Breeze-up sale-topper surfaces at Salisbury

Ragstone Road, the 240,000gns top lot at this year's Tattersalls Guineas Sale, embarks on his racing career at Salisbury on Wednesday, less than a week after another breeze-up sale-topper - €210,000 Goresbridge graduate Landshark - won a Leopardstown maiden on his debut.

Ragstone Road's sire Kodiac is closing in on his own record of 43 for the most juvenile winners in a season, with the Tally-Ho Stud resident currently sitting on 33.

Trained by Richard Hughes and ridden in the silks of Gallagher Bloodstock Ltd by Shane Kelly, Ragstone Road lines up for the second division of the British EBF Molson Coors Novice Stakes (2.20).

Bred by Debbie Kitchin, Ragstone Road is out of the Green Desert mare Greenflash. Kitchin bred Greenflash to Kodiac, now commanding a fee of €50,000, when he stood at €10,000.

Ragstone Road has been through the sales ring on three occasions. Johnny McKeever and Biddestone Stud picked him up as a foal for €48,000 at the Goffs November Sale and then sold him for £28,000 to Howson and Houldsworth Bloodstock as a yearling at Goffs UK.

Offered by Thomond O'Mara's Knockanglass Stables, his final turn in the ring came when Stephen Hillen made the 240,000gns winning bid at Tattersalls in May, a healthy return on O'Mara's initial outlay.

"He really attacked the hill and finished out very, very strongly - and that's what we're looking for, horses that are finishing their breeze," said Hillen after making his purchase.

Greenflash - who shares her granddam with Group 3 scorer Sheppard's Watch - has also produced an unplaced Kodiac mare named Fit; a placed Sir Prancealot gelding named Vaux; and a yearling Alhebayeb filly.

Ragstone Road: being put through his paces at this year's Tattersalls Guineas SaleCredit: Laura Green