Humam Headlines Tattersalls July Sale Opener

A busy week in Newmarket began with a day of businesslike trade at the Tattersalls July Sale. The opening stanza of the three-day sale July 8 produced a clearance rate of 82% as 192 lots sold from 235 offered. Those transactions generated turnover of 4,427,200 guineas (US$6,647,440.80, 1 guinea=US$1.43), which was down 13% against the corresponding session 12 months ago. The average price was down 15 percent at 23,058gns (US$32,972.94), although the median went in the opposite direction to the tune of ten points, improving from 10,000gns (US$14,300) in 2024 to 11,000gns (US$15,730) on Tuesday. The first lot to break into six-figure territory was never headed in the market, with the improving Humam landed by an online bidder signing as TY Equine at 190,000gns (US$271,700). The son of Kodiac (GB) was cataloged as having won two races but had added a third victory to his record with a clear-cut success over seven furlongs at York on his latest outing. That effort was allotted a Racing Post Rating of 91. The 3-year-old, who was offered by Andrew Balding’s Kingsclere operation, is a sibling to three black-type performers, namely the dual group 3-winning Vadream and the listed-placed pair Mirage Hero and Midream. This lineage prompted Al Shaqab Racing to part with 260,000gns (US$371,800) for Humam at the 2023 edition of Book 1. The youngster is set to continue his career with Newmarket-based trainer Stuart Williams, who said: “He’s for a new owner to the yard who wanted to have a horse to run at the big tracks. We’ll target some of the big meetings and try to replicate what Andrew’s done with him by winning at places like York. “He won well last time and looks a solid horse. He’s one we’d hope would carry on improving with age and in line with what his family have done. I don’t know what he’s done lately, he hasn’t run for three or four weeks, but we’ll get him back to the yard and assess him before settling on a target.” Leading Consignor, Buyer The Godolphin consignment has been responsible for so many of the July Sale’s success stories, and this year’s draft duly produced the lion’s share of the action as 30 lots sold for an aggregate of 1,242,500gns (US$1,776,775) and an average of 41,417gns (US$59,226.31). The leading light of the draft was Rose Arbour, an unraced 3-year-old out of Crown Walk, winner of the Prix Chloe (G3) and runner-up in the Prix Rothschild (G1). The Frankel (GB) filly was secured by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock via an online bid of 170,000gns. “She’s for an existing client in Ireland,” said Anthony Stroud. “She’s a good-looking mare, is by Frankel, is out of a smart stakes-winning Dubawi mare and is from a lovely family. Frankel is not only a fantastic stallion but is an outstanding broodmare sire too, as is Dubawi – she’s got the genetics to have a very good chance at stud.” The session’s biggest spender was leading Qatari trainer Gassim Ghazali, whose two new recruits cost a combined 215,000gns. The biggest buy of the pair was the 150,000gns Jorge Alvares, a 3-year-old son of Cotai Glory (GB) who has won one of his 11 career starts. The Tally-Ho bred gelding has spent the current campaign with Ger Lyons, for whom he landed a six-furlong Dundalk maiden. He was offered on Tuesday by The Castlebridge Consignment having run a close fifth behind Adrestia in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes at Royal Ascot on his latest outing. “He’s a smart horse and will suit the sprint races we have in Qatar,” said Ghazali. “My son tried to buy the horse last year and did not – we have had to pay more now!” The Tattersalls July Sale continues on Wednesday, with day two, which commences at 9:30 local time, featuring the ever-popular Juddmonte draft.