International Flavor for Tattersalls August Sale

The inaugural Tattersalls August Sale in 2020 proved such a success in tricky circumstances that it returns for another two days beginning Aug. 31, offering around 465 Lots to what should be a very international audience.

Last year's event was introduced as a response to the complications of COVID-19, such as the problems of assessing horses-in-training owing to an absence of fixtures, but it resulted in an impressive 91% clearance rate and a 220,000gns ($303,785) top lot in the form of Walkinthesand , Saeed Suhail's listed-placed son of Footstepsinthesand  who sold to Ted Voute for Saudi Arabian connections.

With coronavirus restrictions eased somewhat further 12 months down the line, consignors and organizers will be hoping for an even more cosmopolitan feel to the proceedings. 

Drafts from Godolphin, Ballydoyle Stables, Shadwell Estate, and Juddmonte will feature, while Jamie Railton will present one of the glitzier lots in the shape of French group 3-winning Acclamation  son Pretreville  (Lot 366), who was also second behind the high-class Duhail  in the group 2 Prix du Muguet in May. 

Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle Stables draft has been marginally whittled down, although still among the offerings are Pelorus (Lot 396), an unraced American Pharoah   colt out of One Thousand Guineas (G1) winner Virginia Waters , the well-related Iowa (Lot 393), a Galileo  winning relation to grade/group 2 winners Hawksmoor  and Royal Dornoch , and HMS Seahorse (Lot 354), a lightly raced full-brother to group 2 winner and Cox Plate runner-up Armory . 

Among the lots with the most recent updates is the Juddmonte-consigned Fabilis (Lot 380), a Frankel  full brother to group winner Monarchs Glen, and highly promising juvenile Westover. The 3-year-old-colt boasts a progressive profile that should appeal to international buyers, having readily landed a class 2 handicap for Ralph Beckett at Newmarket on Friday. 

Richard Hannon's East Everleigh Stables has five remaining in its draft, headed by Mark Of Gold (Lot 268), a dual winning son of Golden Horn  and Princess Royal Stakes scorer Polly's Mark , and including the twice-raced Diamond Of Dubai (Lot 269), a Dubawi  half brother to American grade 3 scorer Real Smart . 

The August Sale caters for a variety of buyers and among a number of well-bred fillies for broodmare seekers to mull over are Godolphin's Bright Spirit (GB) (Lot 150), a daughter of Dubawi out of Oh So Sharp Stakes scorer Local Time , The Castlebridge Consignment-drafted Countessa (Lot 387), a winning daughter of Camelot  from the famous family of Alpha Centauri , and Lady Allegro (GB) (Lot 300), by Australia  and out of a winning half sister to German Derby victor Lucky Speed . 

Then there are lightly raced horses with proven group-class form, for example, Godolphin's Jalmoud  (Lot 152). A full brother to dual group 2 winner Magic Lily  out of dual Oaks heroine Dancing Rain , the 5-year-old son of New Approach  has clearly had his issues but he also has talent, as evidenced by a win in a listed contest at ParisLongchamp and third-placed finish behind Japan  in the 2019 Grand Prix de Paris. 

A handful of recently received wildcards have the potential to take top rank too.

Pablo Escobarr  (Lot 421A), the William Haggas-consigned Galileo gelding, has the form in the book that could attract Australian or Middle Eastern buyers. The 5-year-old, older brother of this year's York Grand Cup scorer Roberto Escobarr , hit an RPR of 113 in winning the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood last year and has a fine black-type collection including seconds behind Lord North  and Anthony Van Dyck .

Two-year-old Almohandesah (Lot 190A), trained by Karl Burke, has shown pleasing development for her sire Postponed  as a Pontefract winner with two respectable stakes efforts, while the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Inigo Jones  (Lot 404A) is a middle-distance prospect with few miles on the clock.

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said upon the catalog's release, "The Tattersalls August Sale was introduced for the first time in 2020 in response to COVID-19 related circumstances, but the enthusiasm for the sale from both vendors and purchasers and an extraordinary clearance rate made it an easy decision to make it a permanent fixture."

"With the Tattersalls July Sale being held in more normal circumstances this year, it was natural that the catalog size for the second edition of the August Sale would reduce, but we are still delighted to catalog 458 Lots over two days that will appeal to a wide cross-section of buyers, both domestic and further afield," Mahony said.

"We are also pleased that buyers from the key Middle Eastern markets will find it much easier to travel to the UK for the sale with the recent easing of restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers," said Mahony.

The sale starts on Tuesday at 11 a.m. and the catalog can be found at Park Paddocks or online.