Flanagan Buys Tattersalls July Sale Day 1 Top Lot

Supply and demand may have been an issue for the ice cream man at Tattersalls July 10, as the 'sold out' signs went up barely halfway through a sweltering opening session of the July Sale.

There was no such problem in the ring, however, as buyers braved sauna-like conditions to send the clearance rate soaring to 89%.

There were 11 six-figure lots to boot, and the list of prices was topped by At Last, a Galileo half sister to Zoustar, who went the way of agent Mick Flanagan for 420,000 guineas (US$549,575).

Given the global appeal of her pedigree, it was no surprise to see a host of parties from around the bloodstock world follow the well-related filly into the ring.

However, bidding soon boiled down to a head-to-head between the Badgers Bloodstock pair of Grant and Tom Pritchard-Gordon, stationed in the bidders' area to the left of the rostrum, and Flanagan, who stood by the entrance to the packed ring.

Once the 400,000gns mark had been passed the Pritchard-Gordons slowed up, but Flanagan appeared full of run throughout and at 420,000gns auctioneer Simon Kerins brought the gavel down in the Irishman's favor.

Flanagan explained the filly was bought with a breeding career in mind, and went on to wax lyrical about the significance of Galileo's presence in her pedigree.

"She's very athletic and is obviously a half sister to a very promising young sire in Australia," he said. "But, more importantly, she's by Galileo, and it doesn't matter if he's the sire or the damsire, at the moment he's punching in group winners in both hemispheres.

"He's the damsire of Invincibella, a group 1 winner in Australia a couple of weeks ago, and that's probably where this filly will go. Though we haven't decided whether she'll be bred to in the northern or the southern hemisphere first."

At Last was bred by Orpendale, Chelston, and Wynatt and ran four times for Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore partners, though she achieved just minor form, and was last seen finishing fifth of 12 in a Roscommon maiden.

"The hardest part about the whole thing was securing her. Now we've got her, deciding on a stallion won't be too hard," Flanagan added. "If I'm being brutally honest, my biggest mistake in the last couple of years is that I haven't bought enough fillies by Galileo. If you're in the breeding game you can't ignore him."

The transaction made At Last the most expensive filly ever sold at the July Sale, and places her second only to Business As Usual, for whom the Kern/Lillingston Association gave 460,000gns in 2010.

Ghazali Back for More

July Sale regular and leading Qatari trainer Gassim Ghazali struck for the session's second-top lot, the 325,000gns ($425,266) Admiral Rous. The progressive son of Henrythenavigator brought an important update to auction, having finished a close third behind Azano in the Prix Paul de Moussac Longines (G3) at Chantilly last month.

Previously trained and consigned by Eoghan O'Neill, the 3-year-old has previous experience of racing in Qatar, having finished a staying-on fourth behind Global Spectrum in the Al Biddah Mile Sponsored by Almuftah Group (G2).

"I hope he will run in the Irish Cup over a mile," said Ghazali. "He's been to Qatar before and I think he can do much better there."

Admiral Rous has done connections proud since he was picked up for €47,000 ($56,372) at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, having won three races in France and netted over £84,000 in prize money.

Ghazali snapped up three of the top 10 lots on day one, having also landed On The Line, offered by the Castlebridge Consignment, for 130,000gns ($170,107), and Neon Sea, consigned by Jamie Railton, for 110,000gns ($143,937).

Patrick Joins Joseph

The session's third-top lot will continue his racing career with Joseph O'Brien, who struck a winning bid of 230,000gns ($300,958) for the lightly raced Patrick Sarsfield.

The son of Australia ran twice for Edward Lynam, and boasts some notably strong form having finished third to Investec Derby (G1) runner-up Madhmoon on debut and second to Sydney Opera House in his most recent start in September last year.

The colt was then switched to Michael O'Callaghan, for whom he never ran, and was last registered with Weatherbys as being in training with Hugo Palmer. He was offered at Tattersalls by The Castlebridge Consignment.

"His form has worked out very well, though obviously it's from a little while ago," O'Brien said. "I think he's a nice horse and Australia is doing very well, so hopefully he'll make into a nice middle-distance horse for next year."

Bred by the China Horse Club and signed for by David Myerscough at €140,000 ($164,668) at Arqana in 2017, Patrick Sarsfield is out of a Lawman half sister to the German group 3 winner Goathemala.

New Addition for Newtown Anner

Shadwell offloaded 23 lots during Wednesday's session for an aggregate of 647,300gns and at an average of 28,143gns. The well-related Wamathaat accounted for the bulk of those sums when BBA Ireland's Eamonn Reilly saw off Ed Sackville with a bid of 220,000gns ($287,873).

The 3-year-old daughter of Speightstown  failed to make the track for Shadwell, and was a $550,000 purchase at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

But what she lacks in form she more than makes up for in pedigree, as she is a half sister to this year's Santa Anita Handicap Presented by San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino (G1) winner Gift Box and the grade 2-winning Stonetastic.

The page received a further black-type addition in late June when another sibling, Special Forces, ran second in a Woodbine grade 3.

"She's been bought for Maurice Regan of Newtown Anner Stud and she'll probably go to America," Reilly said. "I came here on Monday and thought she was the best horse in the whole sale. I loved the mare and loved her pedigree, there's a great update in there too, but there aren't any plans regarding a stallion just yet."

Coleman Goes Silent

The Godolphin-consigned lots always prove a major draw at the July Sale, and Matt Coleman secured the draft's most sought-after offering when he bid 155,000gns ($202,820) for the unraced Pivotal filly Silent Morning.

The 3-year-old is not only by a hugely influential broodmare sire, but is also a half sister to the group 3 and Windsor Castle Stakes winner Sound And Silence, while her second dam is the Entenmanns Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1) heroine Gossamer.

"Obviously Pivotal needs no introduction as a broodmare sire, and she's a strong, good-looking mare who's a half sister to a Windsor Castle Stakes winner," said Coleman. "She'll be bred from commercially and hopefully we'll see her stock back here at Book 1."

The Godolphin draft, which has supplied the dams of Ten Sovereigns and Fairyland (IRE) at past renewals of the July Sale, sold 19 lots for a total of 629,000gns ($823,053) and an average of 33,105gns ($43,319).

Stroud Steps In

Meon Valley Stud enjoyed a fine year on the track, winning the Investec Oaks (G1) with Anapurna and seeing Telecaster score in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (G2), and Anthony Stroud hopes some of that operation's good fortune rubs off with the purchase of Merseybeat from their draft for 105,000gns ($137,394).

The unraced daughter of New Approach and Hippy Hippy Shake, and therefore a half sister to the promising Twist 'n' Shake, was offered in foal to Ribchester.

"She's a nice mare and comes from a very good farm," Stroud said. "Twist 'n' Shake looks pretty good so hopefully she'll add to the pedigree. There could also be an update further down the page when Sheikh Mohammed runs Al Suhail, the Dubawi colt out of Shirocco Star, in a maiden on Friday, he's meant to be a nice horse. He's been bought for a client of mine who's based in England and buys a few mares commercially each year."

Houldsworth Plays the Early Bird

An early flashpoint came when Safe House, consigned by Kingwood Stud, took her turn in the ring. A protracted duel between Yeomanstown Stud's Robert O'Callaghan, who did his bidding from the gangway, and Matthew Houldsworth, stationed ringside next to the exit, ensued. The latter emerged on top with a bid of 82,000gns ($107,298).

The 10-year-old daughter of Exceed And Excel, a half sister to grade 2 winner Rebellion and out of the Victor Chandler Challenge Stakes (G2) scorer Last Resort, was offered in foal to flying first-season sire Night of Thunder.

"She's been bought for Flintstone Stud, which is owned by David Weston and his wife El Tanner," Houldsworth said.

"They've already got flat mares but they're looking to increase their profile slightly. She's a very good-looking mare and I love Exceed And Excel as a broodmare sire. Night of Thunder is on fire at the moment too, so I think you could get that price back in one hit if she throws a nice foal.

"Roger Charlton has the Iffraaj 2-year-old, who I actually just got sent a photo of as I was walking into the ring, and her New Approach yearling goes to Book 2. She's getting good-looking stock and her other foals have all made a few quid. They were keen on getting a mare that's relatively proven, which is something I would encourage as you can see what you're buying and what's come before. I was hugely encouraged that Yeomanstown were underbidders too."

A few lots later Houldsworth also landed Daring Life, a well-related daughter of Cape Cross carrying to Expert Eye offered by Ringfort Stud, for 60,000gns ($78,511).

"She's been bought for an existing client," Houldsworth said. "I'm a massive fan of Expert Eye. She's on an early service and is believed to be carrying a colt—she's an absolutely stunning mare. She's another you might be able to get out of in one hit if she has a good-looking foal."