450,000 Guineas New King Tops Strong Tattersalls July Sale
450,000 Guineas New King Tops Strong Tattersalls July Sale
The Tattersalls July Sale concluded with NEW KING and INVERLEIGH selling for 450,000 guineas and 350,000 guineas respectively, resulting in increases across the board and four of the top ten prices in the history of the sale.
New King Sells for 450,000 Guineas and Heads to Australia
The three-year-old FRANKEL colt NEW KING became the second highest price sale ever at the Tattersalls July on Friday when he was knocked down to Australian agent James Harron for 450,000 guineas. An eight-length winner on his most recent start for owner/breeders Qatar Racing, the colt out of the DESERT PRINCE mare MARINE BLEUE attracted the interest of a multitude of buyers including Rabbah Bloodstock’s Jono Mills and Qatari trainer Jassim Ghazali. But it was Harron who prevailed on behalf of an Australian-based syndicate.
"We had selected this horse in the catalogue and I came specifically for him, he is for a group of Australian clients," said Harron. "I was really pleased when I saw him, he has been well minded and he is a lovely horse.
"He is on a Timeform rating of 113p, which is comparable to some of the horses that have come to Australia from Europe and have done well. He has a great profile.
"We have not yet got a trainer in mind yet, and we are just working out a programme now – whether we ship him now and then run straight off the plane and give him a break, or maybe leave him in the Northern Hemisphere for now. His profile certainly means that he can run straight off in some of the bigger races in Australia."
Rabbah Strike to Secure Inverleigh
The recent Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes runner-up INVERLEIGH was knocked down to Rabbah Bloodstock’s Jono Mills for 350,000 guineas during the final session of the Tattersalls July Sale after a prolonged battle with Dubaian trainer Ahmed bin Harmash. The son of EXCELEBRATION, who won a Listed race back in April and has an official rating of 104, was consigned to the sale by part-owner Michael Downey.
Downey said: "I and Peter Kavanagh bought him as a foal to consign as a yearling, but for various reasons he missed his yearling sale. Peter's son Roderick broke him in and we decided to keep him.
"Roderick and then trainer Ger Lyons have done a great job with the horse. He is athletic and everyone who saw him here loved him."
Of the decision to sell today, Downey said: "We are traders so he was always going to be sold."
Qatar Strike for Progressive Make A Wish
One of the fillies in great demand at the Tattersalls July Sale was the three-year-old MAKE A WISH who won over seven furlongs at Sandown last weekend for trainer Simon Crisford. The Michael Tabor owned daughter of NO NAY NEVER was knocked down to Qatari trainer Jassim Ghazali for 160,000 guineas, stood alongside agent Will Douglass.
"She won well at the weekend and it takes some doing to win a handicap on Eclipse day," said Douglass.
"She has some quality, is by a good stallion and she should appreciate the fast ground in Qatar and running around a bend – there might be some more improvement in her. There is a good programme for her in Qatar."
Chairman’s Statement
At the conclusion of the 2019 Tattersalls July Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;
“This has been another strong renewal of the Tattersalls July Sale. Two lots selling for more than 400,000 guineas for the first time at this fixture, a record July price for a filly in training and improved figures in all the key indicators of turnover, average, median and clearance rate are about as many positives as one could wish for.
“As is so often the case at Tattersalls, the most obvious features have been the depth to the trade and the uniquely international cast of buyers all of whom have contributed to the extraordinary clearance rate of 93%.Domestic British and Irish buyers have been prominent and every sector of the market has been further boosted by international demand, which has included the sale topping 450,000 guineas three year old colt NEW KING who was purchased by leading Australian based bloodstock agent James Harron, the prolific buying of our loyal buyers from the Gulf region and a particularly strong contingent of buyers from Greece. There have been buyers at Park Paddocks this week from more than 30 different countries and it is a source of pride that many of them would view Tattersalls as their primary, if not only source of thoroughbreds year after year.
“We are constantly travelling the world looking to explore new markets or expand existing ones and sales like this year’s July Sale suggest that the Tattersalls brand is as strong as ever and that the July Sale remains firmly established as Europe’s premier midsummer sale."