The Tattersalls July Sale continued in robust fashion on the second day with Middle Eastern buyers dominating the horses in training trade. A remarkable 95% of lots offered found new homes.
Ghazali Strikes Again for Mr Diamond
Qatari trainer Jassim Ghazali continued his spending spree when going to 100,000 guineas to secure the three-year-old MR DIAMOND. The son of BATED BREATH was knocked down to Ghazali after he saw off Jamie Lloyd, stood with Qatari trainer Stefano Ibido.
Bloodstock agent Will Douglass, who is working with Ghazali, said: "We like the horse a lot, we like his profile – he was third last time to a horse called Awe, who was subsequently fourth in the Britannia and has been sold to Hong Kong.
"We like buying from Richard Fahey too."
Train To Georgia to Dubai
The joint sale topper came late in the evening when TRAIN TO GEORGIA was knocked down to Al Rashed Racing for 100,000 guineas. Sold by Tuite Racing on behalf of Matt Morgan, the three-year-old son of SCAT DADDY was an impressive winner on debut in March and was placed second over ten furlongs since the catalogue was printed.
Racing manager to Al Rashed Racing, Tariq Moubarak, was in charge of bidding and commented;
"He is going to Dubai. We watched him win and we liked that. He is by Scat Daddy and should suit Dubai.
"Al Rashed Racing is a new owner and has ten horses in Britain with Peter Chapple-Hyam, Richard Fahey and Richard Hughes."
85,000 Guineas for Current Option
CURRENT OPTION from William Haggas’ Somerville Lodge draft made 85,000 guineas when selling to Stephen Thorne of Shamrock Thoroughbreds who was acting on behalf of Dooley Bloodstock. The three-year-old son of CAMELOT has been very consistent on the racecourse, placing on every outing and was a winner over seven furlongs since the catalogue was printed.
Thorne, who also assists trainer Adrian McGuinness, commented:
"Current Option was the pick of the sale for me and he came highly recommended. This is the sort of horse that we want in the yard and we need to go out and buy them."
Dooley Bloodstock is made up of three brothers – Mark, David and James. The siblings are from Manchester but have their horses trained in Ireland with McGuinness.
Frontman Heads to Qatar
Another horse in training heading to Qatar is the KINGMAN colt FRONTMAN who was knocked down to Jamie Lloyd of Meah/Lloyd Bloodstock. The Juddmonte Farms offering, who has run twice for trainer John Gosden, realised 80,000 guineas.
"We were getting a little frustrated!" smiled Lloyd, "but we are delighted to get this horse.
"He had a setback as a two-year-old, but has run twice now and looked very promising, only just touched the surface with him. He vetted very well.
"He is going to Qatar to be trained by Stefano Ibido for Abdulhadi Mana Al Hajri. We bought Beachwalk here last year from Sir Michael Stoute and he went on to win the Amir Shalfa.
"Stefano really loved this horse and was his pick."
Crystal Tribe Heading to California
Meah / Lloyd Bloodstock Jamie Lloyd struck again soon after securing FRONTMAN, this time spending 82,000 guineas on CRYSTAL TRIBE, a two-time winner since the beginning of June.
Previously owned and bred by Lord Lloyd-Webber, the DANSILI colt is out of the Group 1 Fillies' Mile winner and Group 1 Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up, CRYSTAL MUSIC. He was consigned from William Haggas’ Somerville Lodge.
"He'll be heading to California to be trained by Jeff Mullins," said purchaser Jamie Lloyd.
"We've had some luck with Jeff in the past, we bought Battle Of Hastings here a long time ago and he won everything over there as a three-year-old. He seems to be very progressive and ahead of the handicapper.
"My business partner, David Meah, loved the horse and loved his replays so we're very happy to have him.
"He's one Jeff can go on with and the plan will be for him to run in Del Mar, where he'll be eligible for the valuable 'Ship And Win' bonus - they run for 40 per cent more when they run outside of the state."