Everything you need as the European breeze-up season gets up and running

All eyes will be on Ascot as the European breeze-up season gets underway at noon on Thursday, with the prospects having been put through their paces before prospective buyers on the Berkshire turf on Wednesday.

Last year the auction had 67 lots from 84 offered sell for an aggregate of £2,041,600, median of £21,000 and an average of £30,472. With 146 lots catalogued this year, up from 99 in 2017, it looks as if the sale can continue its upward trajectory.

Sales

Tattersalls Ireland Ascot Breeze-Up Sale

Racing

Wolverhampton (first race 2.10)

Chelmsford (5.45)

Warwick (Abandoned)

Musselburgh (Abandoned)

ANZ Bloodstock News

ANZ Bloodstock News is the place for all the big stallion announcements and roster details and there is another exclusive on Thursday as Woodside Park Stud reveal their 2018 fees, including another increase for their flagship sire Written Tycoon.

Read more here

What to read

"We've been taking a lot of phone calls but also the early headlines are going to make a big difference to people with his progeny to sell"

Memories of Mujadil for Maurice Burns as Bungle makes a flying start

Favourite sale? Breeze-up timing a friend or foe? - Matt Coleman, Mick Flanagan, Brendan Holland, Katie McGivern and George Scott join our jury to tackle key issues in the breeze-ups. Read their thoughts here

Final Thought

It is no surprise that Written Tycoon will stand for a career-high fee of A$100,000 at Woodside Park Stud in Australia later this year. Already the sire of a host of performers including Golden Slipper winner Capitalist and this year's Blue Diamond Stakes hero Written By, the son of Iglesia is one of the most exciting young stallions around.