International flavour to the fore for second Tattersalls August Sale

The inaugural Tattersalls August Sale in 2020 proved such a success in tricky circumstances that it returns for another two days from Tuesday, offering around 465 lots to what should be a very international audience.

Last year's event was introduced as a response to the complications of Covid-19, such as the problems of assessing horses-in-training owing to an absence of fixtures, but it resulted in an impressive 91 per cent clearance rate and a 220,000gns top lot in the form of Walkinthesand, Saeed Suhail's Listed-placed son of Footstepsinthesand who sold to Ted Voute for Saudi Arabian connections.

With coronavirus restrictions eased somewhat further 12 months down the line, consignors and organisers will be hoping for an even more cosmopolitan feel to proceedings.

Drafts from Godolphin, Ballydoyle Stables, Shadwell Estate Company and Juddmonte will feature, while Jamie Railton will present one of the glitzier lots in the shape of French Group 3-winning Acclamation entire Pretreville (lot366), who was also second behind the high-class Duhail in the Group 2 Prix du Muguet in May.

Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle Stables draft has been marginally whittled down, although still among the offerings are Pelorus (396), an unraced American Pharoah colt out of 1,000 Guineas winner Virginia Waters, the well-related Iowa (393), a Galileo winning relation to Group/Grade 2 winners Hawksmoor and Royal Dornoch, and HMS Seahorse (354), a lightly raced full-brother to Group 2 winner and Cox Plate runner-up Armory.

Fabilis: son of Frankel will be offered by Juddmonte at the Tattersalls August SaleCredit: Tattersalls

Among the lots with the most recent updates is the Juddmonte-consigned Fabilis (380), a Frankel full-brother to Group winner Monarchs Glen and highly promising juvenile Westover. The three-year-old-colt boasts a progressive profile that should appeal to international buyers, having readily landed a Class 2 handicap for Ralph Beckett at Newmarket on Friday.

Richard Hannon's East Everleigh Stables has five remaining in its draft, headed by Mark Of Gold (268), a dual winning son of Golden Horn and Princess Royal Stakes scorer Polly's Mark, and including the twice-raced Diamond Of Dubai (269), a Dubawi half-brother to American Grade 3 scorer Real Smart.

The August Sale caters for a variety of buyers and among a number of well-bred fillies for broodmare seekers to mull over are Godolphin's Bright Spirit (150), a daughter of Dubawi out of Oh So Sharp Stakes scorer Local Time, The Castlebridge Consignment-drafted Countessa (387), a winning daughter of Camelot from the famous family of Alpha Centauri, and Lady Allegro (300), by Australia and out of a winning half-sister to German Derby victor Lucky Speed.

Then there are lightly raced horses with proven Group-class form, for example Godolphin's Jalmoud (152). A full-brother to dual Group 2 winner Magic Lily out of dual Oaks heroine Dancing Rain, the five-year-old son of New Approach has clearly had his issues but he also has talent, as evidenced by a win in a Listed contest at Longchamp and third-placed finish behind Japan in the 2019 Grand Prix de Paris.

Pablo Escobarr: Group 3 winner last year and offered by Somerville LodgeCredit: Edward Whitaker

A handful of recently received wildcards have the potential to take top rank too.

Pablo Escobarr (421A), the William Haggas-consigned Galileo gelding, has the form in the book that could attract Australian or Middle-Eastern buyers. The five-year-old, older brother of this year's York Grand Cup scorer Roberto Escobarr, hit an RPR of 113 in winning the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood last year and has a fine black-type collection including seconds behind Lord North and Anthony Van Dyck.

Two-year-old Almohandesah (190A), trained by Karl Burke, has shown pleasing development for her sire Postponed as a Pontefract winner with two respectable stakes efforts, while the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Inigo Jones (404A) is a middle-distance prospect with few miles on the clock.

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said upon the catalogue's release: "The Tattersalls August Sale was introduced for the first time in 2020 in response to Covid-related circumstances, but the enthusiasm for the sale from both vendors and purchasers and an extraordinary clearance rate made it an easy decision to make it a permanent fixture.

"With the Tattersalls July Sale being held in more normal circumstances this year, it was natural that the catalogue size for the second edition of the August Sale would reduce, but we are still delighted to catalogue 458 lots over two days that will appeal to a wide cross section of buyers, both domestic and further afield.

"We are also pleased that buyers from the key Middle Eastern markets will find it much easier to travel to the UK for the sale with the recent easing of restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers."

The sale starts on Tuesday at 11am and the catalogue can be found at Park Paddocks or online.

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