Durand Tops Second Day of Tattersalls July Sale

Trade continued in robust fashion on the second day of the Tattersalls July Sale with Durand topping proceedings at 260,000 guineas on a day that saw 126 lots sold for 2,276,300 guineas and a clearance of 89%. The turnover for the day was up 20% to 2,276,300 guineas whilst the average and median rose 30% and 29% to 18,066 guineas and 9,000 guineas respectively.

The top lot for the day was for DURAND, the twice-raced son of MOTIVATOR who was knocked down to Qatari trainer Ibrahim Al-Malki for 260,000 guineas. The John Joseph Murphy-trained three-year-old was very impressive on his second start when breaking the track record at Roscommon.

"He went for more than I thought," said Al-Malki, "But I like the horse very much. I watched his maiden win which was very impressive in a track record.

"He is for the Qatar Derby, but he is entered in the Group 3 Royal Whip, so we might leave him here for that."

There was interest in the horse from a variety of parties, including Irish agent Mags O'Toole who was standing with National Hunt trainer Noel Meade, dual-purpose trainer Steve Gollings, bloodstock agent Alastair Donald and Qatari owner Hussain Ali Bukannan.

The evening session saw the three-year-old ZARKIYR from the Aga Khan draft fetch 200,000 guineas to the bid Qatar’s eight-time champion trainer Gassim Ghazali. The son of ACCLAMATION was purchased on behalf of Sheikh Mishal Bin Hamad Al-Thani, brother to the new Emir of Qatar and the same purchaser of MIBLISH yesterday.

The ACCLAMATION colt is a winner over 1m4f since publication of the catalogue, and has been bought with the Qatar Derby in mind.

Underbidders included Steve Gollings, Tom Malone, Hussain Ali Bukannan and Matt Coleman.

The wild card entry PETER MAC, the unbeaten two-time juvenile winner by KODIAC was knocked down to Qatari businessman Hussain Ali Bukannan for 95,000gns.

"He has been bought for the three-year-old programme in Qatar," said Mr Bukannan, adding: "I liked his body very much!"

Bukannan, a previous buyer to Tattersalls, has purchased four horses so far this week, including the two-year-old filly GREEN RUN.

Late in the evening the Juddmonte Farms consigned SEAMLESS was knocked down to Qatari Abdulaziz Al Boenain for 100,000 guineas.  The three-year-old son of BEAT HOLLOW had broken his maiden recently and was offered with a ‘Timeform’ rating of 90.

The Tattersalls July Sale continues at 9.30am on Friday, July 12.