HORSES formerly owned by or connected with John Dance topped the first session of the Tattersalls Guineas Horses in Training Sale on Wednesday.
Dance has been prevented from having runners by the British Horseracing Authority while he and his financial services company are being investigated by the Financial Conduct Authority. As a result over 50 horses owned by him or associated with him are being offered for sale at Tattersalls this week.
Topping Wednesday's trade was a two-year-old daughter of Kingman bred by Dance. The filly is a three-parts sister to the Listed Champion Two Year Old Trophy winner Bahrain Pride. She was bought by bloodstock agents Alex Elliott and Billy Jackson-Stops for 130,000gns. Nancy Sexton and Daniel Creighton were among the underbidders.
Elliott said: "She has been bought for Valmont and Michael Blencowe. We bought six yearlings last autumn, unfortunately one got hurt so we were keen to replace. I did not know what to expect when I went to look at her, but her quality was stand out quality. She was hard to value but we are happy to get her for what we paid.
"She is a three-parts sister to a listed winner by Kodiac and it is a deep pedigree – I would have loved to her bought her eight months ago and we could have been dreaming of June! But she will get all the time in the world, her trainer is undecided at the moment."
He added: "She has got good residual, all she can do is improve and she vetted perfectly. She has not had a great preparation, but her quality still shone through. She is going to need a lot of time, but she has done herself well which I think is down to her quality. She won't be rushed at all. We will think about her first and foremost, and we are delighted to have her. I have bought her with Billy Jackson-Stops - Michael Blencowe is his client."
The second highest price of the day was the 52,000gns paid by BBA Ireland for two-year-old Lope De Vega colt bred by Dance. He is out of listed runner-up Mighty Spirit as part of the draft from Dance's Coverdale Stud. He will be trained by Jessica Harrington.
The March-born two-year-old is a grandson of the listed placed Majestic Alexander who is a half-sister to Majestic Missile, winner of the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes, the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes and the Group 3 Prix du Petit Couvert, and placed in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes.
Overall the session saw 66 lots sold at a median price of 12,000gns. The clearance rate was a very high 92%.
The Horses in Training section of the Guineas sale continues at 9.30am on Thursday, and includes an unraced two-year-old colt by Invincible Spirit out of John Dance's star mare Laurens.
The Horses in Training section will be followed immediately by the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale.
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