FIVE horses fetched six-figure prices at Tattersalls Ascot this week.
All five were geldings sold by Godolphin and four of them were previous winners. Ironically the only one of the five who did not win, Isle Of Jura, fetched the highest price when bought by agent Billy Jackson-Stops on behalf of trainer George Scott for £150,000.
A three-year-old by New Approach, Isle Of Jura only ran once for Charlie Appleby, finishing fifth of 11 in a Wolverhampton maiden last November. He is a full-brother to Australian Group 1 winner Cascadian and half-brother to three other winners, including Canadian Grade 1 scorer Albahr.
Jackson-Stops said: “He is a big, raw horse with loads of promise. He was green on his first run and he needs some time but he will get that. Let’s hope he is as good as we want him to be. The mare has been amazing, all her runners have been rated 95+ and she has produced two Group 1 winners. We had to go a bit further and spend more than we thought we’d have to. If this horse is anything like his brothers, we will be okay.”
The draft from Godolphin produced the day’s top 14 prices, and the strong demand for the choice lots came primarily from trainers and owners sourcing horses to race at the big international Festival meetings.
Trainer Ian Williams bought eight lots, all from Godolphin. They included Parlando (£105,000) and Yantarni (£100,000), both four-year-old geldings by Dubawi and both winners for Charlie Appleby.
Speaking from Dubai, where he saddles Enemy in the Dubai Gold Cup today, Williams said: “The eight have all been bought on spec. You can’t win if you are not in and the first place you need to win is in the sale ring. They are all horses who I think will progress – they are nicely bred, have good form and are horses who can go on this summer in Europe and will then suit the Middle East next winter. I inspected the draft at Godolphin. They have been vetted and my assistant Angus Adams was at Ascot overseeing proceedings.”
Jamie Osborne spent £105,000 to but Mond, a five-year-old gelding by Sea The Moon trained by André Fabre and rated 97. “He has a fair amount of ability and has been bought for Greg and Lauren Bryce, who have horses with me and are keen to collect some horses who could potentially go to some nice meetings in Europe and run internationally,” reported Osborne. “Hopefully, we can get him right and have some fun.”
Newmarket-based trainer T.J. Kent spent £100,000 on Cosmic Desert, a 91-rated son of New Approach. “He is for an overseas client and we are very happy with the purchase,” Kent said. “Godolphin treat their horses exceptionally well, so you know you are buying horses who have been well looked after.”
Away from the Godolphin draft, the Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer and jockey Bradley Gibbs sold Larkhill winner Purple Aki for £32,000 to Brookhouse Racing, while the Shorn Hill Stables-consigned Gwash, winner of a maiden at Charm Park, was bought by Craig and Laura Buckingham for £31,000.
The one-day sale saw 95 horses sold for an aggregate of £1.6 million.
Matt Prior, Tattersalls Head of Sales, said: “Our thanks must go to Godolphin for sending such a superb draft of horses to the Tattersalls Ascot March Sale.”