Qatari interests secured the top four highest prices on day two at the Tattersalls July sale, helping key economic indicators to double-digit gains across the board.
Topping the July 11 trading was the winning Motivator colt Durand, who was bought for 260,000 guineas ($409,691 in U.S. funds) by Qatari trainer Ibrahim Saeed Al-Malki.
Overall, 126 of 141 horses offered were sold for total receipts of 2,276,300 guineas ($3,586,846), a 19.6% increase from last year's corresponding session. The average price of 18,066 guineas ($28,467) was up 30% and the median price of 9,000 guineas ($14,182) improved 28.6%. The clearance rate was a robust 89.4%
Durand, a twice-raced 3-year-old, sparkled in his first career win June 10 at Roscommon in Ireland, setting a 1 1/4-mile track record in a 3 1/2-length triumph.
"He went for more than I thought, but I like the horse very much," Al-Malki said. "I watched his maiden win, which was very impressive in a track record.
"He is for the Qatar Derby (Dec. 27), but he is entered in the group III Royal Whip (Aug. 11 at the Curragh), so we might leave him here for that."
Offered by trainer John Murphy's Irish-based Highfort Stables operation, Durand is out of the unraced Elusive City mare Rouge Dancer. The family includes Italian champion Grease, who is the dam of English highweight and French group III winner Susurration.
Zarkiyr, a winning Acclamation colt from the family of 2008 European Horse of the Year Zarkava, brought 200,000 guineas ($315,147). Qatar eight-time champion trainer Gassim Ghazali bid on behalf of Sheikh Mishal Bin Hamad Al-Thani, brother to the new Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
Ghazali, who bought the top-priced Miblish on day one, also has the Qatar Derby in mind for the 3-year-old Zarkiyr, who broke his maiden last time out going 1 1/2 miles June 27 at Tipperary. Out of the Red Ransom mare Zarkalia, he was offered in the Aga Khan's consignment.
Juddmonte Farms consigned recent maiden winner Seamless, a 3-year-old Beat Hollow colt who was knocked down to Qatari's Abdulaziz Al Boenain for 100,000 guineas ($157,574).
Qatari businessman Hussain Ali Bukannan went to 95,000 guineas ($149,695) for 2-year-old Peter Mac, an unbeaten two-time winner by Kodiac, who was a late addition to the sale.
"He has been bought for the three-year-old program in Qatar," Bukannan said of the colt, who was offered by trainer Richard Fahey's Musley Bank Stables.
The day three of the Tattersalls July sale begins at 9.30 a.m. July 12 in Newmarket.