The weight of international investment has long been an important feature of trade at the Tattersalls July Sale, and has been one of the key drivers behind aggregate sales more than doubling in the last 10 years. Middle Eastern interests, in particular, have had a major bearing on proceedings, with leading Qatar-based trainer Gassim Mohammad Ghazali heading the buyers' charts on four occasions between 2013 and 2019.
Buyers from the Gulf states have been far from the only overseas visitors to make an impact at the July Sale in recent times, however, with Southern Hemisphere spenders beginning to make their presence felt with increasing regularity until COVID-19 curtailed global travel.
In 2019 antipodean buying power reached a new peak when leading Australian-based agent and syndicator James Harron purchased that year's top lot, the Frankel colt New King, for 450,000 guineas (US$591,712)—the second-highest price ever commanded at the July Sale.
And since then results in Australia have advertised the quality on offer at the July Sale to great effect. Yulong Investments' dual-group 1 heroine Hungry Heart is out of Harlech, who was sourced by Sheamus Mills from the Godolphin draft at 60,000gns (US$82,045) in 2016 before the daughter of Pivotal was bred to Frankel on Southern Hemisphere time.
And this year's unbeaten 2-year-old Amelia's Jewel, who was last seen winning the Amelia Park-Karrakatta Plate (G2) in April, is out of Bumbasina, who was purchased by Louis Le Metayer's Astute Bloodstock for 75,000gns (US$104,541) in 2018 before visiting Siyouni for the mating that yielded the rising star filly.
With results like these capturing the imagination Down Under, travel restrictions lifted and a favorable exchange rate, it will be interesting to see the extent to which Australian buyers have an impact at this year's sale.
Jenny McAlpine, Tattersalls' Australian representative, recently told ANZ Bloodstock News that Southern Hemisphere-based agents such as Harron, Justin Bahen, Paul Moroney, and Julian Blaxland are all expected to be on the grounds at Park Paddocks, as are Ciaron Maher Racing's bloodstock manager, Will Bourne, as well as stud masters Arthur Mitchell of Yarraman Park and Michael Kirwan from Kia Ora, all of which leaves the Australians poised to pick up where they left off in 2019.
Recent Royal Ascot Winners Come Under the Hammer
The chance to purchase a Royal Ascot winner is a rare thing, and having the opportunity to do so when ink in the form book is only just dry is even rarer still. However, those on the hunt at the July Sale will be rather spoiled for choice, with not one but two such offerings due to come under the hammer July 8.
First up comes Latin Lover (Lot 710), who gave trainer Harry Eustace a day to remember when storming to success over five furlongs in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes June 17. That was the 3-year-old son of Starspangledbanner's third win from 11 starts, and the way in which he cut down the leaders to score by half a length points to there being bigger performances in the locker. The relation to group 1 winners Leading Light, Toylsome, and Romantic Proposal will be consigned by Barton Sales.
Next comes Inver Park (Lot 752), who provided Classic-winning trainer George Boughey with his first Royal Ascot success with a dominant performance in the Buckingham Palace Stakes June 16. The 4-year-old son of Pivotal, whose dam is a half sister to group 1-winning sprinter Maarek, has won three races for Boughey and improved his official rating fully 20 pounds, rising from a mark of 78 to 98 over the course of five runs. The manner in which he swept through from in rear to score by a length suggests he may not have reached his ceiling just yet.
Given that recent form tends to count for so much at the horses-in-training sales, if Latin Lover and Inver Park are free of veterinary issues, then they should reward connections with a handsome profit. Latin Lover was bought as a yearling in 2020 by De Burgh Equine for just £21,000 (US$27,145) from the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, while Inver Park was purchased from Mick Quinn by Sam Haggas' Hurworth Bloodstock for £35,000 (US$46,552) in 2021 at the Goffs UK December Sale.
Breeders Presented With Blue-Chip Opportunities
The July Sale not only offers breeders the chance to replenish their broodmare bands, but with a whole host of mares due to be offered in foal, they can also gain access to some in-demand sires.
Eyecatchers on this front include the 3-year-old Footprints (Lot 271), who is not only a Galileo sister to the dual group 2-winning and multiple group 1-placed Armory but has the added bonus of being offered by The Castlebridge Consignment carrying to Wootton Bassett, who stood the 2022 season at Coolmore at a fee of €150,000.
Other blue-chip names among the covering sires index include Dark Angel, with Shadwell offering the 9-year-old Rihaam (Lot 179) in foal to the Yeomanstown Stud resident. Rihaam, who is a sibling to five black-type performers and out of a half sister to Bahri, has already bred one winner by Dark Angel in the listed-placed Ribhi.
The Castlebridge Consignment also offers Exceling (Lot 199), a three-time winner by Exceed And Excel who hails from the same extended family as Rihaam. The 3-year-old is offered in foal to Tally-Ho Stud's record-breaking 2-year-old sire Mehmas, who stood the latest covering season at a career-high fee of €50,000.
The foal out of Exceling would be bred on the Mehmas—Exceed And Excel cross that has yielded six winners from eight runners, including the smart Clarendon House, who ran to a Racing Post Rating of 109 when second at Goodwood earlier in the year, and the 97-rated dual scorer Mishal Star.
Godolphin will also offer the 4-year-old Rainband (Lot 130), a winning and listed-placed daughter of Medaglia d'Oro carrying to the Irish National Stud stalwart Invincible Spirit. There is an abundance of black type on Rainband's page as she is out of Fitful Skies, a group 3-winning and grade 1-placed daughter of Dubawi who descends from champion filly Dahlia.
Those on the lookout for a mare in foal to a stallion on the up could do a lot worse than consider the nine lots in foal to Whitsbury Manor Stud's Havana Grey, who heads the European first-season stallion—and general 2-year-old sire—standings with 21 winners, of which seven are black-type performers.
Among the group are All About Time (Lot 116), a 10-year-old daughter of Azamour from Whatton Manor Stud whose Havana Grey foal will be bred on the same cross as recent juvenile scorer Panama, and Renaissant (Lot 50), who comes from the complete dispersal of Helescane Stud and who bred this year's 2-year-old winner Jiffy Boy.
Last year, from 574 Lots offered, 538 sold (94%) for a turnover up 107% against the COVID-impacted renewal in 2020, with an average up 27%.
Notable graduates are Janina, dam of Campanelle (sold by Shadwell, bought by Tally-Ho Stud for 39,000gns (US$53,330) in 2016); Entreat, dam of Golden Horde (sold by Cheveley Park Stud, bought by BBA Ireland for 14,000gns (US$19,144) in 2016); Queenofthefairies, dam of Fairyland (sold by Ecurie Henri-Alex Pantall, bought by Tally-Ho Stud for 32,000gns (US$40,696) in 2010).
