Bunglejungleparty tops the charts at 125,000gns at Tattersalls August Sale

There was a distinctly international vibe to the opening session of the Tattersalls August Sale in Newmarket on Tuesday that was epitomised by the top lot, who boasted French form, was sold on behalf of an Irish owner and went the way of Qatari interests at 125,000gns.

Top lot honours belonged to Bunglejungleparty as a determined Will Douglass of Charlie Gordon-Watson Bloodstock saw off Conrad Allen to secure the day's sole six-figure recruit.

Consigned by Jamie Railton, Bunglejungleparty made four starts in France for trainer Florian Guyader carrying the colours of Theresa Marnane, and although still a maiden he displayed a high level of ability when third in the Listed Prix des Jouvenceaux at Vichy on his latest start.

"He's a nice horse and his form really stands out in this sale," said Douglass. "I bought Pom Malpic from the same people last year and he's been successful this season."

Will Douglass in action at Park PaddocksCredit: Laura Green

The two-year-old son of Bungle Inthejungle, who is out of a sister to the Listed-winning Rivellino, was making his second appearance at public auction, having been sourced by Con Marnane for just €12,000 at the Goffs Autumn Online Yearling Sale when offered by Winter Power's breeder, Newlands House Stud.

"I'm over the moon," said a delighted Marnane. "He's a good-looking horse, a big, strong colt and just what everybody wanted. He had clean x-rays and a very good scope as well and there were three people in there at over 100,000gns.

Con Marnane is all smiles after selling day one's top lot, Bunglejungleparty, for 125,000gnsCredit: Laura Green

"He was entered in a Group 3 in Germany this weekend but the yearling sales are fast approaching so we decided to roll the dice here. I sold Will a very good horse here last year, he's been second in a stakes race now, so he knows where to get the good ones!"

Expanding on how he found Bunglejungleparty as a yearling, Marnane added: "We bought a few at the Goffs online sale, which has been very lucky for us as we got Have A Good Day from there and she's a Group 3 winner now.

"Amy [Marnane, daughter] went around and looked at them in the flesh and we just pressed the buttons at home."

Queen's homebred makes Bahrain switch

The second-top lot is also set for foreign climes after Bahrain-based trainer Ali Majeed went to 75,000gns for the progressive three-year-old Encourage from Barton Sales.

The son of Iffraaj, whose dam is a half-sister to Australian Group 1 winner Kingdom Of Fife, was bred and raced by the Queen and won one of nine starts while under the care of Roger Charlton.

Lot 197: Encourage sells for 75,000gnsCredit: Laura Green

Encourage was purchased on behalf of Sultan Aldeen Mohamed Salman Al-Khalifa and will be targeted at the new Bahrain turf series, a group of ten £50,000 handicaps that have been added to the Bahraini programme with the aim of attracting international competitors.

"Hopefully he's a nice horse," said Majeed. "Sometimes we buy a nice horse and they do nothing! He's rated below the handicap for the new series at the moment but hopefully he can improve."

National Hunt names out in force

Although international demand fuelled much of the day's trade, a number of National Hunt trainers were responsible for some of the session's more notable transactions.

Mick Sheridan, representing Buckinghamshire-based trainer Phil Middleton, got the better of Hamish Macauley with a bid of 62,000gns to secure Dirham Emirati from David Simcock's Trillium Place Stables.

The three-year-old son of Vadamos ran out a comfortable winner of his second outing in a Newcastle novice stakes but finished last in the Queen's Vase before disappointing when stepped up in trip on his stable debut for Kevin Philippart de Foy.

However, Sheridan said Middleton was confident that Dirham Emirati could put those efforts behind him once his sights were switched to jumping.

Mick Sheridan after signing for Dirham Emirati at 62,000gnsCredit: Laura Green

"Phil has been very keen on this horse for a while," said Sheridan. "He's watched all his runs and there have been valid excuses for his last two efforts. The plan is to give him a bit of time off and then get him schooled up to go jumping."

Sheridan went on to explain that Middleton had expected to be in attendance at Tattersalls himself before meeting with a setback en route.

He said: "Phil's actually got stuck in traffic so he asked me to do the bidding for him. He's got a fair old journey but rang me two hours ago and then called back an hour later and was still in the same position!"

Dirham Emirati, whose dam is a Rip Van Winkle sibling to Master Of Reality, was making his third appearance at public auction, having cost previous owner Ahmad Al Shaikh 55,000gns as a Book 1 yearling after JC Bloodstock signed for the youngster at 22,000gns at the December Foal Sale.

Vadamos looks set to become a rising force in the National Hunt ranks over the coming years after the son of Monsun transferred from Tally-Ho Stud to Coolmore's Grange Stud ahead of the most recent breeding season. He stood 2021 at a fee of €6,000.

Bailey adds to his collection

Also staying closer to home is Eastern Delight after Chepstow-based owner-breeder Robert Bailey secured the daughter of Camacho with a bid of 50,000gns, which was delivered by telephone to Tattersalls' Jason Singh.

The three-year-old filly was placed twice from six starts for Sir Michael Stoute and Saeed Suhail, and Bailey said he would be hoping to enhance the filly's profile before she joined up with other members of her family in his New Hall Farm-based broodmare band.

"There is one mare in India and one mare in Australia but we have many of the pedigree's breeding mares at home and they've all got Glamorous in their name," said Bailey, whose red colours with black star and white sleeves and cap have been carried by the likes of Glamorous Dream, Just Glamorous, Glamorous Spirit and Go Glamorous, all of whom are siblings to Eastern Delight.

"She will go into training for a couple of years with Chris Mason and we will try and improve her form and then she will come back to the farm. There was no need for me to come up to Newmarket as she was the one I wanted and we had done all the checks we needed."

Bred by Yeomanstown Stud, Eastern Delight had changed hands on one previous occasion having fetched €180,000 from Blandford Bloodstock at the Goffs Orby Sale in 2019. She was consigned at Tattersalls by James Owen Racing.

Bromley backs August Sale initiative

Alan King was another trainer leaving Park Paddocks with a new jumping recruit after Highflyer Bloodstock's Anthony Bromley went to 45,000gns for Greystoke, who was offered by Mick Channon's West Ilsley Stables.

The three-year-old son of Sixties Icon won twice from 16 starts for Channon and achieved a career-high Racing Post Rating of 81 for his most recent success, which came at Redcar in April.

"He's a hardy horse and ran a good second at Newbury over a mile and a quarter just last week," said Bromley. "He's got a solid rating, a bit of scope about him physically and I like the sire Sixties Icon.

"Alan will have to decide at what stage he's going to geld him because he's still a colt, but he's taking his races well and looks in great condition. Alan had a good chat with Jack Channon beforehand and he came well recommended so he looks like an interesting horse for a new owner to the yard."

Bromley gave the August Sale his seal of approval, saying the timing of the auction provided more options and opportunities for buyers and sellers alike.

"Alan might give him a break and freshen him up, which you can do at the end of August, whereas it can be more of a problem come the end of October," he said.

"I like the positioning of this sale and I think it suits the trainers selling as they get a few more runs out of the horses, and hopefully it gives an owner the chance to sell before reinvesting at the yearling sales."

Lloyd reloads

The first noteworthy price of the session came when Jamie Lloyd of Meah Lloyd Bloodstock went to 40,000gns for Oh Great, who came from the Aguiar Bloodstock draft.

The son of Ribchester was catalogued as having run three times at two but brought a significant update to the ring having shed his maiden tag in the stewards' room when awarded a Wolverhampton nursery on his fourth and most recent outing for Roger Varian and Amo Racing.

"He's going to Jeff Mullins in California for B & G Stables," said Lloyd after signing the docket. "He's been bought for the same connections we bought Originaire for. He came from here a couple of years ago, he went on to be Grade 2-placed and this colt seems a similar type.

"There's very few of this type left in the sale but he ticked all the boxes so we're happy to get him."

Bred by Kildaragh Stud, Oh Great is a sibling to two Group scorers, namely Nell Gwyn Stakes winner and 1,000 Guineas third Daban and the Thoroughbred Stakes victor Thikriyaat. The colt was purchased by Alex Elliott for 70,000gns when offered at Book 1 last year.

Day one of the second renewal of the August Sale saw 127 of 144 offered lots sell for a clearance rate of 88 per cent. Those transactions saw turnover of 1,459,200gns, a 50 per cent reduction on the corresponding session last year, when 36 more lots changed hands.

The average price was down 36 per cent at 11,490gns and the median slid by 42 per cent to 7,000gns, having been 12,000gns a year ago.

The August Sale concludes on Wednesday, with the second and final session starting at 11am.

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