Australian buyers active at Tattersalls Craven Sale
Australian buyers were once again active at the Tattersalls Craven Sale, securing three lots from the premier breeze-up sale.
Leading the trio was Lot 179, a colt by Justify (Scat Daddy) out of Elitiste (Danehill Dancer), purchased for 220,000gns (approx. AU$436,250) by a partnership which included Blandford Bloodstock, Matt Houldsworth, First Light Racing and Gollan Racing.
The colt was offered by C.F. Bloodstock and shapes as a high-end acquisition for the group.
In a statement on X, First Light Racing confirmed that they plan to target Royal Ascot with the colt given he is eligible for both the Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed, 5f) on the Wednesday and the Chesham Stakes (Listed, 7f) on the Thursday of the royal meeting.
Lot 149, a colt by Starspangledbanner (Choisir) out of Best Of My Love (Canford Cliffs), was secured for 70,000gns (approx. AU$138,800) by Glenstar Bloodstock and Shane McGrath Bloodstock.
Consigned by Lynn Lodge Stud, McGrath was delighted to go home with the one that was their top pick of the sale.
“We looked at plenty of colts here that we felt suited our Hong Kong model and he was the one we really honed in on,” McGrath said.
“We have had a lot of luck with Starspangledbanner down in Australia and he reminded me particularly of a horse called Star Patrol who has won a couple of Group 2’s for us. A big, fast, sprinting horse himself, he is a February foal, he is well presented and I thought he breezed very well.”
McGrath also thanked the Tattersalls team for their hospitality: “Ben and all the crew here have looked after us and we will be back again.”
Also knocked down to the Australian contingent was Lot 150, a filly by Kodiac (Danehill) out of Beychella (Scat Daddy), who was secured for 72,000gns (approx. AU$142,770) by Henry Dwyer Racing, Nick Bauer and Montana Stewart.
The filly was consigned by Ellie Whittaker of EMW Equine and this was not Dwyer’s first dealing with the Suffolk-based operation, as Ellie and her team pre-trained Asfoora (Flying Artie) for her Royal Ascot campaigns.
Dwyer told Tattersalls: “If we are going to be here and have one horse here, we may as well have a few. Lemos De Souza is looking after them for us and I look forward to getting this filly to the races. You never know, she might end up at Royal Ascot too.
“She was prepped up by Ellie Whittaker who runs her pre-training operation there at Long Holes, has always said this filly she really likes and she feels it’s a superior two-year-old, she thinks it’s ready to go straight to the races and she sort of gave me a call and said you should have a look at her.
“Kodiac is a stallion I really like. He is by Danehill, so they work really well in Australia. So certainly the idea is to have her race here [in the UK] but she will end up in Australia at some stage.
“She will be here for a year and a half regardless of what happens and if she is good enough we will take her back. There is the residual value with a nice European pedigree and by a good stallion in Kodiac.”
The purchases highlight continued Australian demand at the Craven Sale, with buyers targeting a mix of proven international bloodlines.