Tattersalls Sale Off to Solid Start

A buoyant day one of Tattersalls' mixed July Sale was topped by 3-year-old Mermaid Island -- a half sister to group I One Irish Thousand Guineas winner Nightime -- who made 290,000 guineas when sold to Irish agent Hugo Merry, acting for Dean Fleming's Tyreel Stud in Australia.

Charlie Gordon-Watson was underbidder on the filly, who had made 110,000 euros when going through Goffs' February Sale this year.

"She'll be coming to my Kilshannig Stud and has been bought as a commercial mare to breed from. Dean is planning to start a broodmare band in Europe, mainly selling but maybe keeping the odd filly to race. This was a lovely scopey mare to go with the pedigree," said Merry.

Group III-placed 4-year-old Park Romance, a 200,000 guineas yearling when sold by Lodge Park Stud in 2003, will return to the vendor after Ronan Burns -- whose father Seamus Burns owns the Irish farm -- paid 200,000gns for the Elms Stud offering, one of group I Epsom Derby winner Motivator's first book.

Croom House Stud manager Paul McCartan had been underbidder on Park Romance but had more luck when paying 200,000 guineas for Lucina, a half-sister to this season's group III winner Blue Monday in foal to Bertolini.