The Tattersalls July Sale got off to a record-breaking start with two lots selling for 500,000 guineas or more and turnover for the opening session eclipsing the previous record set in 2016 by 21%. Four of the ten highest prices in the history of the Tattersalls July Sale were set today.
Rihaam Sells to Blandford for Record 540,000 Guineas
The Shadwell Estates consigned RIHAAM set a new record price at the Tattersalls July Sale when knocked down to Blandford Bloodstock’s Tom Goff for 540,000 guineas after a protracted duel with an online bidder. The previous record was 460,000 guineas set in 2010.
From the first Shadwell draft to be offered at this year's July Sale, RIHAAM is by the leading broodmare sire DANSILI and is in foal to leading stallion DARK ANGEL. She is the dam of RIBHI, a dual winner at two and placed third in the Listed European Free Handicap at Newmarket earlier this year for Marcus Tregoning.
RIHAAM is a daughter of the WOODMAN mare WISSAL, the dam of three Listed winners and a sibling to the Champion European three-year-old BAHRI and the Group 1 Champion Stakes placed BAHHARE.
Successful purchaser Tom Goff commented: "I think she is by far the best mare here, she is a beautiful Dansili mare carrying to Dark Angel who is a great stallion. She is from one of Sheikh Hamdan's best families, tracing to Bahri and lots of superstar colts and fillies. Mares such as this really don't grow on trees. The top Shadwell mares are as exciting as it comes, her new owners will definitely make the most of it."
James Wigan Secures See The Rose for 500,000 Guineas
The second highest priced lot for the day, and only the second lot to ever breach the 500,000 guineas mark at the Tattersalls July Sale, was the wildcard lot SEE THE ROSE who was knocked down to James Wigan’s London Thoroughbred Services for exactly that amount.
The daughter of KENDARGENT, who was consigned by The Castlebridge Consignment, proved a top class race filly, winning the Group 3 Prix Six Perfections and being placed in the Group 2 Prix de Sandringham. John Fleming opened the bidding at 200,000 guineas before Dubai based agent Ajay Anne joined the fray, the pair going head to head before being usurped by Wigan.
SEE THE ROSE is a full-sister to the Listed winner XAARINO and the Group 3 placed MONT KIARA, and following his purchase Wigan commented;
"She is a very nice quality mare, and I saw her here last year at the December Sale. She is a nice outcross, has her Group race win and Group placed form and good form as a two-year-old. She is staying in Europe."
450,000 Guineas Purchase Shining Bright to visit Lucky Vega
Another lot to light up the ring during the opening session of the Tattersalls July Sale was the unraced GALILEO mare SHINING BRIGHT, who was purchased by BBA Ireland and the Lucky Vega Syndicate for 450,000 guineas. The daughter of the Grade 2 winner LADY LARA is a full-sister to the Royal Ascot winner CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD, winner of this year’s Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes as well as the Group 3 Chester Vase.
Consigned by Barton Sales, SHINING BRIGHT was offered in foal to STARSPANGLEDBANNER and hails from the top class Hascombe and Valiant Stud family of Classic winners FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND and POWER and Group/Grade 1 winners PEDRO THE GREAT, CURVY, ONE MASTER and RIVET.
LUCKY VEGA won the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh as a two-year-old before being placed in the both the 2,000 Guineas and Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes at three for owner Yuesheng Zhang. He stands at the Irish National Stud.
Successful bidder Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland said: "Mr Zhang was in Ireland last week and saw Lucky Vega, and is keen to support him next season and determined to give him every chance. This mare will probably go back to Ireland and be covered by him next spring. There was obviously a nice update to the pedigree at Royal Ascot and we have the two-year-old full-brother too."
The two-year-old sibling is called GALILEO'S COMPASS and was bought by BBA Ireland/Yulong Investments last autumn.
Yulong Team Also Secure Footprints and Sweet Whisper
The Yulong team headed by Yuesheng Zhang and accompanied by Yulong Investments’ COO Sam Fairgray and BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohoe also signed for the fourth and fifth highest prices for the day when securing FOOTPRINTS for 340,000 guineas and SWEET WHISPER for 260,000 guineas.
The GALILEO mare FOOTPRINTS is a full-sister to the Group 2 Futurity Stakes winner ARMORY, who was also placed in six Group 1 races. Their dam AFTER was Group placed on multiple occasions and was also fourth in the Group 1 Poule d’Essai de Pouliches. FOOTPRINTS was offered in foal to exciting young sire WOOTTON BASSETT, Coolmore Stud’s recent acquisition to its stallion ranks.
The Yulong team had secured the DUBAWI filly SWEET WHISPER a few lots earlier for 260,000 guineas. The three-year-old filly is out of the dual Group 1 winner GONBARDA and is a half-sister to the European Champion FARHH and the Group 1 placed RACING HISTORY.
The Tattersalls July Sale continues at 9.30am on Thursday, 7th July.
