International trade abounds during low key second session

After a busy opening session of the Tattersalls July Sale, trade on Thursday proved more low-key, with supplementary entry Degas, who was bought by Eckhard Sauren for 100,000gns, the first of just two six-figure lot on a day dominated by international buyers.

Agent Jamie Railton was entrusted with bidding duties on behalf of Sauren, and after signing the docket for the German Group 3 winner he said: "The plan is to send him back to Germany to race.

"He has a number of entries - it's possible that he'll take up his entry in the Meilen Trophy [Group 2 at Cologne] on Sunday."

The five-year-old son of Exceed And Excel, who was bred and raced by Gestut Rottgen, has won three times for Markus Klug and boasts some high-class form behind the likes of Stormy Antarctic and Zelzal, and also finished second in the 2016 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen (German 2,000 Guineas).

View full Tattersalls July Sale results

As the sun began to set over Park Paddocks Stephen Hillen entered the fray to secure Olympic Odyssey with a bid of 100,000gns delivered from the back stairs.

The son of Camelot won one of his five starts for George Scott, having been bought as a yearling for 170,000gns by Bill Gredley.

"He's been bought to go jumping for a new client," said Hillen. "He'll probably have an easy month and then head back into full work, although I don't know who with yet.

"He's a gorgeous horse, if he'd been in any store sale he'd have made a fortune. Although it seems like a lot of money for a horse rated 70 I think he's got every chance. He'll be staying in England."

The three-year-old boasts a classy pedigree, as he is out of the Prix de la Foret winner Field Of Hope, the dam of eight winners, including the Group 3-winning Dormello and the Listed-winning pair Ransom Hope and Field Of Dream.

Updated appeal

For much of the day trade was headed by De Medici, who was bought by the BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe on behalf of Zhang Yuesheng's Yulong Investments for 95,000gns.

The three-year-old son of Makfi, who boasted a significant update having landed a 1m2f Sandown handicap on the Coral-Eclipse undercard on his latest start, was offered by The Castlebridge Consignment on behalf of Archie Watson's Saxon Gate stables.

"This horse is a good-looking type who vetted well and came recommend by Archie Watson," said Donohoe. "He could head to Singapore or Australia."

Zhang Yuesheng (left) secured De Medici for 95,000gnsCredit: Laura Green

Bred and formerly owned by Al Asayl Bloodstock, the gelding is out of the Hurricane Run mare Bride Unbridled, whose daughter Luchador also went through the Park Paddocks ring just one lot before De Medici, and duly fetched 55,000gns from July Sale regular and leading Qatari trainer Gassim Ghazali.

The two-year-old Holy Roman Emperor filly has won two of her five starts for the upwardly mobile Watson, and achieved a peaking Racing Post Rating (RPR) of 77 when winning on her latest start at Haydock.

Ghazali was back in action not long after the evening session began when going to 52,000gns for Braemar, a son of Oasis Dream offered by Juddmonte, and 85,000gns for Volatile, a four-time winner by Poet's Voice offered by Jamie Osborne's The Old Moathouse Stables.

New street for Hinde

Thursday's session was dominated by international players, and among those to make their mark was the Saudi Arabian Faisal Bin Mishref al Qahtani, who went to 82,000gns for Hinde Street, a three-year-old son of the late Giant's Causeway offered by The Castlebridge Consignment.

The well-related gelding was sourced with the aim of running in the valuable King's Cup.

"He is one for the King's Cup," said Misreef. "He should go on the dirt being by Giant's Causeway."

The youngster is one of six winners out of Grade 1 Matron Stakes winner Marylebone, a daughter of Unbridled's Song, and is a brother to stakes winner Bow Bells and the Grade 3-placed Sloane Square.

Hinde Street made a winning debut over 1m2f at Lingfield back in April for John Gosden, and reached an RPR of 85 when third to Sleeping Lion in a Kempton novice event over 1m3f.

Bated Breath for Bobby

The familiar figure of Bobby O'Ryan was among those to sign for a lot during the morning session on Thursday when going to 85,000gns for the lightly raced Manzil.

The three-year-old son of Bated Breath will now continue his racing career with Mick Easterby.

"He came recommended from Dermot Weld," said O'Ryan. "He's a nice horse who looks progressive. He's a long-term project but you'd like to think he could end up being one for the John Smith's Cup next year."

Another son of Bated Breath found himself in demand later in the session when Oliver St Lawrence went to 70,000gns for three-time winner Balestra, offered by Tim Easterby's Habton Grange Stables.

"He's for a new client and will be going to race in Bahrain," said St Lawrence. "He's a good-looking horse and looked very well here today."

The four-year-old had been picked up by Alex Elliott on behalf of Easterby from the Juddmonte draft at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale last November, where he cost 48,000gns.

The gelding has won twice this season, and was last seen hitting an RPR of 90 when runner-up in a Hamilton handicap over 1m½f.

Happy again

The useful handicapper Via Serendipity has won twice since being purchased by Norris/Huntingdon on behalf of Happy Valley Racing for 100,000gns at the 2017 renewal of the July Sale. And the syndicate will be hoping for a similarly fruitful return with Department Of War, who was secured from Richard Hannon's East Everleigh Stables draft for 65,000gns.

The three-year-old son of Declaration Of War - a 290,000gns yearling who raced in the silks of the Coolmore partners and Markus Jooste - ran to an RPR of 89 when making a winning debut at Nottingham in April.

"He has a good rating but I think the mark was a little under what the Hong Kong buyers are looking for," said Liam Norris. "But he's lightly raced and we'll probably geld him and then he'll go into training with Jeremy Noseda."

The colt is out of the Danetime mare Danetime Out, making him a half-brother to champion two-year-old Toormore and to Group 2 Champagne Stakes winner Estidhkaar.

Final figures

A total of 178 lots were offered over the pre- and post-race sessions on Thursday, with 171 changing hands for an impressive clearance rate of 96 per cent, an identical figure to the corresponding session in 2017.

Turnover stood at 3,483,000gns - almost on par with last year's returns, as was the average of 20,370gns, while the median took a four per cent dip to 12,000gns.

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