Major Increases at the Tattersalls Ireland Ascot August Sale
The Tattersalls Ireland Ascot August Sale finished with increases synonymous with this venue in recent months. The sale saw a total of 85 lots selling for an aggregate of £448,000, a rise of 30% and an average of £5,281, an increase of 13%. The clearance rate was 72%.
Headlining the sale was recent Bumper winner Dan McGrue (Lot 121). By Dansant, this four-year-old gelding was a winner of his only start and was snapped up by Richard Barber for £60,000 when offered by his trainer John Nicholson’s Seven Sisters Stables.
The Godolphin draft unsurprisingly proved popular; seven lots were sold of a total of £128,000 at an average of £18,286 and a median of £17,000. Top lot from the draft was Lot 54; Azhar. The well-bred filly by Exceed And Excel is out of an own-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Domedriver and was signed for by purchaser Matt Sigsworth of Ebor Bloodstock for £42,000.
Trainer Nigel Hawke also purchased from the Godolphin draft. He had to go to £28,000 for Deauville Crystal, a winner in Germany at two-years and a half-sister to Group 3 winner Three Rocks. The now three-year-old filly is by Raven’s Pass (Lot 49).
Commenting on the sale, Director of Horses in Training at Tattersalls Ireland Richard Pugh said;
“It is thoroughly encouraging to see an increased set of returns yet again at Ascot. The level of trade continues to grow and as has been the case with our previous sales, the Ascot August Sale outperformed many of last years’ figures. Vendors and Purchasers have been extremely supportive of this venue all year and this is displayed in the increased aggregate and a top price of £60,000. The top lot is a smashing debut bumper winner with a big future, sold to Richard Barber and it is great to see this type of horse being attracted to Ascot so regularly this season. The team at Tattersalls Ireland Ascot can now look forward to the next sale, the Ascot November Sale on 3 November, 2016.”