An extraordinary renewal of the Tattersalls July Sale concluded with unprecedented figures for all key indicators, sale turnover exceeding 16 million guineas for the first time and a record average and median. The third and final day of the sale saw continued strength and depth to trade with seven lots selling for 100,000 guineas or more and a 96% clearance rate.
Team Valor Strike for Crystal Estrella at 275,000 Guineas
The top lot on the third and final day of the Tattersalls July Sale was the wildcard lot CRYSTAL ESTRELLA, consigned by Sir Michael Stoute’s Freemason Lodge Stables and knocked down for 275,000 guineas to Team Valor International, bidding on the phone via Tattersalls representative Jason Singh.
Barry Irwin of Team Valor commented: "I like the way she finishes her races out, especially in the last 150m or so. She looks like she is a solid middle-distance filly on the way up. I like her pedigree, she looks as though she is a big good-looking filly who will improve this year and especially next year.
"She has a half-brother who won four in a row, including two Listed races in Australia. He could possibly win a Group race and that will help a little bit. The second dam was very good. I am going to send her back to Sir Michael and think about what I want to do. He knows her and I will talk to him, I have not done so yet. It is hard to find fillies like her and I am happy to have her."
CRYSTAL ESTRELLA has run three times and broke her maiden impressively at Goodwood for Sir Evelyn de Rothschild on her most recent start, earning an official rating of 89. The daughter of IFFRAAJ is a half-sister to dual Listed winner CRYSTAL PEGASUS out of CRYSTAL ETOILE, a half-sister to Group 1 winning Champion CRYSTAL OCEAN, Grade 1 winner HILLSTAR and multiple Group 2 winner CRYSTAL CAPELLA.
210,000 Guineas for Royal Ascot Winner Latin Lover
This year's Royal Ascot winner LATIN LOVER was one of the day's expected highlights and the three-year-old did not disappoint, with an online bidder emerging triumphant at 210,000 guineas following a lengthy bidding battle with locally based Greg Chung in the ring. The docket was signed under the Ahead All As Agent banner.
The progressive STARSPANGLEDBANNER gelding was the first Royal Ascot runner for trainer Harry Eustace and duly won the five-furlong Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap, earning an official rating of 89. It was a third career victory for the promising sprinter, who won over six furlongs on his previous start at Kempton in June.
"Latin Lover looks strong and a good example of one by Starspanglebanner," commented the buyer's representative. "He won well at Royal Ascot last month in a big field of 27 runners. He has improved after being gelded last year and is concentrating more on the job as a three-year-old. His performance is getting better, he is a good size and I expect him to make up into a good sprinter."
LATIN LOVER is one of four winners produced by the SHAMARDAL mare BLUE DAHLIA, who hails from the family of Group 1 winners LEADING LIGHT, ROMANTIC PROPOSAL and BEL SPRINTER. He was bought as a yearling for just €21,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale by De Burgh Equine from Glenvale Stud.
Ghazali Secures Salvator Mundi for 205,000 Guineas
The lightly raced GALILEO colt SALVATOR MUNDI provided a late highlight of the evening session with bloodstock agent Will Douglass, standing with champion Qatari trainer Jassim Ghazali, seeing off the attentions of a persistent online bidder to secure the three-year-old for 205,000 guineas.
Douglass commented: "He is a nice horse and very progressive. I like buying from Mr Gosden because the horses are well-bred and produced, they are respected and there is a lot left in the tank. I bought a few last year and they have gone all over the world and won. This horse will go straight to Qatar. We waited all day for him."
Offered by the Castlebridge Consignment, SALVATOR MUNDI has run six times for John & Thady Gosden and owner-breeder Bjorn Nielsen, winning his last two starts and earning an official rating of 91.
The GALILEO colt is a half-brother to the Listed winner and Group 3 placed CHARTREUSE and a full-brother to the Listed runner up GLORIA MUNDI. He is out of the Group 3 placed KING’S BEST mare BUFERA, a half-sister to the Group 3 winners JOHNNY BARNES and ALBISOLA as well as to TONNARA, the dam of the Group 1 winners ECTOT and MOST IMPROVED.
Chairman’s Statement
At the conclusion of the 2022 Tattersalls July Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;
“Records across the board are always welcome and the 2022 Tattersalls July Sale has achieved unprecedented figures for all the key indicators. The sale turnover has exceeded 16 million guineas for the first time, an average price in excess of 30,000 guineas is also a first for this fixture and the median of 15,000 guineas is another sale record and a clear indication of a sale which has shown extraordinary strength and depth from start to finish.
“The top price of 540,000 guineas paid for the outstanding Shadwell mare RIHAAM is also a July Sale record, but perhaps the most important statistic is the clearance rate which for the fourth consecutive year was more than 90% and on day 2 of the sale was a truly extraordinary 99%. Demand at all levels of the market has been typically international with buyers from every continent in the world all contributing to the record breaking trade and particularly notable has been the strong Australian contingent headed by Zhang Yuesheng’s Yulong Investments. Domestic buyers, both Flat and National Hunt, have also been competing strongly all week and the sustained demand for well - bred fillies and mares is another positive not only for the Tattersalls July Sale but also for the wider industry."
