With several of the world’s biggest owners present — including Sheikh Mohammed, Sheikh Hamdan, and Michael Tabor — Tattersalls’ Craven breeze-up sale began Wednesday night in England with its most successful ever session.
Agent Luke Lillingston, acting for an undisclosed client, purchased the most expensive 2-year-old, a 380,000-guinea Haafhd — Allespagne filly, whose half-sister Cruzpiel (by Singspiel) won the group III Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. Jamie McCalmont, seemingly taking instructions from Coolmore’s Paul Shanahan , was the underbidder. The Haafhd filly had been bought in for 48,000 guineas at Tattersalls in October and was consigned by John Hassett Jr.’s Bloodstock Connection.
Lillingston later bought a 300,000-guinea Mr. Greeley — Miss Gazon filly that had cost $90,000 as a yearling at Keeneland in September and was consigned by Willie Browne’s Mocklershill Stables.
Sheikh Hamdan bought four lots for a total of 1.055-million guineas. They included a 375,000-guinea Mr. Greeley – Dehere of the Dog colt, which was a $260,000 Keeneland September yearling . His consignor was Eddie O’Leary’s Lynn Lodge Stud. Kuwaiti owner Saleh Al Homaizi was underbidder.
In all, 64 juveniles sold for a gross of 6,477,000 guineas and an average price of 101,203 guineas. The median price was 67,500 guineas. Last year, the 69 horses that sold grossed 5,138,000 guineas and averaged 74,464 guineas. Their median was 52,000 guineas.
