Elliott=S Weapon Tops Final July Session Cont
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SATURDAY, 14 JULY 2018 ALL TOO EASY FOR ALPHA CENTAURI ELLIOTT=S WEAPON TOPS Odds of 4-9 are never tempting in a race like the G1 Tattersalls FINAL JULY SESSION Falmouth S., but >TDN Rising Star= Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) made them look a gift as she sauntered to a facile success at Newmarket on Friday. Following a breakthrough win in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh on May 27 with a commanding performance in Royal Ascot=s G1 Coronation S. on June 22, the Niarchos=s grey was always in her comfort zone as jockey Colm O=Donoghue opted to take the stand=s rail and the lead from the outset. Extending her advantage from over two furlongs out, the imposing homebred had 4 1/2 lengths to spare over Altyn Orda (Ire) (Kyllachy {GB}), with Clemmie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) a length back in third and the rest well beaten. AShe=s unbelievable--she was hacking along,@ trainer Jessie Harrington said. AThe lovely thing about it, as you saw after the race, is she is so relaxed. She doesn=t get upset, she comes in and has all the photographs taken and goes away.@ AI sometimes think before a race she is almost too relaxed and Lethal Steps sells for 300,000gns at the July Sale | Tattersalls has she gone off or done this or is not quite right,@ Harrington said. AShe is amazing--she had to do all the donkey work today, By Chris McGrath but has a very high cruising speed which really helps her. I=m Newmarket, UK--Perhaps the clearance rate didn't quite match very lucky to have her.@ that achieved by the ice cream vendor outside the ring, who was Sometimes in these events, it is simply a case of one runner soon able to wheel away an empty stall, but there wasn't a great being totally dominant and that was clearly the case here as deal in it as the Tattersalls July Sale drew to a close on another Alpha Centauri continued to make considerable hay out of the hot summer evening in Newmarket. unusually prolonged hot and dry European summer. Whether Vendors at this auction generally mean business and, once her fortune will run over to Deauville=s August meeting which is again, a diverse and international market ensured that the ratio frequently staged on testing turf remains to be seen, but the of lots to find a new home exceeded nine-in-10. assembled colts and older milers in the Aug. 12 G1 Prix Jacques The full spectrum was measured within a few minutes during le Marois will be hoping the rains come in time to save them the post-racing session. On the one hand, the decline of Outback from racing=s new boadicea. Traveller (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}), two years after he won the Soft ground undid her when she was a beaten favourite in fifth Wokingham at Royal Ascot, was poignantly crowned by his sale for the G1 Moyglare Stud S. at The Curragh in September and for just 6,000gns. Lethal Steps (GB) (Lethal Force {Ire}), in when 10th on her return in the G3 Ballylinch Stud 1000 Guineas contrast, had arrived as a racehorse palpably in his prime after Trial also over seven furlongs at Leopardstown on Apr. 14 being beaten just two lengths when fourth in listed company Cont. p6 down the road on the July Course barely 24 hours earlier, and was duly sold, as lot 823, for 300,000gns to Mags O'Toole. IN TDN AMERICA TODAY "Seeing him back here in the evening yesterday, you had to love his attitude," the agent said. "After his race, and all the FASIG-TIPTON TO PARTNER WITH SANTA ANITA X-rays and everything, he trotted out to his chin." The Stronach Group, parent company of Santa Anita Park, will team with Fasig-Tipton Co. for a pair of Thoroughbred auctions Lethal Steps will be joining Gordon Elliott, whose occasional to be held at the racetrack in 2019. Click or tap here to go forays on the Flat show him to be no less effective than he is straight to TDN America. with jumpers. Cont. p2 TDN EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL • PAGE 2 OF 18 • THETDN.COM SATURDAY • 14 JULY 2018 Elliott=s Weapon Tops Final July Session cont. from p1 "Yes, he's been bought as a dual-purpose horse," said O'Toole, who was acting on behalf of a new client. "But he's certainly going to run on the Flat. We all know that Gordon's an outstanding National Hunt trainer, but he's also had two Royal Ascot winners from very few runners. He was too busy with runners to be here today, but saw the horse yesterday and loved his run, thought him the type to progress with a trip." Prior to advertising his wares on the eve of the sale, Lethal Steps had finished in midfield in the Britannia on his first start for Andrew Balding following his transfer from Ger Lyons by Qatar Racing. The latter, who consigned him here through Jamie Railton, had acquired the horse between two wins in his first two juvenile starts last year. At 645 lots, the overall number offered over three days was virtually identical to last year, with the clearance rate very similar at 87% (89% in 2017). Turnover of 12,074,300gns dipped from 14,691,700gns; producing dips of the median from 12,000gns to 10,000gns and average from 25,595gns to 21,485gns. Joseph Burke | Tattersalls "As ever, the Tattersalls July Sale has attracted overseas buyers in huge numbers and we have seen sustained international demand from start to finish," remarked Tattersalls After a fairly desultory day's trade to that point, the very next chairman Edmond Mahony. "Quality consignments from some lot through the ring--another 3-year-old gelding--made of the world's leading owner-breeders--including Godolphin, 210,000gns. Nearest Green (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) (lot Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell--have been as sought-after as 824) had won for the second time in four starts for Kevin Ryan ever. And although a handful of late withdrawals took some of at Beverley last weekend, having also scored on debut at the shine off the catalogue, there has been no shortage of Newcastle in January, and will continue his career for Raymond competition at all levels of the market.@ Tai in Hong Kong. "The [overall] clearance rate of almost 90% is the key statistic The random incidence of lots of that calibre make to take from this week's sale and the abundance of buyers, both year-on-year comparisons of limited pertinence at any domestic and overseas, reflects the global reputation of the horses-in-training sale. For the record, the aggregate on the Tattersalls July Sale as a consistent source of both high-class third day sank 23% from 4,161,300gns to 3,184,300gns; giving horses-in-training and quality breeding stock.@ rise to corresponding drops in the median (10,000gns from "While the individual highlight was the 350,000gns 13,000gns) and average (17,401gns from 23,378gns) of 23 and sale-topping filly Award Winning (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who set a 26%, respectively. More importantly, for 183 of 197 lots to new record for a filly at this sale, the extraordinary international change hands represented a clearance rate of 93%; measuring appetite for horses-in-training was yet again the most notable up well to 95% on the final day last year. feature of Europe's premier midsummer sale." TDN EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL • PAGE 3 OF 18 • THETDN.COM SATURDAY • 14 JULY 2018 Vice President, International Operations Gary King Twitter: @garykingTDN [email protected] + 1.732.320.0975 International Editor Tattersalls auctioneers Simon Kerins and Alastair Pim take a moment Kelsey Riley to cool off with an ice cream at the July Sale this week | Tattersalls Twitter: @kelseynrileyTDN [email protected] The morning session had been illuminated by a draft of fillies from Juddmonte, whose family trees tend to guarantee them European Editor some residual value regardless of any potential that might be Emma Berry salvaged on the track. Twitter: @collingsberry Agent Joseph Burke has invested shrewdly in Juddmonte blood [email protected] in the past, picking up a half-sister to an Invincible Spirit (Ire) Associate International Editor yearling--subsequently given the name Kingman (GB)--after she Heather Anderson failed to meet her reserve here a few years ago. And, in going to Twitter: @HLAndersonTDN 68,000gns for Bansuri (Mizzen Mast) (lot 703), he was again pinning his hopes on some of the recent coverings across a Marketing Manager family she had rather let down when last on her only start for Alayna Cullen Criquette Head-Maarek. Twitter: @AlaynaCullen The 3-year-old, now on her way to Oghill House Stud, is a [email protected] daughter of the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Alabama winner Flute Contributing Editor (Seattle Slew); and she is also a full sister to Filimbi, winner of Alan Carasso the GII Goldikova S. at Santa Anita and four times placed at Twitter: @EquinealTDN Grade I level. Moreover, Mizzen Mast's mating with Flute's daughter by Empire Maker produced Purser, who won a listed Cafe Racing race on the Rowley Mile this spring. Sean Cronin "It's a real live pedigree," Burke said. "The dam is in foal to Tom Frary Arrogate, and Filimbi has a yearling by Tapit and a foal by War [email protected] Front. You also have [GI Ashland S winner] Weep No More Irish Correspondent (Mineshaft) under the first dam.