'End of an era' with Broughton Bloodstock dispersal draft set for Tattersalls

A complete dispersal of Broughton Bloodstock, the breeding operation of the late Michael Broughton, continues with half a dozen broodmares offered in the first session of the Tattersalls February Sale on Thursday.

Both Michael Broughton and his wife Carol died last year and two prominent members of the band were offered at the recent December Sale, with the winning daughter of Havana Gold, Worship, commanding 45,000gns, while some others have been sold privately.

The Essex-based couple bred and raced many horses under the Broughton prefix with Willie Musson across several decades, including the trainer’s final winner, Broughtons Vision, but their family have decided not to continue the operation.

Among the draft are Cape Cross mare News Desk, in foal to Ardad, and Sheltered, by Dutch Art and in foal to Ulysses. Broughtons Jewel - whose son Broughtons Gold won four times and was recently sold privately to Hong Kong - is carrying to Eqtidaar. A handful of young stock have been withdrawn from the online event.

Toby Barker, who is overseeing the dispersal, said: "It was really Michael Broughton’s hobby and passion, so it’s the end of an era.

"These mares, who are all commercial, qualified for the sale and there are a few with earlier foaling dates, so we’ll foal those and probably sell them in July.

"As for the young horses, at the moment they’ll go to the physical sale rescheduled in March, so they’ll get looked at and get a fair crack of the whip, and there are still some nice yearlings to sell in the autumn."

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