Sceptical's owners busy sourcing future stars ahead of July Cup clash

The horses in training sales have proven a happy hunting ground for Hilltop Racing, with Diamond Jubilee Stakes third Sceptical and quickly improving miler Dalvey among their recent bargain buys.

Sceptical - the highest rated sprinter in Ireland on Racing Post Ratings with a mark of 119 - was sourced for £2,800 at Goffs UK last August while Dalvey - a stylish maiden winner at Gowran Park last month - was snapped up for 6,500gns at Tattersalls in February.

The partnership, made up of brothers James and Stephen McAuley and their uncle Jim Gough, were on the lookout for their next star at the Tattersalls July Sale on Thursday having travelled over from Ireland ahead of the July Cup on Saturday, with their star sprinter set to come against Golden Horde and Hello Youmzain.

By close of play on Thursday, Hilltop Racing had signed for five lots at a total spend of 48,500gns.

The four-year-old gelding Memsie won a 7f Leopardstown maiden last season and shares his sire Exceed And Excel with Sceptical, while the three-year-old Oasis Dream filly Belted is an unraced granddaughter of Group 1 winner Promising Lead and hails from the further family of legendary blue hen Hasili.

"Memsie was one we had marked out," noted James McAuley. "We've had great success wit the sire and were happy enough to take a punt on him. Belted was a lovely individual and a racey type, and there was something about her that we really liked."

Sceptical: Diamond Jubilee Stakes third among the leading fancies for the July CupCredit: Patrick McCann

All three partners will attend the July Cup with trainer James McAuley representing the horse's handler Denis Hogan, and he went on to explain their modus operandi when scouting for talent at the horses in training sales.

"We look for horses who are well bred," said McAuley. "Sceptical is by Exceed And Excel and Dalvey is by Dansili, two proven sires, but they also hail from strong families. Sceptical would have the profile to become a stallion if he wasn't already gelded.

"We also look for horses who have shown ability and may just have some niggling issues. The bigger yards can't give them the time, which is something we are able to do.

"Dalvey is a gorgeous horse but was very coltish when we bought him. His wind was also bad - he went to Dundalk for a racecourse gallop and blew very hard - and so a wind operation and gelding him has worked wonders.

"However, for every bargain you hear about like Sceptical, there might be five or six others who don't make the grade."

When asked about the chances of Sceptical in the July Cup, McAuley added: "He has already settled in well over here. Any rain or watering of the ground won't help but he'll take his chance and should run okay with a bit of luck."

The popular four-year-old brought up a hat-trick at Dundalk before following up in the Listed Woodlands Stakes sprint at Naas, and went down by the narrowest of margins to Hello Youmzain and Dream Of Dreams at Royal Ascot.

McAuley, who trained Grade 3 chase winner Gaspar back in 2008, has nine horses for Hilltop Racing in his care since renewing his training licence, while the trio have ten in training with Hogan.

Hilltop Racing campaign the imposing Ebadali with Hogan, an Aga Khan castoff who took second in a Listed bumper at Limerick last year having cost €6,000 at Goffs. McAuley reports that he is back in training and should make his hurdling debut later this year.

More sales news:

Meadowview's midas touch on show with 140,000gns Tattersalls top lot

July Sale jewels: the bargain buys who went on to reap major rewards