Evergreen Iffraaj sees off young pretenders at Tattersalls December Foal Sale

The opening session of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale saw several aspiring young stallions take their first opportunity to shine in the shop window before the headline-grabbers arrive later in the week, but it was the far more established Iffraaj who ended up sealing Wednesday's leading honours.

Dalham Hall Stud's resident is venerable enough for not only a marquee-name stallion son in Wootton Bassett but even to have his grandson Almanzor providing progeny at this sale.

Selwood Bloodstock's February 11-foaled Iffraaj colt, a half-brother to promising 90-rated stayer Smart Champion, was bought by Ross and Peter Doyle for 57,000gns.

"He's a good-looking horse out of a Shamardal mare and by a top stallion," explained Ross Doyle. "He's for Pier House Stud and the plan will be to come back for the October Sale next year."

Selwood Bloodstock, James Read's Somerset operation, was also responsible for the second highest-priced transaction of the day, an Oasis Dream colt bought by Glenvale Stud for 50,000gns.

Although both were short of the corresponding session's top lot of 65,000gns last year, it was pertinent that the average climbed 16 per cent to 11,741gns from 10,091gns, and the median even more impressively by 60 per cent to 8,000gns from 5,000gns.

The clearance rate was one per cent down on 2019 at 68 per cent, with 135 of 201 lots offered sold, for turnover of 1,585,100gns, down seven per cent from 1,695,300gns.

Eye on the prize

One to make a notable showing among the freshman sires was Expert Eye, whose first ever foal to go through the ring was bought by Michael Fitzpatrick of JC Bloodstock for 41,000gns.

An exhilarating performer on his day, Juddmonte's son of Acclamation concluded his career winning the Breeders' Cup Mile two years ago and was initially put on the market by Banstead Manor at a £20,000 fee.

Lot 369 gave sire Expert Eye a good startCredit: Laura Green

The April 24-born grey colt consigned by Dukes Stud had been given a helping hand by the appreciable performance of his dam White Cay, a George Strawbridge mare who is a half-sister to Coronation Stakes winner Balisada.

She had already bred two decent performers for the Barnett family through Dynamic, a Listed winner in France for William Haggas, and Cay Dancer, who ended up landing the Grade 3 Bewitch Stakes at Keeneland for Chad Brown.

"Expert Eye is stamping them, and he was one of very few in the catalogue who was a sibling to two stakes winners," said Fitzpatrick, a successful pinhooker who confirmed the foal would return to market as a yearling.

"There was a nice back pedigree and he comes from a very good breeder."

Charlie Wyatt of Dukes Stud, a nursery at Ashley just outside Newmarket, was similarly encouraging about Expert Eye, saying: "I think he's a good representative for the sire. I've seen a few of them and they look nice sorts."

Rajasinghe standing proud

There will be some pretty happy people should Rajasinghe maintain the pace he set with his first foals to walk into the ring.

The 2017 Coventry Stakes winner was initially offered at £5,000 by the National Stud and he ended up with a colt inside the day's top four when Redpender Stud purchased a half-brother to fair French performer Whistle for 46,000gns.

Lot 256, just the sixth individual to go under the hammer and the first of three Rajasinghes to be offered, had earlier been bought for 37,000gns by agent Larry Stratton.

Whitwell Bloodstock consigned the chestnut colt out of the unraced Lucia De Medici, in turn a daughter of Middleton Stakes winner Jalousie.

Larry Stratton has followed Rajasinghe closelyCredit: Laura Green

"I've followed Rajasinghe ever since he won the Coventry Stakes – I bred in partnership the second-placed Headway [now named Happy Family in Hong Kong], who was beaten by a head," said Stratton.

"Rajasinghe's sire Choisir is a good influence. This is a nice colt and has been bought for a partnership and is for resale."

Joe Callan, nominations and marketing manager for the National Stud, said: "We’re very excited with Rajasinghe's first foals, they all have great substance, are great movers, and obviously he was a very fast horse. We’re looking forward to the future with him."

Smart sprinter Washington DC, introduced by Bearstone Stud for a realistic £6,000, was another to produce a good initial showing when a colt from Bearstone's family of Prix de l'Abbaye winner Glass Slippers made 35,000gns to a telephone bidder, later named as Y&R Engineering.

The Tattersalls December Foal Sale continues on Thursday at 10am.

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