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Rihaam sells for 540,000gns on opening day of July Sale at Tattersalls

The Shadwell Estate Company-sold mare Rihaam (Dansili) set records on the opening day of the Tattersalls July Sale in Newmarket on Wednesday when she was bought by Blandford Bloodstock for 540,000gns. The turnover for the opening session eclipsed the previous record set in 2016 by 21 per cent and the top lot smashed the previous record of a top price of 460,000gns that was set in 2010.

Sold as Lot 179, the session topper is a daughter of Dansili (Danehill) and she was offered in foal to the Yeomanstown Stud-based sire Dark Angel (Acclamation). The mare is already the dam of the stakes placed colt Ribhl (Dark Angel), who is trained by Marcus Tregoning.

"I think she is by far the best mare here, she is a beautiful Dansili mare carrying to Dark Angel who is a great stallion," said purchaser Tom Goff.

"She is from one of Sheikh Hamdan's best families, tracing to Bahri and lots of superstar colts and fillies. Mares such as this really don't grow on trees. The top Shadwell mares are as exciting as it comes, her new owners will definitely make the most of it." 

The second most expensive lot to sell on Wednesday was See The Rose (Kendargent) who was bought by London Thoroughbred Services for 500,000gns. The mare became the second lot to ever sell for 500,000gns or more at the Tattersalls July Sale.

BBA Ireland and Lucky Vega Syndicate meanwhile were responsible for purchasing the next three highest priced lots, with a total of five lots selling for over 250,000gns on Wednesday.

Heading those three purchases was Shining Bright (Galileo) who cost 450,000gns. Sold as Lot 213, Shining Bright was sold in foal to Starspangledbanner (Choisir) and is a sister to Changingoftheguard being out the Grade 2 placed mare Lady Lara (Excellent Art).

"Mr Zhang was in Ireland last week and saw Lucky Vega, and is keen to support him next season and determined to give him every chance," said Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland.

"This mare will probably go back to Ireland and be covered by him next spring. There was obviously a nice update to the pedigree at Royal Ascot and we have the two-year-old full-brother too."

Footprints – another daughter of Galileo (Sadler's Wells) was bought for 340,000gns while Sweet Whisper (Dubawi) cost 260,000gns. Footprints was sold in foal to Coolmore Australia shuttler Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) and is a sister to multiple Group winner Armory being out the stakes placed mare After (Danehill Dancer).

Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) mare Sweet Whisper is out of Group 1 winner Gonbarda (Lando), making her a half-sister to Group 1 winner Farhh (Pivotal) and was consigned by Godolphin.

BBA Ireland / Lucky Vega Syndicate finished day one of the July Sale as the leading buyer having spent 1,344,000gns on six lots while BBA Ireland and Yulong Investments bought three lots for 373,000gns.

"It's been a busy day but I'm really pleased with the mares we've got," said Yulong's chief operating officer Sam Fairgray.

"They're by good stallions - Galileo, Siyouni, Kingman and Exceed And Excel - and from nice families and physically we really liked them too so we're really happy with what we've got. Some will head to Australia, some will be bred up here to southern hemisphere time and then head down and others will stay here and visit Lucky Vega [next year].

"I'd imagine they'll all make their way down to Australia in time but we want to support Lucky Vega. He had a fantastic first season here and we want to continue that support. I'd imagine a couple will be covered by Frankel before heading down but we haven't decided which ones yet. We'll sit down and work out where we go from here.

"Mr Zhang came a few years ago and purchased Harlech, the dam of Hungry Heart, so he saw that we should be back here to find the mares that we like."

The day saw 226 of the 262 lots offered sold for 8,740,785gns, with the aggregate finishing up 47 per cent on last year's figure. The median rose 27 per cent to 14,000gns, whilst the average showed the biggest gain, up 54 per cent to 38,676gns.

The sale continues on Thursday.