Craven and Ascot Breeze-Up Sales moved to June with amended format

The Tattersalls group have issued revised dates for the Craven and Ascot Breeze Up Sale, with a contingency plan for an amended format for the fixture if required due to the Covid-19 crisis.

The Tattersalls Ireland Derby and Goresbridge Breeze Up sales have also been given new dates on the calendar, with the racing industry still awaiting clarity on when the sport can resume.

The Craven and Ascot Breeze Up Sale will take place in Newmarket on Tuesday, June 23, while the Derby Sale, incorporating the May Sale, will move to the week beginning Monday, July 13. The Goresbridge Breeze Up Sale has been moved to Friday, July 24, with the breezes taking place earlier that week.

Should the British government guidelines not allow breezing in the conventional format prior to the sale in Newmarket, arrangements have been made for the breezes to take place well in advance of the June 23 sale date in the week beginning June 8.

Should this be the case, Tattersalls say that the vast majority of Irish-based two-year-olds catalogued for the Craven and Ascot Breeze-Up will breeze under full sale conditions at an Irish racecourse, to be confirmed following approval from Horse Racing Ireland. Their British-based counterparts will breeze on the Newmarket 'Watered Gallop' adjacent to the Rowley Mile Racecourse.

Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said: “The continued lockdown and prolonged uncertainty surrounding the resumption of racing behind closed doors in either Britain or Ireland has necessitated not only a further revision of the date for the Tattersalls Craven and Ascot Breeze Up Sale but also carefully thought out contingency plans, which crucially will provide as much flexibility as possible for vendors and purchasers alike.

"The changes have been made on the assumption that in the intervening period there will have been at least a partial resumption of racing behind closed doors and that Government social restrictions will also have been relaxed to some extent.

“While we would all prefer to stage the sale in its usual format, we must accept that events outside our control may dictate otherwise.”

The Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up will remain in its already revised date of July 6 and 7 and full details of all the respective breeze dates and formats will soon be released. Tattersalls will also be introducing online and telephone bidding platforms in order to allow buyer participation in as many different ways as possible.

Revised sale dates

Tattersalls Craven and Ascot Breeze Up Sale June 23

Contingency Breeze Week beginning June 8 in Ireland and at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile (Irish breeze location to be confirmed)

Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale July 6-7

Tattersalls July Sale Wednesday 8th July - Friday July 10

Tattersalls Ireland Derby and May Sale Week beginning Monday July 13

Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze Up Sale Friday July 24

Breeze Week beginning Monday July 20

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