Stoute can continue Crystal gazing after Team Valor strike for 275,000gns filly

As the mercury rose at Park Paddocks on Friday, a cast of international buyers did battle for stock to race in sunnier climes than even that of a scorching July Sale in Newmarket.

Barry Irwin's Team Valor International recently celebrated Group 1 success with La Petite Coco in the Pretty Polly Stakes and Irwin indicated after that win at the Curragh that he was keen to expand his European reach.

He did just that late in proceedings during Friday's evening session, through Tattersalls' Jason Singh, who was taking instructions on the phone from Irwin. Sackville Donald, seated below the press bench, and an online buyer made much of the early running for the wildcard entry Crystal Estrella, who boasts immense racing and breeding potential.

The three-year-old hails from an outstanding Rothschild family. She is an Iffraaj half-sister to the Listed Mornington Cup winner Crystal Pegasus and the Listed Newbury Fillies' Trial third Crystal Hope.

Their dam Crystal Etoile is a Dansili half-sister to the Prince of Wales's Stakes winner and exciting young National Hunt sire Crystal Ocean and she is also closely related to Grade 1 Canadian International winner Hillstar, a son of Danehill Dancer who stands at Garryrichard Stud. She is also a half-sister to the multiple Group 2 winner Crystal Capella and the Listed Newbury Fillies' Trial winner Crystal Zvezda.

Crystal Estrella broke her maiden in a ten-furlong Goodwood novice in May, and like her illustrious relatives is trained by Sir Michael Stoute for owner-breeder Sir Evelyn de Rothschild.

Singh confirmed that this year's Derby-winning trainer will continue to oversee Crystal Estrella's racing career following her 275,000gns purchase.

Later, Irwin, speaking on the phone to Tattersalls, elaborated on his reasons for purchasing Crystal Estrella.

"I like the way she finished her races out, especially in the last 150m or so," he said. "She looks like she is a solid middle-distance filly on the way up. I like her pedigree, she looks as though she is a big good-looking filly who will improve this year and especially next year.

"She has a half-brother who won four in a row, including two Listed races in Australia. He could possibly win a Group race and that will help a little bit. The second dam was very good. I am going to send her back to Sir Michael, I am going to think about what I want to do. He knows her, and I will talk to him, I have not done so yet. It is hard to find fillies like her. I am happy to have her."

Gosden horses in demand during frenzied finish

One of the final lots through the ring attracted plenty of attention, sharing his name with the disputed Leonardo Da Vinci work Salvator Mundi. There is no doubt over the equine Salvator Mundi's provenance or potential, however.

A three-year-old son of the wonderful Galileo, and inbred 3x3 to that outstanding mare Allegretta, Salvator Mundi came into the sale on the back of two victories in the famous Stradivarius silks of his owner-breeder Bjorn Nielsen.

Those wins came over 12 and 14 furlongs at Leicester and Doncaster respectively for John and Thady Gosden.

The equine Salvator Mundi went to Charlie Gordon-Watson's team for 205,000gnsCredit: Laura Green

Lightly raced, with just five starts under his belt, he will continue his career in Qatar following his purchase for 205,000gns by Will Douglass of Charlie Gordon-Watson Bloodstock on behalf of leading trainer Gassim Mohammed Ghazali, who was seated beside him. They beat off stiff competition from an online bidder.

"He is a nice horse and very progressive," commented Douglass. "I like buying from Mr Gosden because the horses are well-bred and produced, they are respected and there is a lot left in the tank. I bought a few last year and they have gone all over the world and won.

"This horse will go straight to Qatar. We waited all day for him."

Salvator Mundi is a full-brother to Gloria Mundi, who was second in the Listed Newbury Fillies' Trial Stakes last season, and a half-brother to the Listed Prix la Sorellina winner Chartreuse.

Gassim Mohammed Ghazali was in action at Park Paddocks on FrdayCredit: Laura Green

Their dam Bufera was third in the Group 3 Prix des Reservoirs and is a King's Best half-sister to Group 3 winners Johnny Barnes and Albisola, the second dam of this season's Group 2 Prix de Sandringham winner Purplepay. Bufera is also a half-sister to Tonnara, the dam of Group 1 winners Ectot and Most Improved.

The draft from the Gosdens' Clarehaven Stables prompted a closing buying frenzy at Park Paddocks. Offered through the Castlebridge Consignment, Salvator Mundi was followed into the ring by Dukedom, a three-year-old son of Dubawi who recently got off the mark for the trainers and his owner-breeder the Queen.

He was purchased by Satish Seemar for 105,000gns and will continue his racing career in Dubai.

Seemar said: "I have had my eye on this horse for a time. I am a big fan of Dubawi, and when I was training had a number of them. We had a lot of success with them. My client likes the stallion too.

"This horse's pedigree is very impressive, the dam side is very strong and he is a gelding. He will improve with time too – the Dubawis they bloom later than some stallions, they really come around the age of four."

That female pedigree Seemar referred to is strong; Dukedom is a son of the Nell Gwyn Stakes winner Nathra, who was also placed in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Fillies' Mile and Sun Chariot Stakes and his second dam Rada is a Danehill half-sister to the July Cup winner and sire Owington.

Seemar concurred with the assessment of Douglass on buying from Clarehaven Stables, saying: "Anything from the Gosden yard is not over worked or over cooked. He will ship when I get a couple more horses to join the transport."

McGrath dances to a merry tune

Highland Reel's handful of first-crop runners have impressed in juvenile hurdles and the seven-time Group 1 winner sired the first three home in a Tipperary contest of that nature on June 30.

Understandably his well-bred son Spartan Army, who won a ten-furlong maiden at Down Royal last month for Joseph O'Brien and Qatar Racing, was in hot demand as the sale grew to a rousing crescendo.

Spartan Army, who went the way of Ballymaw Bloodstock for 170,000gnsCredit: Laura Green

Jamie Railton offered the three-year-old colt from the family of one-time Derby hope Reach For The Moon and he will embark on a dual-purpose career for his new connections after Jerry McGrath went to 170,000gns to secure him on behalf of a new client for the former jump jockey.

"He has been bought with a dual-purpose campaign in mind, hopefully he is still progressing and improving on the Flat and he's not finished there but he will go jumping too," McGrath commented.

"He is by a young, exciting sire whose stock look like they are going well over jumps, and he will probably be trained by Alan King."

Upton Park a Qatar Derby contender

Spartan Army was immediately followed into the ring by another Railton offering on behalf of Qatar Racing, who also won on June 30.

However, that is where the similarities between the two end as Upton Park is destined for Qatar after he was knocked down to Ibrahim Saeed Al-Malki for 150,000gns.

Ibrahim Saeed Al-Malki struck the back of the net with Upton Park at 150,000gnsCredit: Laura Green

"He won very well at Newbury on his most recent run and he is what I am looking for, a good, big scopey horse - he will hopefully be a good horse for the Qatar Derby," remarked the purchaser of the three-year-old son of Racing Post Trophy winner Elm Park.

Trained, as his sire was, by Andrew Balding, the French-bred colt won on his second start at two and again on his second start of this season, with that impressive Newbury 12-furlong handicap win sealing the deal for his new connections.

Starspangledbanner flies highest in early session

Three-year-old Starspangledbanner gelding Latin Lover had provided connections with a cherished Royal Ascot win on his most recent run, adding cachet to his catalogue page.

Successful in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes on his latest start for Harry Eustace, he will continue his career abroad following his 210,000gns purchase by Ahead All As Agent, bidding online against Greg Chung, who was seated in the ring.

"Latin Lover looks strong and a good example of one by Starspangledbanner," said the buyer's representative. "He won well at Royal Ascot last month in a big field of 27 runners. He has improved after being gelded last year, and is concentrating more on the job as a three-year-old.

"His performance is getting better. He is a good size and I expect him to make up into a good sprinter."

The winner of three of his 11 starts, including on his second run at two, Latin Lover has also been placed on three further occasions.

Bred by Rick Barnes' Grangecon Holdings, he was sold by Flash Conroy's Glenvale Stud to De Burgh Equine for £21,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale.

Greg Chung lost out on Latin LoverCredit: Laura Green

He is one of four winners from six runners so far foaled by Blue Dahlia, who was fourth in the Listed Sweet Mimosa Stakes at Naas. A daughter of Shamardal, she is out of a half-sister to Listed winner River Jig, whose Group 1-winning descendants include Leading Light, Toylsome and Romantic Proposal, who contests Saturday's Darley July Cup.

Starspangledbanner was in demand during the morning session, with Abdullah Ali Al-Saif going to 80,000gns for Carlisle seven-furlong winner Manaslu. The lightly raced three-year-old gelding was consigned by trainer Kevin Ryan and has won or been placed in three of his four starts.

He is the first foal out of Dark Seductress, an unraced Dark Angel half-sister to Oaks d'Italia winner and Moyglare Stud Stakes third Menhoubah.

Bred by Old Carhue Stud and Martin McHale, he was sold for 42,000gns by Grove Stud to Stephen Hillen and Ryan at Book 2.

Roxzoff, a four-time winner by Zoffany, will be on a flight to Bahrain shortly, where he will join the Victorious Racing string of Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, whose colours have recently been carried to victory in Britain by the unbeaten Coventry Stakes winner Bradsell and Rocket Rodney, successful in Sandown's Listed Dragon Stakes last week.

Roxzoff: bound for BahrainCredit: Laura Green

Consigned by Charlie Hills, Roxzoff is out of the unraced Marju mare Aljumar, who is a full-sister to Group 3 Park Express Stakes winner Marjalina and a half-sister to What A Charm. That Key Of Luck mare raced in the colours of Chris Jones and was a classy dual-purpose performer, winning the Listed Listowel Stakes on the Flat for John Oxx and, when in the care of Arthur Moore, the Fred Winter at Cheltenham.

Oliver St Lawrence led the bidding for the son of Zoffany, who later became the sire of another Group 1 winner when Prosperous Voyage won the Falmouth Stakes. Eventually the agent secured him for 150,000gns and Roxzoff will be trained by Yousif Taher for Sheikh Nasser. The owner and trainer share a common background in endurance riding in Bahrain.

Taher said: "He is a good horse that we think will suit racing in Bahrain and I came especially for this horse. He is well handicapped and improving and looks to be improving all the time."

Andre Pereira was one of the busiest buyers throughout the three days of the July Sale and he struck once again on Friday morning for Puerto De Vega, a four-year-old Lope De Vega gelding who has won four times for Ballylinch Stud, the latest three under the training of Stuart Williams.

Andre Pereira: had a busy weekCredit: Laura Green

A 90,000gns purchase by Amanda Skiffington at Book 1 in 2019, Puerto De Vega is a grandson of the Listed-winning sprinter Paradise Isle.

Facts and Figures

A truly extraordinary conclusion to the sale saw the third and final day record some jaw-dropping increases.

Friday's aggregate of 4,168,500gns represented year-on-year growth of 43.5 per cent from 18 fewer horses sold in 2022. A total of 139 horses changed hands, with their average price leaping by an astounding 62 per cent, from 18,497gns in 2021 to 29,989gns.

Friday's median of 15,000gns represented a slightly more modest gain of 25 per cent on the figure recorded last year.

Over the three sessions, the figures broke all previous July Sale records, with the highest-ever turnover, aggregate and median prices seen at this sale.

The three-day aggregate of 16,743,285gns bettered the previous tally of 14,691,700gns set in 2017, when 648 horses were sold. This week just 520 horses generated that massive increase in turnover.

That ensured a record average of 32,199gns, beating the previous high of 25,595gns, which was also set in 2017. That year's median of 12,000gns was shattered by 25 per cent this week, at 15,000gns.

Chairman's statement

At the conclusion of the sale, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony commented: “Records across the board are always welcome and the 2022 Tattersalls July Sale has achieved unprecedented figures for all the key indicators. The sale turnover has exceeded 16 million gns for the first time, an average price in excess of 30,000gns is also a first for this fixture, and the median of 15,000gns is another record and a clear indication of a sale which has shown extraordinary strength and depth from start to finish.

“The top price of 540,000gns paid for the outstanding Shadwell mare Rihaam is a July Sale record, but perhaps the most important statistic is the clearance rate which, for the fourth consecutive year, was more than 90 per cent and on day two of the sale was a truly extraordinary 99 per cent.

"Demand at all levels of the market has been typically international, with buyers from every continent in the world all contributing to the record breaking trade, and particularly notable has been the strong Australian contingent headed by Zhang Yuesheng’s Yulong Investments."

He added: "Domestic buyers, both Flat and National Hunt, have also been competing strongly all week and the sustained demand for well-bred fillies and mares is another positive, not only for the Tattersalls July Sale but also for the wider industry."

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