. He won very well last time and he came well recommended.”

The final session of the sale takes place from 9.30am tomorrow.