Sarah Fanning putting her expertise to use as first yearlings sell at Book 3

Sarah Fanning has plenty of experience with the highs and lows that inevitably go hand-in-hand with horses, through her work at Racing Welfare and as the wife of prolific jockey Joe Fanning, and this grounding will stand her in good stead when her two yearlings go under the hammer at Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Fanning, who is the project leader for Racing Welfare’s Careers Advice and Training Service, has previous experience of the sales but admitted her first yearling consignment has come at an unusual time.

She said: "I had some mares here at the August sales but this is the first time with yearlings. I used to work at the sales a few years ago, but obviously it's tough times now so we'll see what happens."

The first of her two lots to go through the ring at Park Paddocks is a New Approach filly (Lot 1,554) out of the unraced War Front mare Precious Diamond, herself out of a sister to the high-class Beresford Stakes and Derby Trial winner Battle Of Marengo.

The second, also a filly, is by sprinting star Slade Power (1,894) and out of the unraced Dark Angel mare Scattered Petals, from the family of Grand Prix de Paris scorer Peintre Celebre and Group 2 winner Peinture Rare.

Fanning said of the pair: "They're both nice, strong and athletic fillies who are good walkers. New Approach is a good sire and the Slade Power is very athletic. They're bred by Penhill Stud who are quite local to us and are just starting out as a breeding operation."

Although the market at Book 2 has proved particularly strong, the wider sales season has not been immune from the difficulties resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, but Fanning is realistic about the pressures the job presents.

"I'm the kind of person who puts pressure on myself anyway but I just want them to look well and it would be lovely if they sold well too," she said. "At the end of the day somebody's put a lot of effort into breeding and producing them to this point."

Book 3 commences at Park Paddocks on Thursday at 10am.

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