JAMES Ferguson’s promising three-year-old Gulf Legend is bound for Qatar after selling to trainer Gassim Ghazali for 75,000gns, the top price achieved at the Tattersalls Online August Sale.

The well-bred son of Dubawi, who cost €300,000 as a yearling, was rated 82 after placing on his first three starts this season. Ferguson was pleased with Thursday’s result, saying: “The Tattersalls Online sales are good for an owner because they don’t have to wait until the July or October sales.

“It saves a lot on sales costs but it’s also amazing how many people are taking note of them. The two minute extra time rule works great online as it gives people a lot more time to think about it. It’s going from strength to strength.”

A highlight on paper only

Grade 1 winner Beacon Edge was an expected highlight of 173 lots, marking the largest offering to-date by Tattersalls Online. Offered as part of the Gigginstown House Stud Dispersal, the bay only made 20,000gns, despite winning as recently as May, and finished fourth in a listed handicap hurdle earlier this month.

He will rejoin Gordon Elliott, who co-signed with Aidan O’Ryan, with the duo spending the same on Noel Meade’s Grade 3 chaser Flanking Maneuver.

Idas Boy was the most popular of the Gigginstown dispersal, with Tom Malone buying last month’s Midlands National victor for 60,000gns. “I had an order for a horse who could potentially run in the Aintree Grand National,” the agent explained.

“It’s a dream for his new owner to have a runner in the race and hopefully we’ll be there next April. I did my due diligence; I knew the horse well and Noel Meade was very gracious with his comments on him.”

Joseph O’Brien was among the successful Irish bidders, securing an unraced two-year-old from Brian Meehan for 41,000gns. The son of Kameko is a half-brother to O’Brien’s dual Stakes winner Buckaroo, who finished fourth in two Group 1 contests during his Irish career, before joining Chris Waller.

Bidding ended with a total turnover of 667,5000gns and average price of 7,417gns, with 90 of 153 lots offered finding buyers. The company celebrated a record number of bidders registering in advance, with the 381 hailing from over 20 countries worldwide.

The next Tattersalls Online sale takes place on the platform will be the September Online Sale on 14th – 15th August. Entries for the September Online Sale will be accepted until Friday 6th September and can be made through the Tattersalls Online website at www.tattersallsonline.com.