Written by Paul Vettise
A lengthy trip came to a successful conclusion for James Harron when he got his man on the final day of the Tattersalls July Sale with the leading Australian bloodstock agent securing the auction’s headline act.
Harron purchased the impressive last-start winner New King (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was consigned by Jamie Railton for breeder-owner Qatar Racing, for 450,000 guineas and the second highest price ever paid at the sale.
New King has won two of his five appearances from John Gosden’s stable, including an eight length victory at his most recent start over 1800 metres at Sandown.
"We had selected this horse in the catalogue and I came specifically for him, he is for a group of Australian clients," said Harron. "I was really pleased when I saw him, he has been well minded and he is a lovely horse.
"He is on a Timeform rating of 113p, which is comparable to some of the horses that have come to Australia from Europe and have done well. He has a great profile.
"He is on a Timeform rating of 113p, which is comparable to some of the horses that have come to Australia from Europe and have done well.” – James Harron.
"We have not yet got a trainer in mind and we are just working out a programme now, whether we ship him now and then run straight off the plane and give him a break, or maybe leave him in the Northern Hemisphere for now.
“His profile certainly means that he can run straight off in some of the bigger races in Australia."
Harron faced stiff competition to land New King, but held firm to repel the challenges of Rabbah Bloodstock’s Jono Mills and Qatari trainer Jassim Ghazali.
James Harron at the Tattersalls July Sale
New King is a son of Marine Bleue (Ire) (Desert Prince {Ire}), who was a Group 3 winner in Germany and also posted a Listed win in France, and all eight of her foals have been successful.
They also include Marina Piccola (Ire) (Halling {USA}), a black type winner who produced the dual Group 2 winner French King (GB) (French Fifteen {Fr}). It’s also the family of the G1 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud winner Mirio (Fr) (Priolo {USA}) and the G1 Falmouth S. winner Nahoodh (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}).
King rules
New King topped the sale and second on the list was At Last (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was also bought for an undisclosed client for 420,000 guineas by Townley Hall Bloodstock principal Mick Flanagan out of The Castlebridge Consignment.
The final session at Tattersalls also featured the sale of the Listed Committed S. winner and recent G3 Ballycorus S. runner-up Inverleigh (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) for 350,000 guineas.
Offered by part-owner Michael Downey, he was secured by Rabbah Bloodstock’s Jono Mills following a lengthy bidding battle with Dubaian trainer Ahmed bin Harmash.
"He is athletic and everyone who saw him here loved him. We are traders so he was always going to be sold," Downey said.
The 3-year-old Make A Wish (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}), a winner over 1400 metres at Sandown seven days ago for trainer Simon Crisford, was popular and the Michael Tabor-owned filly went to trainer Ghazali for 160,000 guineas, stood alongside agent Will Douglass.
"She has some quality, is by a good stallion and she should appreciate the fast ground in Qatar and running around a bend, there might be some more improvement in her.” Douglass said. “There is a good programme for her in Qatar."
Outstanding sale
Tattersalls Chairman Edward Mahony said the most obvious features of the auction was the depth of trade and the international buying bench, which contributed to a remarkable clearance rate of 93 per cent.
“Domestic British and Irish buyers have been prominent and every sector of the market has been further boosted by international demand.
“There have been buyers at Park Paddocks this week from more than 30 different countries and it is a source of pride that many of them would view Tattersalls as their primary, if not only source of thoroughbreds year after year.”
