(Edited Tattersalls report)
Brilliant sunshine and a festive atmosphere set the tone for the opening day of the Tattersalls July Sale at Park Paddocks with robust trade and a new record for filly in training at the July Sale of 250,000 guineas. A total of 200 lots were sold for a total of 4,608,200 guineas, at an average of 23,041 guineas and a median of 15,500 guineas.
The 3-year-old filly Easy to Thrill set a July Sale record for a filly in training when knocked down to Irish agent Bobby O'Ryan for 250,000 guineas late in the day. The daughter of Soviet Star out of the group II winning Affirmed mare Easy to Copy was purchased by O'Ryan on behalf of a Dublin based businessman after he saw off the efforts of the BBA Ireland's Eamonn Reilly, who was stood alongside Irish owner/breeder Joseph Joyce. Easy to Thrill is a half-sister to the group III winner Two-Twenty-Two and the listed winners Easy Definition and Desert Ease as well as to Twice the Ease, dam of the promising 2-year-old Achilles of Troy. The sale represented a solid return for her owners who had purchased her only 18 months earlier at the 2005 Tattersalls December Yearling Sale for 26,000 guineas.
The second highest priced lot for the day at 170,000 guineas was the Dansili 4-year-old Water Feature, who was offered in foal to Montjeu's four-time group I winning son Hurricane Run. Consigned by Voute Sales, the mare out of Shining Water is a half-sister to the group I Grand Criterium winner Tenby and the group placed listed winner Bristol Channel. Interest in the mare came thick and fast with Blandford Bloodstock's Richard Brown and agent Gordion Troeller both active early before Irish agent Seamus Kennedy entered the fray. He was joined soon after by Glenview House Stud's Steven Harris but neither could withstand the efforts of the BBA Ireland's Eamonn Reilly who landed the mare on behalf of Laundry Cottage Stud's Colin and Melba Bryce.
Badgers Bloodstock's Grant Pritchard-Gordon was active on the opening day of the sale, signing for the third and fifth highest priced lots of the day. The first of these was the 4-year-old mare Opera Comica who he purchased for 85,000 guineas. The daughter of Dr Fong was consigned from Caroline Green's Templeton Stud and was offered in foal to Derrinstown Stud's Marju, sire of Opera Comica's half-sister Viva Pataca, who has taken Hong Kong racing by storm during the last 18 months. A 26,000 guineas graduate of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Viva Pataca, who raced in England as Comic Strip, has won 11 races and almost £2,000,000 in prize money. Pritchard-Gordon indicated that Opera Comica was purchased on behalf of owner Paul Makin, and would visit Starcraft in Australia where she will be covered to northern hemisphere time following the injury to that stallion that will prevent his travel to Europe next year.
The Tattersalls July Sale continues at 9.30am on Wednesday, July 11.
