Bunglejungleparty Tops Tattersalls August Sale Opener

There was a distinctly international vibe to the opening session of the Tattersalls August Sale in Newmarket Aug. 31 that was epitomized by the top lot, who boasted French form, was sold on behalf of an Irish owner, and went the way of Qatari interests at 125,000 guineas (US$180,592).

Top lot honors belonged to Bunglejungleparty (Lot 169) as a determined Will Douglass of Charlie Gordon-Watson Bloodstock saw off Conrad Allen to secure the day's sole six-figure recruit.

Consigned by Jamie Railton, Bunglejungleparty made four starts in France for trainer Florian Guyader in the colors of Theresa Marnane, and although still a maiden he displayed a high level of ability when third in the listed Prix des Jouvenceaux et des Jouvencelles-Bernard Ferrand at Vichy on his latest start.

"He's a nice horse and his form really stands out in this sale," said Douglass. "I bought Pom Malpic  from the same people last year and he's been successful this season."

The 2-year-old son of Bungle Inthejungle , who is out of a sister to the listed-winning Rivellino , was making his second appearance at public auction, having been sourced by Con Marnane for just €12,000 ($14,228) at the 2020 Goffs Autumn Online Yearling Sale when offered by Winter Power's breeder, Newlands House Stud.

"I'm over the moon," said a delighted Marnane. "He's a good-looking horse, a big, strong colt, and just what everybody wanted. He had clean X-rays and a very good scope as well and there were three people in there at over 100,000 guineas.

"He was entered in a group 3 in Germany this weekend but the yearling sales are fast approaching so we decided to roll the dice here. I sold Will a very good horse here last year, he's been second in a stakes race now, so he knows where to get the good ones!"

Expanding on how he found Bunglejungleparty as a yearling, Marnane added, "We bought a few at the Goffs online sale, which has been very lucky for us as we got Have A Good Day  from there and she's a group 3 winner now.

"Amy (Marnane, daughter) went around and looked at them in the flesh and we just pressed the buttons at home."

Queen's Homebred Makes Bahrain Switch

The second top lot is also set for foreign climes after Bahrain-based trainer Ali Majeed went to 75,000 guineas ($108,355) for the progressive 3-year-old Encourage (Lot 197) from Barton Sales.

The son of Iffraaj , whose dam is a half sister to Australian group 1 winner Kingdom of Fife , was bred and raced by the Queen and won one of nine starts while under the care of Roger Charlton.

Encourage was purchased on behalf of Sultan Aldeen Mohamed Salman Al-Khalifa and will be targeted at the new Bahrain turf series, a group of ten £50,000 handicaps that have been added to the Bahraini program with the aim of attracting international competitors.

"Hopefully he's a nice horse," said Majeed. "Sometimes we buy a nice horse and they do nothing! He's rated below the handicap for the new series at the moment but hopefully, he can improve."

National Hunt Names Out in Force

Although international demand fueled much of the day's trade, a number of National Hunt trainers were responsible for some of the session's more notable transactions.

Mick Sheridan, representing Buckinghamshire-based trainer Phil Middleton, got the better of Hamish Macauley with a bid of 62,000 guineas ($89,573) to secure Dirham Emirati (Lot 180) from David Simcock's Trillium Place Stables.

The 3-year-old son of Vadamos  ran out a comfortable winner of his second outing in a Newcastle novice stakes but finished last in the Queen's Vase before disappointing when stepped up in trip on his stable debut for Kevin Philippart de Foy.

However, Sheridan said Middleton was confident that Dirham Emirati could put those efforts behind him once his sights were switched to jumping.

"Phil has been very keen on this horse for a while," said Sheridan. "He's watched all his runs and there have been valid excuses for his last two efforts. The plan is to give him a bit of time off and then get him schooled up to go jumping."

Sheridan went on to explain that Middleton had expected to be in attendance at Tattersalls himself before meeting with a setback en route.

"Phil's actually got stuck in traffic so he asked me to do the bidding for him," Sheridan said. "He's got a fair old journey but rang me two hours ago and then called back an hour later and was still in the same position!"

Dirham Emirati, whose dam is a Rip Van Winkle  sibling to Master of Reality , was making his third appearance at public auction, having cost previous owner Ahmad Al Shaikh 55,000 guineas ($70,981) as a Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling in 2019 after JC Bloodstock signed for the youngster at 22,000 guineas ($29,624) at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale in 2018.

Vadamos looks set to become a rising force in the National Hunt ranks over the coming years after the son of Monsun  transferred from Tally-Ho Stud to Coolmore's Grange Stud ahead of the most recent breeding season. He stood 2021 at a fee of €6,000.

Bromley Backs August Sale Initiative

Alan King was another trainer leaving Park Paddocks with a new jumping recruit after Highflyer Bloodstock's Anthony Bromley went to 45,000 guineas ($65,013) for Greystoke (Lot 110),  who was offered by Mick Channon's West Ilsley Stables.

The 3-year-old son of Sixties Icon  won twice from 16 starts for Channon and achieved a career-high Racing Post Rating of 81 for his most recent success, which came at Redcar in April.

"He's a hardy horse and ran a good second at Newbury over a mile and a quarter just last week," said Bromley. "He's got a solid rating, a bit of scope about him physically and I like the sire Sixties Icon.

"Alan will have to decide at what stage he's going to geld him because he's still a colt, but he's taking his races well and looks in great condition. Alan had a good chat with Jack Channon beforehand and he came well recommended so he looks like an interesting horse for a new owner to the yard."

Bromley gave the August Sale his seal of approval, saying the timing of the auction provided more options and opportunities for buyers and sellers alike.

"Alan might give him a break and freshen him up, which you can do at the end of August, whereas it can be more of a problem come the end of October," Bromley said.

"I like the positioning of this sale and I think it suits the trainers selling as they get a few more runs out of the horses, and hopefully it gives an owner the chance to sell before reinvesting at the yearling sales," said Bromley.

Lloyd Reloads

The first noteworthy price of the session came when Jamie Lloyd of Meah Lloyd Bloodstock went to 40,000 guineas ($57,789) for Oh Great (Lot 61), who came from the Aguiar Bloodstock draft.

The son of Ribchester  was cataloged as having run three times at 2 years old but brought a significant update to the ring having shed his maiden tag in the stewards' room when awarded a Wolverhampton nursery on his fourth and most recent outing for Roger Varian and Amo Racing.

"He's going to Jeff Mullins in California for B & G Stables," said Lloyd after signing the docket. "He's been bought for the same connections we bought Originaire   for. He came from here a couple of years ago, he went on to be grade 2-placed and this colt seems a similar type.

"There's very few of this type left in the sale but he ticked all the boxes so we're happy to get him."

Bred by Kildaragh Stud, Oh Great is a sibling to two group scorers, namely Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes (G3) winner and QIPCO One Thousand Guineas (G1) third Daban  and the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes (G3) victor Thikriyaat . The colt was purchased by Alex Elliott for 70,000 guineas ($94,627) when offered at Tattersalls October Book 1 last year.

Day one of the second renewal of the August Sale saw 127 of 144 offered lots sell for a clearance rate of 88%. Those transactions saw a turnover of 1,459,200 guineas ($2,108,160), a 50% reduction on the corresponding session last year when 36 more lots changed hands.

The average price was down 36% at 11,490 guineas ($16,600) and the median slid by 42% to 7,000 guineas ($10,113), having been 12,000 guineas a year ago.

The August Sale concludes on Wednesday, with the second and final session starting at 11 a.m. local time.