A routine session of trading saw 389,000 guineas (US$516,125, 1 guinea = US$1.33) change hands at the Tattersalls March Sale as a diverse cast of buyers got stuck into the mixed catalog March 27.
The session generated an average of 8,277gns (US$11,008) and a median of 4,500gns (US$5,985). Clearance rate was 78%, as 47 of 60 lots found a buyer.
There was no direct comparison with last year's edition, which was staged at the mothballed Ascot venue.
The useful middle-distance runner Cavern Club is set for a change of Newmarket yards after heading the market at 32,000gns (US$42,560). Marco Botti's two-time winner was secured by near neighbor James Owen. The 4-year-old Ribchester gelding ran 14 times for Botti, with his most recent success coming over a mile and a half at Newmarket last August.
Botti's Prestige Place finished the sale as the leading vendor, with four lots moved on for a combined 73,000gns.
The leading consignor by aggregate sales was Godolphin, whose eight lots generated receipts of 87,500gns. The most expensive of the group was the unraced 3-year-old filly Eastern Whisper, a daughter of Sea The Stars and the listed stakes-placed Jollify, who fetched 28,000gns from Jack Cantillon.
"I'm delighted to buy Eastern Whisper," said Cantillon. "My theory was I would have to pay triple for a filly of this quality in a few months at store sales, so I thought I'd get in early as she's unraced and eligible for bumpers. It's a family I know well and love."
Middle Eastern maneuvers
Middle Eastern money had a significant role, most notably when JD Moore purchased the third top lot, the 27,000gns Perfect View, on behalf of Hussain Al Dossary.
The 3-year-old son of Outstrip made a winning debut for George Scott last May and has finished runner-up on both his subsequent starts, most recently in a Wolverhampton novice earlier in the month.
"The horse goes to the Middle East," said Moore. "He's shown form on the all-weather, he's been consistent and has been well handled by trainer George Scott, who recommended him. Hussain has been lucky with his purchases at Tattersalls."
Tattersalls regular Dr. Khaled Salami was recruiting racing prospects for Libya and went to 23,000gns to secure Superb Force from Andrew Balding's Kingsclere Training Stables.
The 3-year-old Night of Thunder colt possessed one of the catalog's most eye-catching pages but also an important update, as he was last seen shedding his maiden with a 2 1/4-length victory over a mile at Newcastle. Bred by McCracken Farms and out of the American-bred Kingmambo mare Al Andalyya, Superb Force is a half brother to group 1-winning siblings Best Solution and El Bodegon.
"We like this horse, he should suit the racing in Libya," said Salami. "He looks an unexposed type and should have further improvement. He has a good pedigree, we love his pedigree and could become a stallion. He's been bought for a friend who has a farm in Libya. The racing is improving in the country, the government has given some backing, prize money is okay and you need a nice horse to be competitive."
