Solid Start to Tattersalls Breeze-Up Sale

The opening day of the Tattersalls Breeze-Up Sale saw solid international trade with buyers from throughout Europe and the Far East all making a significant impact on proceedings and Irish based vendors dominating the top of the market with the top four lots all coming from across the Irish Sea. Average for the day was up 1% to 23,223 guineas for an aggregate of 1,184,400 guineas.

Con Marnane, who sold last year's 125,000 guineas record breaking sale topper from his Bansha House Stables, was on course to emulate the achievement when his chesnut son of first crop sire Desert King topped the opening session falling to a final bid of 82,000 guineas from locally based bloodstock agent Jill Lamb. Marnane purchased the colt for IR£21,000 last year.

Another Tipperary based consignor, Pat Doyle, scored an equally notable triumph with two of the top four lots coming from his Suirview Stables including a colt from the first crop of Dubai World Cup and Japan Cup winner Singspiel. The colt, out of the Baillamont mare Belize Tropical was purchased for 200,000 Francs as a yearling, and was knocked down to Japanese bloodstock agent Taki Murayama for 80,000 guineas, with Jill Lamb underbidder. Murayama was acting on behalf of Ritto based trainer Kenji Yamauchi who saddled Dance Flame to finish second in the Japanese 2000 Guineas last weekend.

Earlier in the session, Doyle set proceedings alight with a handsome son of Gulch out of the Storm Bird mare Padrao Global. The colt fell to a final bid of 70,000 guineas from bloodstock agent Charlie Gordon-Watson who saw off fierce competition from Epsom based trainer Philip Mitchell. Gordon-Watson was acting for English born Hong Kong based trainer David Oughton. Gordon-Watson struck later in the session, again on behalf of Oughton, when he purchased a striking colt by promising young sire Mark of Esteem out of the Alleged mare Princess Legere for 60,000 guineas. On this occasion the role of underbidder was filled by Irish agent Peter Doyle who was accompanied by Hong Kong based agent Dan O'Donnell.

Another Tipperary based consignor, Willie Browne, hit the leader board when the Distant View colt out of Polish Socialite from his Mocklershill Stables turned his $35,000 yearling price into 70,000 guineas. The colt was knocked down to trainer Paul Cole whose previous Tattersalls Breeze-Up purchases have included the last two winners of the William Hill Lincoln Handicap, Nimello and John Ferneley.

More information is available on the Tattersalls Website at http://www.tattersalls.com/