Tattersalls In Spotlight As Breeze-ups Begin

NEWMARKET, UK—The first British breeze-up sale will be staged in Newmarket on Thursday when the curtain rises on the Tattersalls Craven Sale, which will be swiftly followed that same afternoon by the Tattersalls Ascot Breeze-up.

Horses catalogued for both sales breezed on the Rowley Mile on Monday and extended, staggered viewing periods have been in operation at Park Paddocks over the last few days to allow agents, trainers and other prospective purchasers ample time for inspections within the confines of social distancing.

Earlier in the week Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the two-metre distance rule between people in Britain has been reduced to one metre, and steadily businesses are opening, with many pubs and restaurants serving take-aways but not yet fully operational. Strict health protocols remain in place at Tattersalls, where visitors to the sales grounds have their temperature checked on arrival having submitted medical questionnaires in advance.

As one of the largest companies in Newmarket, Tattersalls, which has been in operation for more than 250 years, has withstood the ebb and flow of financial tides over those years, but it is fair to say that such a juddering disruption to its business has not been seen before. It is a great credit to the respective teams behind its Newmarket, Ascot and Irish sales that the breeze-ups are taking place at all, as well as to the flexibility shown by its fellow sales houses Goffs UK and Arqana, which stage a combined breeze-up sale in Doncaster next Wednesday.

At the Craven Sale last year, traditionally held over two post-racing evening sessions in mid-April, a total of 85 juveniles were sold for a total of 10,343,000gns and at an average price of 121,682gns. The breeze-up consignors, whose restocking accounted for more than £20 million of expenditure at last year's yearling sales, are generally relieved to be able to hold sales at all following the bleak outlook earlier in the spring. Many have been proactive in selling horses privately ahead of the delayed sales, meaning that the number offered through the ring is significantly down. Indeed, 65 have been withdrawn from the original 145 catalogued for the Craven. The mood now is, understandably, one of nervous anticipation ahead of Thursday's results and for the trading fortnight to come.

“Tattersalls have done a great job and there are some nice horses here but we just have to hope that it's going to be sensible trade,” said long-time consignor Malcolm Bastard. “They are trying to be safe so it spreads everyone out and gives people more of a chance when it comes to seeing the horses, which is sensible. There have been a lot of viewings, especially on Monday after they breezed, and it's been trickling on ever since. But we're going into the unknown and no-one knows what is going to happen [on Thursday].”

Of his eight originally catalogued, Bastard has brought five to Newmarket, including a colt with one of the most eye-catching pedigrees in the catalogue, the Kingman (GB) half-brother to the dual Group 1 winner Poet's Word (Ire), who is offered as lot 42.

The Craven also includes one son of American Pharoah, a $170,000 Keeneland September purchase out of the Colleen S. winner Harlan's Honor (Harlan's Holiday). Offered by Star Bloodstock as lot 51, the March-born colt was one of the fastest breezers on Monday.

Tom Whitehead of Powerstown Stud has one colt remaining in each of the Craven and Ascot sales, from six originally catalogued, including a colt by Iffraaj (GB) (lot 75) out of a half-sister to the G1 Prix Jean Romanet runner-up and listed winner Princess Loulou (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).

He said, “There have been plenty of local people viewing horses and the local agents are working hard. The few top horses are busy and I would say the rest of the market is going to be tricky but I don't think anyone is expecting anything else. The middle to lower end is going to be very difficult, I would imagine, that's the feeling I'm getting. That's not Tatts' fault, it's not anyone's fault, it's just the world we're in at the moment. We didn't even expect to be able to hold a sale at one point and Tatts have done well to get a sale organised.”

The Ascot Breeze-up, first held in 2016, has become the traditional starting point for the season in early April and generally includes a more precocious type of horse. The Tattersalls Ascot wing can enjoy some reflected glory in the fact that its original catalogue included last week's G2 Norfolk S. winner The Lir Jet (Ire) within the consignment of Aguiar Bloodstock. He was sold on privately by pinhooker Robson Aguiar, who still has four 2-year-olds to sell on Thursday. There are also another five by The Lir Jet's first-crop sire Prince Of Lir (Ire).

He is just one of 17 freshman sires with juveniles in the Ascot section of the sale, including Cheveley Park Stud's Twilight Son (GB), who is represented by lot 9, a colt out of a half-sister to the storied GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Belvoir Bay (GB) (Equiano {Fr}).

The Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up Sale gets underway at 11am, and is followed by the Ascot Breeze-up at 3pm.