Prince Of Lir Colt Tops Ascot Breeze Up Sale

Lot 13 a colt by exciting young sire Prince of Lir, consigned by Thomond O'Mara's Knockanglass Stables was the star attraction at the relocated Tattersalls Ascot Breeze Up Sale selling to Avenue Bloodstock on behalf of young trainer Joe Parr for £92,000. A total of 50 lots sold for £1,000,440 at an average of £20,009 and a clearance rate of 88%, which was a two percentage point increase on last year's sale. The median also improved by 21% to £15,750.

The colt out of Harvest Joy, a dual two-year-old winner herself and Listed placed produced an excellent breeze and attracted the attention of a number of interested parties but it was Mark McStay and Parr who came out on top. The colt will be aimed at the lucrative Ballyhane Stakes which is now scheduled to take place at Naas on 23 August.

Lot 23 another offering by the sire of this year's Norfolk Stakes winner The Lir Jet caught the imagination of Matt Coleman and The Cool Silk Partnership who went to £70,000 to secure the colt who was consigned by Micky Cleere's M.C. Thoroughbreds operation. 

The Ascot Breeze Up Sales have been a happy hunting ground for the partnership having sourced Summer Sands and Flaming Princess at last year's sale and Sands Of Mali at the 2017 renewal.

Lot 34 a colt by Champion Sprinter Starspangledbanner consigned by A&N Bloodstock is set to go into training in Ireland with Jessica Harrington. It was Jimmy George who secured the colt for £58,000 on behalf of BBA Ireland's Patrick Cooper who was giving instructions via telephone. 

Matthew Prior, Head of Tattersalls Ascot Sales commented; 

"This year's Tattersalls Ascot Breeze Up Sale was rescheduled and relocated to our headquarters at Park Paddocks as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was very pleasing to see it return such a solid set of statistics. We must extend our thanks to our loyal vendors who have once again have shown their resourcefulness and have worked in conjunction with us to relocate the sale and make it a success in difficult circumstances. Equally we have to recognise the contribution made by all of today's purchasers who have supported the sale and we wish them the best of luck with their purchases."

"With no live sales scheduled to take place at Ascot Racecourse in either July or August, we look ahead to the Ascot Yearling Sale which will take place at Park Paddocks, Newmarket on Tuesday 8 September."