International Trade Up in Second Tattersalls Session

After a busy opening session of the Tattersalls July Sale, trade July 12 proved more low-key, with supplementary entry Degas, who was bought by Eckhard Sauren for 100,000gns (US$138,653), the first of just two six-figure lots on a day dominated by international buyers.

Agent Jamie Railton was entrusted with bidding duties on behalf of Sauren, and after signing the docket for the German group 3 winner he said: "The plan is to send him back to Germany to race.

"He has a number of entries—it's possible that he'll take up his entry in the Meilen Trophy (group 2 at Cologne) on Sunday."

The 5-year-old son of Exceed And Excel who was bred and raced by Gestut Rottgen has won three times for trainer Markus Klug and boasts some high-class form behind the likes of Stormy Antarctic and Zelzal. He also finished second in the 2016 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen (German Two Thousand Guineas, G2).

As the sun began to set over Park Paddocks, Stephen Hillen entered the fray to secure Olympic Odyssey with a bid of 100,000gns ($138,653) delivered from the back stairs.

The son of Camelot won one of his five starts for trainer George Scott, having been bought as a yearling for 170,000gns ($229,212) by Bill Gredley.

"He's been bought to go jumping for a new client," said Hillen. "He'll probably have an easy month and then head back into full work, although I don't know who with yet.

"He's a gorgeous horse. If he'd been in any store sale, he'd have made a fortune. Although it seems like a lot of money for a horse rated 70, I think he's got every chance. He'll be staying in England."

The 3-year-old boasts a classy pedigree, as he is out of the Prix de la Foret (G1) winner Field of Hope, the dam of eight winners, including the group 3-winning Dormello and the listed-winning pair Ransom Hope and Field of Dream.

For much of the day, trade was headed by De Medici, who was bought by the BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe on behalf of Zhang Yuesheng's Yulong Investments for 95,000gns ($131,720).

The 3-year-old son of Makfi who boasted a significant update having landed a 10-furlong Sandown handicap on the Coral-Eclipse undercard in his latest start July 7 was offered by The Castlebridge Consignment on behalf of Archie Watson's Saxon Gate stables.

"This horse is a good-looking type who vetted well and came recommend by (trainer) Archie Watson," said Donohoe. "He could head to Singapore or Australia."

Bred and formerly owned by Al Asayl Bloodstock, the gelding is out of the Hurricane Run mare Bride Unbridled, whose daughter Luchador also went through the Park Paddocks ring just one lot before De Medici and duly fetched 55,000gns ($76,259) from July Sale regular and leading Qatari trainer Gassim Ghazali.

The 2-year-old Holy Roman Emperor filly has won two of her five starts for the upwardly mobile Watson and achieved a peaking Racing Post Rating of 77 when winning on her latest start at Haydock.

A total of 178 lots were offered over the pre- and post-race sessions Thursday, with 171 changing hands for an impressive clearance rate of 96.1%, an identical figure to the corresponding session in 2017. 

Turnover stood at 3,483,000gns ($4,829,267)—almost on par with last year's returns, as was the average of 20,370gns ($28,241), while the median took a 4% dip to 12,000gns ($16,638).