Miblish Tops Strong Opening Day Of Tattersalls July Sale

The Tattersalls July Sale started in strong fashion on the opening day with the Clive Brittain-trained MIBLISH selling for 250,000 guineas on a day where turnover more than doubled and the average and median rose 72% and 11% respectively. A total of 176 lots were sold for 2,819,600 guineas which was the highest turnover on the opening day since 2008. The average was 16,020 guineas and the median 6,100 guineas whilst the clearance rate was an excellent 84%.

The 116-rated MIBLISH was the star attraction on the opening day following recent fifths behind AL KAZEEM in the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Group 1 Eclipse Stales. The son of TEOFILO caught the attention of agents Matt Coleman and Dermot Farrington as well as Qatari owner Hamed Al-Attiyah but the trio were usurped by Qatari trainer Gassim Mohammad Ghazali who secured the four-year-old for 250,000 guineas.

"He is one that I came for particularly, but I have another five or six horses to buy," said Ghazali. "He should do well in Qatar and will travel there directly from here. I will aim him at the Emir's Cup in March, and maybe I will see if there is a race for him in Dubai at the Carnival.

"I watched his run in the Coral Eclipse on Saturday on TV - I was with my family in London. I thought he ran well, but I thought he put in a very good performance when fifth behind Al Kazeem at Royal Ascot."

Ghazali was prominent again later in the afternoon when involved in a head-to-head battle with Irish agent Bobby O’Ryan to secure LOVER MAN, the four-year-old son of LAWMAN. The Castlebridge Consignment consigned gelding attracted plenty of interest on the back of a recent Listed win at Maisons-Laffitte where he had several top class sprinters in arrears. Despite plenty of resistance from Ghazali, it was O'Ryan, standing alongside South Lanarkshire-based trainer Keith Dalgleish who were the successful bidders securing the four-year-old for 135,000 guineas.

"He is the most expensive horse I've bought" said Dalgleish.

"He is a lovely horse with the form in the book. He might be one for the Ayr Gold Cup."

The third horse to break the six-figure barrier for the day was the MANDURO three-year-old DUROBLE MAN who was knocked down to Highflyer Bloodstock’s Antony Bromley for 130,000 guineas.

"This was standout for me to go jumping," said Bromley after he secured the gelding after seeing off dual-purpose trainers John Quinn and Lucy Wadham. DUROBLE MAN was purchased on behalf of owner Max McNeil, who was in contact by phone and will go into training with Alan King.

"It was more than we wanted to spend, but hopefully those extra bids will look cheap come the winter. Max owns GRUMETI, who won the Grade 1 juvenile hurdle at Aintree and has had a lot of success with three-year-old jumpers and wanted a nice one for this season. He's been bought to win the Triumph Hurdle!

"Minty (David Minton) has always taught me that a good sire line is important for these Flat horses going jumping - and I love this pedigree. He has also shown form on heavy ground, which I think is important too."

The Tattersalls July Sale continues on Thursday, July 11 at 9.30am.