York’s Ebor Festival kicks off
York’s Ebor Festival opens with a bang on Wednesday when the Group 1 Juddmonte International kicks off four days of top-class racing.
Wednesday’s headline race features a field of nine, headed by the world’s highest-rated racehorse, Crystal Ocean. Among his opponents are the David O’Meara-trained Lord Glitters and you can read his trainer’s thoughts on tackling the race in our preview of the contest.
There’s also the Group 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes, run over seven furlongs for two-year-olds, and the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes where the unbeaten Logician will look to stake his credentials for next month’s St Leger.
Catalogues for Books 2, 3 and 4 released
Tattersalls has announced the catalogues for Books 2, 3 and 4 of the October Yearling Sale with the catalogue now available to be viewed at www.tattersalls.com.
Comprising 790 yearlings, including a Golden Horn half-brother to the late Sea Of Class, Book 2 will take place October 14-16. Book 3 has 605 lots catalogued for October 17-18, while Book 4 has a further 137 yearlings which will sell on the morning of October 19.
Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said: “The two highest-rated sprinters in training in Europe, Battaash and Ten Sovereigns, were both purchased at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and Book 3 has had another outstanding year with Royal Ascot and two-year-old winners.
“Huge demand for places in our yearling sales has ensured catalogues of real depth and quality catering to buyers at all levels of the market and from throughout the world.”
Shalaa filly tops Arqana V2 Yearling Sale
Popular since retiring to stud in France in 2017, Haras de Bouquetot’s Shalaa was responsible for the top lot at the Arqana V2 Yearling Sale on Tuesday when a daughter of his was bought for €135,000 by Agency BHB.
Consigned by Haras de la Louviere, the filly is out of the unraced Shirocco mare Chabelle and is a half-sister to the Group 3 second More Than A Dream. The filly’s further family includes the stakes performers San Sicharia, Same World, Spin Cycle and Spinacre.
At the conclusion of trade, 139 lots had sold for a total of €4,096,000 – a 15% improvement on 2018’s figure of €3,534,000. The average rose 11% from €33,028 to €36,901, while the median posted a 14% improvement from €27,000 to €31,000.
Universal Effect heads to Mark Loughnane’s yard
Trainer Mark Loughnane purchased the top lot at the Tattersalls Ascot August Sale on Tuesday when he went to £38,000 for dual-purpose prospect Universal Effect.
Previously in the care of David Lanigan, Universal Effect had secured a valuable update to her catalogue page when she took a mile handicap at Chelmsford earlier this month by three lengths before finishing third in a mile handicap at Kempton last week.
Figures showed that the aggregate of £555,100 was up 31% on 2018’s mark of £423,000. The average dropped one per cent from £5,038 to £5,0001 but the median rose 12% from £2,500 to £2,800.
Rules of Racing sessions
The British Horseracing Authority is offering two drop-in sessions ahead of the new Rules of Racing that will come into effect on September 1.
They will be held at Oaksey House in Lambourn on Tuesday, August 27 and at Jack Berry House in Malton on Thursday, August 29.
The sessions will enable those working in racing to ask any questions about the new rules. Those unable to attend the workshops but would like to ask a question regarding the new rules should contact the BHA at newrules@britishhorseracing.com.
