Code switcher Laafy tops final day of Tattersalls July Sale at 105,000gns

High-class Flat performer Laafy is set to switch codes after topping the final day of the Tattersalls July Sale when sold to trainer Mark Campion, signing as AGC Bloodstock, at 105,000gns.

The five-year-old son of Noble Mission won four times while in training with Sir Michael Stoute and performed with credit in black-type company when third in last year's Listed Godolphin Stakes. He joins the Malton-based Campion with a peak Racing Post Rating (RPR) of 109.

"He's a very nice horse," said Campion. "Arthur spotted him and said, 'Dad you need to come and look at this horse'. He's going jumping and is a very nicely rated horse, he has plenty of ability.

Mark Campion: Malton-based trainer took home the day three top lotCredit: Laura Green

"We will get him home, the team can take a look at him and we'll make a decision about what to do next once we've seen how he settles in. He's a lovely big horse and we have a small team to own him."

Laafy last changed hands at public auction at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale when bought by Rabbah Bloodstock at $150,000. His four career victories and five places from 18 starts netted connections prize-money of £77,666 over four seasons in training.

View full Tattersalls July Sale results and stats

A strong renewal of the three-day Tattersalls July Sale concluded with turnover of 12,301,300gns, an average price of 22,865gns and a median of 12,000gns.

Rock-solid demand was reflected in the clearance rate of 94 per cent as 538 of 574 offered lots found a buyer. There are no comparative figures following last year's reformatted July Sale.

Trainer in form Tuer upgrades

North Yorkshire-based trainer Grant Tuer has already enjoyed some notable results on the racecourse this year, and on Friday he landed a big sales ring strike when securing the 100,000gns King Triton with DPA Bloodstock.

The progressive son of Invincible Spirit hails from the family of Dubawi and boasted an important update having shed his maiden tag at Thirsk for Roger Varian since the catalogue's publication.

Lot 771: King Triton goes the way of DPA Bloodstock and Grant Tuer at 100,000gnsCredit: Laura Green

"He won last time out and the form looks rock solid," said Tuer. "He's a nice, correct animal with a great temperament and he looks like he's going to be a fun horse. We've bought him for Ed Ware, who had [two-time winner] Seventeen O Four with us before we sold him in the spring.

"We had three horses on the list and Ed loved him - he's not often in the country but he's been at the races today and thankfully he managed to get here just in time."

Grant Tuer: 'To be in a position to add a horse like him to the team is very satisfying'Credit: Laura Green

King Triton joins a team in flying form as Tuer has already fired in a personal-best tally of 28 winners in 2021, which have come at a phenomenal strike-rate of 25 per cent.

The trainer added: "My team's put a lot of hard work in over the last two or three seasons to get us to this position where we've got some nice owners and we're able to afford some nicer animals at the sales.

"We're trying to build the yard up in terms of quality and to be in a position to add a horse like him to the team is very satisfying. He's never run in a handicap but has a mark of 85, which looks workable, and we'll think about going to the three-year-old mile handicap at the Ebor festival."

Williams catches Frankel fever

Frankel fever was catching on the racecourses of Britain on Friday and the same rang true at Tattersalls as the Juddmonte stallion is the sire of Cap Francais, who topped a strong morning session, which featured a clearance rate of 100 per cent, when knocked down to Ian Williams and Richard Ryan at 88,000gns.

Cap Francais, who was bred and owned by the late John Pearce, notched three victories for Ed Walker, including a mile handicap at Haydock that earned him a career-best RPR of 107. He also gained black type when runner-up to Cape Of Good Hope in Epsom's Listed Derby trial in 2019.

Lot 677: Cap Francais sells for 88,000gnsCredit: Laura Green

He has not been seen since finishing fourth in a Meydan handicap in February, but Williams said his vet had given the horse a clean bill of health so they could now begin plotting an international campaign for the well-related gelding.

"We've been very fortunate with another Frankel who came from the horse-in-training sales in The Grand Visir [bought by Alex Elliott at 170,000gns], so we love the stallion, as does everybody," said Williams. "He's had a good break since coming back from Dubai and looks capable of being competitive at the winter festivals abroad.

Ian Williams: 'We love Frankel, as does everybody'Credit: Laura Green

"That's a great challenge for him, and the challenge for me is finding an owner who wants to go with him! He might go jumping next spring too and we should have some fun with him."

Cap Francais is a sibling to four winners, including the Listed scorers St Jean Cap Ferrat and Miss Cap Estel.

Tylicki links up with an old ally

Two lots brought 80,000gns during the morning session, with the first to fetch that figure the lightly raced Life On The Rocks. The progressive son of Fascinating Rock, who was offered by Kevin Ryan's Hambleton Lodge Stables, is set for a switch of North Yorkshire yards after being sold to Freddy Tylicki, who was acting on behalf of an old ally.

"Richard Fahey gave me a call this morning and asked me to get this horse bought so I was just following instructions," said Tylicki, who was also celebrating his 35th birthday. "He's a nice type with some progressive form and Richard has been very good to me throughout my career, I was champion apprentice while I was with him, so it's nice to link up with him again."

The three-year-old colt made three starts for Ryan and was last seen finishing runner-up in an Ayr maiden over a mile, an effort that earned him an RPR of 79.

Birthday boy Freddy TylickiCredit: Laura Green

The second 80,000gns lot was the useful Royal Dynasty, who departed the Newmarket yard of Mohamed Moubarak and now heads to the County Kilkenny stable of Joseph O'Brien.

The daughter of Charm Spirit won seven times for Moubarak, including her penultimate outing, an effort that achieved a career-high RPR of 96. She matched that rating on her latest start when fourth behind Highfield Princess in the Listed Queen Charlotte Fillies' Stakes.

"She's been bought to race on," said O'Brien. "She looks a progressive filly with a pedigree and we're delighted to get her. We will kick on with her now and race her through the rest of the year and see what happens."

Joseph O'Brien: 'She looks a progressive filly'Credit: Laura Green

The five-year-old hails from the family of One In A Million, a foundation mare of Meon Valley Stud whose immediate descendants include major winners such as Milligram, Anapurna, Speedy Boarding and Dashing Willoughby.

Royal Dynasty proved to be an almighty bargain for Moubarak, as she not only fetched a chunky five-figure sum at Tattersalls but netted connections £40,150 in prize-money too, despite having cost a mere 1,000gns as a 69-rated maiden at the 2019 December Sale.

Pierre Lapin heads to McGuinness

The third lot to bring 80,000gns on the day was Pierre Lapin, with the Cappella Sansevero half-brother to Harry Angel going the way of Stephen Thorne of Shamrock Thoroughbreds.

The four-year-old had a sizeable reputation after an unbeaten juvenile campaign that culminated with victory in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes. However, things have not gone to plan since and he now joins the Adrian McGuinness stable with an official rating of 102.

"He had a massive profile and was a very talented two-year-old," said Thorne. "We have a great relationship with Roger Varian and have bought two stakes horses from him, so we were very keen to do business again. It's great to build relationships with these consignors and a trainer like him leaves a little bit left for the next man."

Thorne added: "He's a big horse and maybe he showed so much talent at two that it took a bit out of him for his three-year-old campaign. Hopefully we can rejuvenate him – maybe the system at home with the use of the beach will suit him. He could be well handicapped."

Douglass on the right road

Few brought better recent form to the sale than the Ralph Beckett-trained Rhebus Road, and the progressive son of Champs Elysees duly fetched 70,000gns from Will Douglass of Charlie Gordon-Watson Bloodstock.

The youngster, a 55,000gns yearling, was catalogued as having run a few times at two and three but had enhanced his profile with a four-and-a-half length victory over a mile and a half at Beverley just seven days before coming under the hammer.

"He's been bought to win the Jockey Club Whip for Tim Syder and Dominic Burke so will go back to Ralph and might go jumping after that," said Douglass.

"Ralph has a good record of winning the Whip and he looks like a horse going the right way. He's a recent winner and his form has worked out really well."

Rhebus Road was the latest horse to be sold by the Lucra Partnership, the trading syndicate run by Beckett and agent Alex Elliott.

The operation has previously sold New Mandate, subsequent winner of the Royal Lodge Stakes for Marc Chan, and the progressive stayer Zinc White, who topped the Goffs London Sale at £310,000 when bought by Dan Astbury and Oliver Greenall.

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