Mullins & Kirk Secure Session Topping Ethical Diamond on Second Day of Tattersalls July Sale

Ethical Diamond was the star turn on the second day of the Tattersalls July Sale, selling to Harold Kirk on behalf of Willie Mullins for 320,000 guineas and is destined for a dual-purpose career from now on. Trade at Park Paddocks continued in robust fashion with the clearance rate just below 90% and nine lots realising 100,000 guineas or more. 

Dual Purpose Career Ahead for Session Topping Ethical Diamond  

The top lot on the second day of the Tattersalls July Sale was the wildcard ETHICAL DIAMOND who was knocked down for 320,000 guineas to agent Harold Kirk on behalf of Willie Mullins, after he saw off a number of agents including Blandford Bloodstock’s Stuart Boman, Hurworth Bloodstock’s Sam Haggas and French based agent Alessandro Marconi.    

The three times raced son of AWTAAD was an impressive winner of a maiden at Limerick by two lengths on his most recent start for trainer Michael O’Meara and owner Emma Kennedy, earning a Timeform rating of 90p, and was consigned at the sale by Baroda Stud.    

Kirk, who flew in to England this morning from a rainy Northern Ireland, said: "He is going to Willie Mullins for an existing client to be a dual-purpose horse. He will run over hurdles, and then head back on the flat and be a good stayer. He is a 'new' horse, he has improved every run, he is a gorgeous horse, he stays well and won very well last time, and travels well. Hopefully he will make up into a Cup horse on the flat - take us one day to Royal Ascot and one day to Cheltenham!    

"He was the one I came for, I can go home now! I knew we'd have big opposition from Australia and I think that is what happened. Australia can't get them all, and Willie likes taking horses to Australia!"  

Kirk continued: "He looks an athletic type, so I can't see any reason why he won't take to jumping, he is just a beautiful individual. We are trying to build up a string of Melbourne Cup horses as well as jumpers. Even though we had the Royal Ascot winner this year, for a couple of years in Covid we missed buying a dual-purpose type of horse and there has been a bit of a gap for that sort of horse at Willie's."

Philip Kirby Lands Promising Sprinter Anthem National for 210,000 Guineas  

The Joseph O’Brien trained ANTHEM NATIONAL was the second highest priced lot on the day with the four-year-old son of DARK ANGEL knocked down to trainer Philip Kirby for 210,000 guineas. Owned and bred by Mountarmstrong Stud’s Noel O’Callaghan and offered by the Castlebridge Consignment, ANTHEM NATIONAL is officially rated 105 following his impressive second in the Listed Dash Stakes at the Curragh behind COMMANCHE FALLS only ten days ago.    

"That's a bit more than I usually spend!" laughed Kirby, who is based at East Appleton in North Yorkshire. "We lost Farhan, owned by James Cookson and who we bought here, just before Royal Ascot. James wanted to replace him with a horse capable of getting to the nice days and give some good days out.  

"This horse was recommended by Joseph, and he looks as though he can run over 5f, 6f and 7f, which gives us plenty of options. He only ran a couple of weeks ago so we will get him home, give him a couple of weeks break and then get him out again."  

ANTHEM NATIONAL is out of ANTHEM ALEXANDER, one of the leading mares at Mountarmstrong Stud and winner of the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes as well as runner up in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes. She is a half-sister to Ballyhane Stud’s established stallion DANDY MAN.

Maasai Mara to go Hurdling after 170,000 Guineas Sale to Elton Racing  

The Qatar Racing owned MAASAI MARA is set to go jumping after being purchased by trainer John O’Shea for 170,000 guineas on behalf of owner Keith William Bell. The three-year-old son of ROARING LION won twice for John & Thady Gosden over 1m2f and 1m3f, achieving a Timeform rating  of 92.    

O'Shea, who trains under the Elton Racing banner, was sat with Bell and explained: "Keith is my landlord and has been for 27 years. Although I mainly train on the flat now, Keith is a jumping man and he has had over 100 winners. We have been looking for a new horse for him over 12 months and this is the only one we picked out here."  

Explaining the reasoning behind the purchase O'Shea said: "He ticks a lot of boxes, he gets a decent trip, he is a nice looking horse, he goes on soft ground, and he is highly rated. He won't run again on the flat, we will wait now and get him schooled for a hurdles campaign in the autumn."  

MAASAI MARA, who is out of the Group 3 Prix Chloe winner and three times Group/Grade 1 runner up WEKEELA, was consigned at the sale by agent Jamie Railton. 

The Tattersalls July Sale continues on Thursday, 13th July at 9.30am.