Bargain buys providing priceless entertainment on the Knavesmire

Many buyers will head into the yearling sales season with a reduced arsenal of disposable cash, but there were plenty of reminders on the second day of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival that a high-class winner can be obtained for more manageable sums.

Miss Amulet, who continued on her upward trajectory in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes, is a case in point. From the final Irish crop of the exported Sir Prancealot, the filly has made two decidedly low-key appearances in the ring, with her breeders Ringfort Stud first selling her as a foal at Goffs for just €1,000.

She resurfaced at the Tattersalls Ascot sales last September when pinhooked by Rockview Stables and was bought again for just £7,500 by Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland.

After not only this win but one in the Listed Marwell Stakes at Naas earlier in the month, owner Colm Griffin has a very much more valuable filly in his possession. Credit must also go to Derek Veitch’s Ringfort, which was back in business on the Knavesmire after also consigning last year’s Gimcrack winner Threat.

This year’s Ascot event, which is being held at Newmarket early next month, will feature Miss Amulet’s half-sister by El Kabeir, both bred out of Oasis Dream mare Shena’s Dream, the winner of four minor races for William Haggas back in 2012.

Happy Romance, who took the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Stakes, is another who not only failed to break the bank but has more than recaptured her purchase price.

Bred by Redpender Stud, she was bought for £25,000 by Ross and Peter Doyle at Doncaster and had captured the still-lucrative Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes prior to her latest windfall for the Richard Hannon team.

Trainer Terry Kent (right) and jockey Ray Dawson after winning the Sky Bet EBF Stallions Nursery Handicap Stakes with AtaserCredit: Edward Whitaker

Happy Romance is a Dandy Man daughter of the unraced Rugged Up, whose granddam was a Listed-placed sibling of the top-class pair Silca’s Sister and Golden Silca.

Later on the card, small Newmarket trainer Terry Kent achieved a milestone victory in his first season as Ataser doubled the yard's tally in the Sky Bet EBF Stallions Nursery.

Kent found the Sayif colt tucked away in Book 4 of Tattersalls October for just 4,500gns.

"David Hodge [Llety Farms] was the breeder and he described the horse as honest, tough and genuine when I bought him and he’s been absolutely spot on. That's exactly what he is," Kent told Racing TV.

"He gives as much as you ask. Whether there’s more to come, it would be nice to think there is, but he owes us absolutely nothing."

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