Overseas buyers dominated the upper-end trade on Day 2 of the Tattersalls July Sale in Newmarket on Wednesday with buyers from the USA and Qatar snapping up the two six-figure lots.
Topping the bill was the 115,000 guineas two-year-old Drawing Board. He was trained by Kevin Ryan for John Fretwell to win his first two starts before finishing second at Pontefract last week.
The Pastoral Pursuits colt was sold to Bahrain-based agent Jalil Al Mallah who outbid Qatar trainer Ibrahim Al-Malki. “He has been bought for Mubarak Al Naoimi and, will be going to Qatar in October,” said Al Mallah. “He’s not a huge horse and is the right type for the sharp turns we have. Hopefully he will make a miler next season.”
Florida-based Tony Grey, who bred and part owns last Sunday’s Belmont G1 winner Franny Freud, paid 100,000gns through Californian agent Jamie Lloyd to see off BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohoe for two-year-old Moment Of Weakness. “He’s an athlete and bred to run all day,” said Grey, who works in investment banking and has around 15 horses with Winter Park Partners.
The Big Bad Bob gelding, who was trained by Jessica Harrington for husband Johnny, has scored twice on the Polytrack at Dundalk before being Listed-placed at Cork on his latest outing.
Al-Malki paid 80,000gns to outbid Geoffrey Howson for Irish handicapper Captain Coke, who was sent over to score three times in Britain last month by County Clare handler Denis Quinn. “He’ll stay in Britain to run a couple more times before going to Qatar,” said Al-Malki. “We’d like to get his rating up a bit higher to make sure that he can get into the Dubai Carnival.”
Pontefract winner Azlakof was sold for 65,000gns to a representative of Russian owner Vartan Azatovich Vartanov. The Shamardal colt was part of a sizeable draft from Clive Brittain’s stable.
So was Mahadee who notched up his 10th career success at Doncaster last Friday. The Cape Cross gelding realised 40,000gns when knocked down to Pearl Bloodstock with a view to run on synthetic surfaces either in America or Dubai.