Classic pedigrees and in-form runners in the mix as sales action returns to Tattersalls

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Having ended last year's season on a high with Barnavara and Porta Fortuna leading a glamorous cast of millionaire transfers at the December Mare Sale, the Park Paddocks grounds return to action for 2026 with one of the more bread-and-butter events on its calendar.

History records that only the odd individual tends to tip the six-figure mark at the Tattersalls February Sale. Trade 12 months ago, when figures were encouraging, were assisted by numerous purchases from bloodstock agent Alessandro Marconi bound for destinations around the globe. 

Thursday's opening session is a real mix, following the Tattersalls British EBF Stallion Parade and Retraining of Racehorses Showcase during the morning. There are small sections of short yearlings, young two-year-olds and some broodmares before the first section of horses in training, including a large draft from Godolphin. Its blue-blooded fillies are always in demand, with Frequential, sold unraced as a three-year-old in 2017, going on to become the dam of Los Angeles, the Irish Derby winner and new member of Coolmore's National Hunt division.

We can assume Middle Eastern buyers will be out in force picking over the larger horses in training section on Friday, along with many of the smaller Flat trainers of these isles looking to bolster their strings as the year gets going, as well as the odd breeder searching out a bit of value.

Six for the shortlist

Scutari (81)
Breeding: b c Showcasing ex Continental Drift
Vendor: Juddmonte

Off the mark at the fifth attempt for Henri Devin and his owner-breeder in a little conditions event at Deauville last month, beating a fair subsequent winner. Not got many miles on the clock and comes from Juddmonte's world-leading Hasili family, being a grandson of Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Intercontinental. Scutari is also a half-brother of Masen, a Listed winner in Ireland who went on to be beaten a whisker in the Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland

Joyful Act (94)
gr m Frankel ex Blue Bunting
Godolphin

Has to be considered the best-bred breeding prospect in the catalogue as a daughter of an exceptional sire and one of Godolphin's premier mares who landed the Guineas, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks. While Blue Bunting has not managed to replicate her success on the track from the paddocks, the family is still active as she's a half-sister to the dam of multiple Group winner Poker Face. Joyful Act won the second of only three starts before dropping away in the Pretty Polly Stakes behind Running Lion, when there was evidently something amiss. Has not produced a foal yet but looks well worth a gamble for a breeder.

Joyful Act is a daughter of Guineas queen Blue BuntingCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Monoceros (110)
b g Dubawi ex Shirocco Star
Godolphin

A 750,000gns Godolphin purchase and for good reason, being a brother of the same team's prolific Group winner Al Suhail and a half-brother to Dante Stakes winner Telecaster, out of Meon Valley's Oaks runner-up Shirocco Star. Made a bright start when winning on his debut at Newmarket's July course and then running okay under a penalty at Leicester. However, he dropped away and was eased home on his only other start in September. Godolphin are famously open with information about the horses they sell, and he could yet be interesting if given patience and a change of scenery.

Space Invasion (251)
b c Space Blues ex Peticoatgovernment
East Everleigh Stables (Richard Hannon)

A Clipper Logistics homebred out of a Listed-placed half-sister to the very smart seven-furlong specialist Larchmont Lad. Space Invasion didn't appear on the track until the end of November but quickly picked up the idea of what to do. From finishing runner-up on his second start, he's now on a hat-trick after a couple of fine performances at Lingfield. Turned on the style last time and looks to be a miler with any amount of improvement in him.

Wilhelmina (260)
b f New Bay ex Alpine Dream
Jamie Railton

Has scored twice over an extended mile for Kevin Philippart de Foy and in the colours of Ballylinch Stud, which got involved with a daughter of their star stallion following her 80,000gns sale at Tattersalls as a yearling. Looks as if she has the potential to progress on the track again but, crucially, she's a half-sister to David and Yvonne Blunt's British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes winner Poptronic, from a family which ought to yield plenty more good results.

Wilhelmina is a sibling of the very smart Poptronic (left)Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Bin Ajwad (277)
b g Magna Grecia ex Abbasharjah
Jamesfield Stables (James Tate)

Probably emerged as a well-handicapped sort after three runs in the spring and summer, and received a gelding operation before making a winning reappearance in September. Went on to rattle-off a three-timer at Southwell and has a happy knack of not scoring by too far. This half-brother to Group 3 winner Coral Beach ought to progress some way beyond his mark of 86, giving him international appeal.

Tattersalls February Sale factfile

Where Park Paddocks, Newmarket

When From 12.30pm on Thursday and 10am on Friday

Last year's stats From 257 lots offered, 219 sold for turnover of 3,949,500gns (up 38 per cent year-on-year), an average of 18,034gns (up 26 per cent) and median of 11,000gns (up 52 per cent)

Notable graduates Missed The Cut (sold by Barton Sales, bought by Hurworth Bloodstock for 40,000gns); Frequential, dam of Los Angeles (sold by Godolphin, bought by BBA Ireland for 48,000gns); Moon De Vega (sold by Jamie Railton, bought by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for 98,000gns); Khor Sheed, dam of Without A Fight (sold by Harry Dutfield, bought by BBA Ireland for 28,000gns)

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