THREE lots sold for 300,000gns or more on the opening evening of the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale, a session which saw 59 lots sell for an average price of 110,000gns, which was 9% down on the same session last year.

Mick Murphy and Sarah O'Connell's Longways Stables sold the top lot on Tuesday evening when their Munnings colt out of the Grade 3 winner Separate Forest was knocked down to Oliver St Lawrence for 360,000gns.

St Lawrence, who was standing alongside Bahraini owner Fawzi Nass and local trainer Roger Varian, secured the colt after seeing off the efforts of agents Ted Durcan and David Redvers.

St Lawrence commented: "He is a very taking horse, Roger was keen on him and so was I. He looks like a type who could get to Royal Ascot. We have had luck with Munnings before with Shahama, who did well in Dubai and then went to the US."

Of this colt's breeze, St Lawrence said: "He did a perfectly nice time without setting the world alight. Mick brings them along nicely and does not push them too hard."

Varian added: "He looks a strong horse, so hopefully we can get him home and see where we go."

A smiling Mick Murphy said: "I am a very happy vendor! He was very popular, we had a lot of the right people on him. I was very hopeful, but you never know. I bought him in the US and we bought him to come to the Craven, we thought he'd suit this sale. I have been lucky enough to have already sold a Royal Ascot winner, this could be another!"

Murphy continued: "He is a horse who wants good ground and he breezed exceptionally well considering the conditions. He is a quick horse and a lot of people said he is very similar to Jack Christopher."

Jack Christopher is Munnings' leading runner so far and was a three-time Grade 1 winner of the Champagne Stakes, the Woody Stephens and the H Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes. He stands at Ashford Stud alongside his sire.

Stroud strikes

The progeny of first season sire Blue Point have hit the ground running with the four-time Group 1 winning sprinter already represented by three winners, the latest coming on the opening day of Newmarket’s Craven meeting with Blue Storm's victory.

It was no surprise therefore when Anthony Stroud went to 340,000gns to secure Tally-Ho Stud’s colt out the listed winning Exceed And Excel mare Rebecca Rocks, after seeing off SackvilleDonald’s Alastair Donald.

Stroud commented: "He is a very nice horse. He is by Blue Point who has got off to a flying start, he breezed well and he is from Tally-Ho which has produced many a good horse. I am delighted to have purchased him, he has a good pedigree and is a nice neat two-year-old type too."

Tally-Ho Stud purchased this colt at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale for 70,000gns in 2021. His dam was trained by Henry Candy and claimed the scalp of triple Group/Grade 1 winner Glass Slippers in the Listed Land O'Burns Fillies Stakes.

Mocklershill sale

Agent Richard Ryan went to 320,000gns to secure a Starspangledbanner colt, buying on behalf of a partnership between Teme Valley Racing and Coolmore. The January-born colt was sold by Willie Browne’s Mocklershill, having been purchased as a yearling by JB Bloodstock for 62,000gns at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

"He is an exceptional individual. He breezed very well, he is not unlike State Of Rest [also by Starspangledbanner] and he goes to Joseph O'Brien," explained Ryan.

"It is Teme Valley's first foray with Coolmore as partners and we are thrilled - we loved the horse, let's hope he is lucky."

He added: "I don't think he will be too long to get to the racecourse, he is a natural easy mover with a great mind. He has every chance of being active this season, that is what we are hoping for. Joseph knows this type of horse exceptionally well and handles them brilliantly. It is a good fit all round."

The sale continues after racing at Newmarket on Wednesday.

DAY ONE STATISTICS

Current Year Previous Year Change %

Catalogued 101 83 +22%

Withdrawn 15 16 -6%

Offered 86 67 +28%

Unsold 27 15 +80%

Sold 59 52 +13%

Aggregate 6,495,500gns 6,311,000gns +3%

Median 77,000gns 86,000gns -10%

Average Value 110,093gns 121,365gns -9%

% sold 69% 78% -12%