Sustained international demand continued on the third and final day of the Tattersalls July Sale with Jubilee Walk topping proceedings at 220,000 guineas (US $298,320, 1gn=US $1.356) ahead of Soldier’s Empire at 180,000gns (US $244,060), with both horses set to target major prizes in Bahrain.
Jubilee Walk to Target Bahrain for China Horse Club
The Study of Man (IRE) colt Jubilee Walk sold via online bid to China Horse Club, buying out former partner Qatar Racing. Consigned by Jamie Railton, the 3-year-old was previously trained by James Ferguson and offered with an official rating of 97, having won three of his six starts.
Jubilee Walk is out of the Oasis Dream mare Starlit Sands , winner of the Prix d’Arenberg (G3) and runner up in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2). Starlit Sands is the granddam of Sandrine , winner of the Lennox Stakes (G2), the Park Stakes (G2), and the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (G2) and twice group 1 placed.
Matt Houldsworth, European manager for China Horse Club, said: “He’ll stay with James and we’re going to target Bahrain. We’ll take him around the Middle East and perhaps we’ll go to Dubai as well. We haven’t had runners in Bahrain before but it’s something we’re keen to do as it’s obviously an emerging part of the world. We thought this horse fitted the profile nicely as he’s very much on the up.”
Soldier’s Empire Another Heading to Bahrain
Another horse set to head to Bahrain is the 3-year-old colt Soldier’s Empire who was knocked down to Al Mohamediya Racing’s Sheikh Sultan after he saw off a determined effort from Irish bloodstock agent Barry Lynch.
Spokesperson Ali Majeed revealed: “He will go straight to Bahrain from here and will not run again in the UK, and he will be trained by Fawzi Nass. He is a serious horse, he could suit the Crown Prince Cup or the King’s Cup, and he will have lots of options when he is four.”
The son of Bated Breath was sold by Ballygallon Stud having been in training with Ger Lyons. He won his maiden last October at Dundalk and has been placed twice this year in competitive races at Gowran Park and the Curragh, racing off a handicap mark of 90.
Swindon Goes to Libyan Syndicate Sky Racing
The progressive and lightly raced Swindon, from William Haggas’ Somerville Lodge draft, was added to the July Sale catalog as a wildcard two weeks ago before franking his credentials by winning impressively at Sandown last week. He was knocked down to agent Alessandro Marconi on behalf of the Libyan syndicate Sky Racing for 175,000gns, outbidding Oliver St Lawrence and Fawzi Nass as well as agent Jamie Piggott.
Lot 829A, Swindon, a 3-year-old colt by Wootton Bassett, sells to Libya’s Sky Racing for 175,000gns at the Tattersalls July Sale
A Sky Racing spokesman said: “This syndicate is organizing racing in Libya and we have horses in Dubai and Libya. We hope this horse will go to Dubai and might come back to Europe next season, however he may also take in a big race in Libya at the end of October at the National Shooting and Equestrian Club, that will be the main target.
“The owners of the syndicate are pushing hard to improve the racing industry in Libya—there is good prizemoney for the race in October, and it should be open to horses from other countries. There are also stallions and broodmares going to the country too.”
Marconi added: “We have been trying hard to buy horses for three days but have been hitting the crossbar. We have been underbidders on four horses at least, and it was kind of frustrating, but we have been able to score late like the English team last night!
“We wanted to buy a horse who could improve and he might handle the dirt eventually, he is versatile and, hopefully, he will carry the flag for an emerging syndicate.”
The team also purchased the 3-year-old Blue Point colt Gamekeeper from Godolphin for 110,000gns.
Chairman’s Statement
Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony acknowledged that this year’s catalog was smaller and lacked some of the depth that produced record-breaking results at this sale last year. However, he said the sale one again attracted an extraordinarily diverse group of buyers.
“The combination of top class racing at Newmarket’s July Meeting and the quality bloodstock on offer at the Tattersalls July Sale makes this one of the most enjoyable weeks of the European racing and sales calendar,” he said. “(This year’s July Sale) has understandably produced a set of figures which have not quite matched the heights of last year. Nevertheless there has been sustained demand at all levels of the market which has resulted in an enviable clearance rate yet again in excess of 90% and a record-equaling number of horses selling for 250,000gns or more.
“So often we reflect on the sheer number of overseas buyers drawn to sales of this nature at Tattersalls and yet again the international buyers have played a huge part in the success of the past three days. Participation from throughout the Gulf region has been prolific as ever, Australian and New Zealand buyers continue to demonstrate their appetite for quality European middle distance performers and we have had buyers from throughout Europe, India, Japan, Libya, Turkey and first time visitors from Indonesia all making significant contributions alongside their British and Irish Flat and National Hunt counterparts,” he continued.
The three-day sale grossed 13,967,325gns (down 18.7% from 2023), with an average of 25,441gns (down 13.4%), and a median of 11,000gns (down 26.7%). Last year’s sales grossed $17,184,300gns, with an average of 29,375gns, and a median of 15,000gns.
Tattersalls July Sale
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
