TWO unraced three-year-old fillies from Juddmonte topped day two of the Tattersalls July Sale when selling for 300,000gns each on Wednesday.

The session saw a 92% clearance rate, significantly better than on Tuesday, spending was up 19% on the corresponding day from last year, and the average price was up 7% compared to the same session in 2023.

First of the Juddmonte top lots to enter the sales ring was Anacapa, a Frankel filly out of Ventura, the four-time US Grade 1 winner. She was bought by Grant Pritchard-Gordon of Badgers Bloodstock, who worked for Juddmonte for 17 years.

"She has been bought for a long-standing European client, who loves Juddmonte families as much as I do," the buyer said. "Seeing as we know so much about Juddmonte, it was the obvious thing to do. She is a lovely big filly, she walked well out there, and she goes straight to the paddocks from here. This particular family I have known for a long time – I go back beyond Roupala [third dam]."

The very next lot to sell was Calabria, a daughter of Kingman, who was bought by Mark McStay of Avenue Bloodstock for 300,000gns.

She is a daughter of the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet winner Romantica (Galileo) and a granddaughter of the two-time European champion Banks Hill.

"We had to dig deep to get the filly from Banks Hill family but it is probably the best pedigree in the book," said McStay. "When you see Banks Hill, Dansili, Hasili, Champs Elysees on the page, it doesn't need much explanation as to why you had to dig so deep and why there was such stiff competition to get her."

He added: "I fancy Kingman as a broodmare sire, he could easily make it. The fillies were beautifully presented by Juddmonte and recommended. The mating plans will be fluid of both, but they will go to some of the best stallions and will be given the best chance."

Durkan purchase

Irish owner-trainer Bill Durkan paid 105,000gns for the Zoustar gelding Star Runner, with a jumping future ahead of him.

Gary Bannon, assistant to Durkan and standing at the top of the back stairs, was responsible for bidding and explained future plans for the three-year-old.

"We have bought him to go juvenile hurdling,"said Bannon. "We were very lucky at this sale last year buying from Jamie Railton, we bought Eagle Fang who ran at Cheltenham and has been a good juvenile for us."

He added: "He was unlucky on is last run, he was up after the line on his last run. We have been following him and were happy that he came up for sale – we have had to push the boat out a little bit but we are pleased to have him.

"We will get him home and get him jumping, and he is for the boss. "

Star Runner, who is still a maiden, is a half-brother to the good four-year-old filly Running Lion, winner of the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Bannon added: "He is a big scopey and rangy horse so should jump a hurdle and is out of a Dansili mare so should stay and, hopefully, do us justice."

Last year's purchase Eagle Fang, a two-time winner over hurdles and last successful when winning at Punchestown in May, finished third in the Grade 3 juvenile hurdle at Fairyhouse in December and finished mid-division in the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Durkan also spent 50,000gns on Bill Silvers, a four-year-old gelding by Farhh who is 90-rated on the flat for trainer Harry Eustace and Clipper Logistics.

On Tuesday Durkan spent 45,000gns on Holy See, a twice-raced three-year-old by Night Of Thunder who was trained in France.

The sale concludes on Thursday.