Strong International Trade on Day 2 of July Sale

After a frenetic opening session that saw the high mark reach 420,000 guineas (US$549,574) from 11 six-figure lots, prices proved rather more prosaic on Day 2 of the Tattersalls July Sale in Newmarket July 11.

However, the clearance rate continued to prove extremely healthy, closing at an impressive 95%, which spoke of strong trade for the level. The session totaled 3,218,300gns ($4,224,695), down 6% from last year, for an average of 18,931gns ($24,851) and median of 13,000gns ($17,065).

Gassim Ghazali, who landed three of the top 10 lots during Day 1, warned rival bidders he would be busy Thursday and duly made the day's first six-figure purchase, securing Mr Diamond during the post-racing stint for $100,000gns ($131,271).

The 3-year-old son of Bated Breath who was bred by Mel Roberts and trainer Richard Fahey changed hands after winning three times for previous connections and was last seen finishing third behind Awe, who finished fourth in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Mr Diamond was the highlight of Fahey's draft, which also supplied King of Tonga, who went the way of Colm Sharkey's CDS Bloodstock for 65,000gns ($85,327).

The second 100,000gns lot came among the final offerings when Al Rashed Racing collected the lightly raced Train to Georgia, who was offered by Joe Tuite on behalf of Matt Morgan.

"We watched his win at Lingfield, and he won well," said the operation's racing manager, Tariq Moubarak. "And he's by Scat Daddy, who we like. He's a good-looking horse who vetted well. He'll go to Dubai, though I'm not sure which trainer will have him yet, and perhaps he'll be one for the Carnival."

The 60,000gns ($90,027) breeze-up buy made a winning debut at Lingfield in March and was last seen finishing runner-up behind Saffran at Chepstow last month. 

"Al Rashed Racing is quite a new operation, but we have 10 horses in training here, some with Richard Hughes and the rest with Peter Chapple-Hyam," Moubarak added.

The only time the bid board showed a sum above 100,000gns Thursday was when Volatile Analyst, a wild-card entry who made a winning debut for Keith Dalgleish, took his turn in the ring. However, the son of Distorted Humor  went unsold at 145,000gns.

The Juddmonte draft of horses in training saw bidders flocking into the Park Paddocks ring as early evening set in, and among those was Jamie Lloyd, who snared the well-related Frontman with a bid of 80,000gns ($105,017).

Lloyd had to show patience after filling the role of underbidder on more than one occasion but was plainly delighted with his purchase of the placed Kingman half brother to 2013 Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes (G1) winner Winsili.

"We were getting a little frustrated, but we're delighted to get this horse," Lloyd said with a smile.

The 3-year-old colt failed to make the track at 2 but ran twice since the publication of the catalog and was last seen finishing a neck second to Rum Baba in a mile maiden at Windsor—an effort for which jockey Robert Havlin received a 13-day ban for using his whip above the permitted level.

"He had a setback as a 2-year-old but has run twice now and looked very promising. I think there'll be plenty more to come from him," continued Lloyd, who said the colt will now continue his racing career abroad. "He vetted very well and is going to Qatar to be trained by Stefano Ibido for Abdulhadi Mana Al Hajri. We actually bought Beachwalk here last year from Sir Michael Stoute, and he went on to win the Amir Shalfa. Stefano really loved this horse, and he was his pick."

A short while later, Lloyd was back in action and landed the progressive Crystal Tribe from William Haggas' Somerville Lodge draft for 82,000gns ($107,643).

"He'll be heading to California to be trained by Jeff Mullins," Lloyd said. "We've had some luck with Jeff in the past. We bought Battle of Hastings here a long time ago, and he won everything over there as a 3-year-old. He seems to be very progressive and looks ahead of the handicapper.

"My business partner, David Meah, loved the horse and loved his replays, so we're very happy to have him."

The 3-year-old son of Dansili bred by Watership Down Stud was merely listed as having "ran three times at 3 years" in the catalog but had won his past two starts, including a Brighton handicap by 4 1/2 lengths on his most recent outing.

"He's one Jeff can go on with, and the plan will be for him to run in Del Mar, where he'll be eligible for the valuable 'Ship And Win' bonus—they run for 40% more when they run outside of the state," Lloyd explained.