2010 July Sale Day 3 Press Release

Lot 679: BUSINESS AS USUAL
Lot 679: BUSINESS AS USUAL

The Paul Makin owned and Michael Jarvis trained BUSINESS AS USUAL shattered the record price at the Tattersalls July Sale when selling for 460,000 guineas on another day of solid international trade. Figures were up across the board with a total of 138 lots sold for 2,069,000 guineas (+5%) at an average of 14,993 guineas (+17%) and a median of 7,250 guineas (+12%). The clearance rate was an impressive 87%.

BUSINESS AS USUAL always looked set to be amongst the highlights of the sale having won two of only four career starts including an impressive victory on his latest outing when beating subsequent Royal Ascot Britannia Handicap winner RANSOM NOTE. Rated 111p by Timeform, the striking three year old son of INVINCIBLE SPIRIT was introduced by auctioneer Oliver Fowlston as a ‘Group winner waiting to happen’ as he strode around the crowded ring and, after an opening bid of 50,000 guineas, the price quickly headed into six figures with early protagonists including agents Gordian Troeller and Anthony Stroud.

July Sale Day 3 Figures:                            
 CataloguedOfferedSoldAggregateAverageMedian
2010 234 159 138 2,069,000 14,993 7,250
2009 251 170 153 1,964,800 12,842 6,500

As the bidding passed 200,000 guineas Tweenhills Farm supremo David Redvers entered the fray, as did Kern/Lillingston’s Alastair Donald. The two agents were joined by Qatari buyer Ibrahim Al Malki and it proved to be Al Malki who provided Donald with the fiercest opposition as the duel soared past the previous July Sale record of 380,000 guineas. Donald, with his mobile phone pressed to his ear, was not to be denied with Al Malki’s bid of 450,000 guineas trumped by a final emphatic nod. Donald revealed that his prize would head for Hong Kong to the powerful stable of top trainer John Moore where he anticipated that initial plans would involve the 2011 Hong Kong Derby next March. BUSINESS AS USUAL usurped the long standing July Sale record held by the Lynda Ramsden trained MASTERMIND who was sold for 380,000 guineas to agent Richard O’Gorman in 2001.

Heading the morning session was the Richard Hannon trained filly MINOR VAMP who was knocked down to bloodstock agent Ed Sackville of Kern/Lillingston for 80,000 guineas. The four year old daughter of HAWK WING boasted high class form as a two year old including victory in a richly endowed sales race as well as a creditable third behind subsequent Group 1 winner RAINBOW VIEW in the Group 3 Sweet Solera, and it was locally based agent Anthony Stroud who gave best to Sackville’s decisive final bid. Sackville, who had been active throughout the week on behalf of a variety of international clients, indicated that the filly had been purchased for an existing client and would be retired to the paddocks.

The top price from the quality consignment of Jim Bolger’s Glebe House Stables in Ireland proved to be the 75,000 guineas paid by locally based agent Oliver St Lawrence for the well regarded three year old BOOK OF NUMBERS. Rated 98 by Timeform, the three time winner by top USA based stallion MORE THAN READY was purchased on behalf of St Lawrence’s principal client Fawzi Nass and looks likely to continue his career either in Bahrain or Dubai.