Calyx’s Sister Sets Tattersalls July Sale Record

A Tattersalls July Sale record was set July 9 when the blue-blooded Orchid Bouquet was hammered down at 550,000 guineas (US$786,000, 1 guinea=US$1.43). An online bidder went up against Grant Pritchard-Gordon, who was leaning nonchalantly against the rail in the packed gangway. The rivals engaged in a protracted tussle until Pritchard-Gordon created a little slice of sales history with a decisive 25,000 guineas raise. The unraced Juddmonte-bred 3-year-old filly is by Kingman (GB) and out of the group 3-winning and group 1-placed Helleborine, making her a full sister to not only Calyx but Coppice (GB), winner of the listed 2023 Rosemary Stakes, as well. There are a whole host of celebrity names on the page, as Helleborine is a sister to 2008 Sprint Cup (G1) heroine African Rose, dam of Frankel (GB)'s first stakes winner Fair Eva. Another full sibling is the dam of 2021 European champion 2-year-old male Native Trail (GB), while 1999 Dewhurst Stakes (G1) hero Distant Music appears beneath the third dam. The Badgers Bloodstock man said this lineage had been central to his decision to bid the sales-record sum. "It's just the Juddmonte family, that's the whole attraction," he said. "She's for a good client who I've bought a lot of Juddmonte families for. This person has been very keen on Juddmonte families, and we both agree there. She'll stay in Europe. She's a filly who's had sore shins throughout her life. Maybe they'll try her, but the paddock value is what's important. The blood is what's important." Asked whether he had expected to have to bid to such a level, Pritchard-Gordon, who spent 17 years as Juddmonte racing manager, said: "No. Juddmonte families always have a premium though; there's so much happening around these families. I know this pedigree going back to the fifth dam, it's just a fabulous family that's very much alive. Some of those families from my time have disappeared completely but this one doesn't give any indication of dying out." The previous July Sale record was set back in 2022 when Blandford Bloodstock went to 540,000 guineas for the Shadwell-consigned Rihaam. The daughter of Dansili subsequently bred a Dark Angel (IRE) filly named Luminare for Lynch Bages and Camas Park Stud. Coincidentally the winning 2-year-old changed hands during the July 8 session of the July sale, with Rabbah Bloodstock signing the ticket at 105,000 guineas. The Juddmonte draft saw 22 lots sell for an aggregate of 2,003,000 guineas at an average price of 91,045 guineas. The consignment contributed 26% of the day's turnover, which reached 7,775,000 guineas (US$11,118,250)—a total that was up 62% year-on-year. The average also rose by 60% to 40,285 guineas (US$57,608), while the median went up 67%, increasing from 12,000 guineas in 2024 to 20,000 guineas (US$28,600) Wednesday. The clearance rate was 91% as 193 lots sold from 211 offered. The Tattersalls July Sale concludes July 10, with the preracing session starting at 9:30 a.m. local time and the postracing session beginning at 5:45 p.m.