Sustained international demand continued on the third and final day of the Tattersalls July Sale with JUBILEE WALK topping proceedings at 220,000 guineas ahead of SOLDIER’S EMPIRE on 180,000 guineas, with both horses set to target major prizes in Bahrain. 

220,000 Guineas Jubilee Walk to Target Bahrain for China Horse Club  

The STUDY OF MAN colt JUBILEE WALK realised 220,000 guineas to an online bid by China Horse Club, buying out former partner Qatar Racing. Consigned by Jamie Railton, the three-year-old was previously trained by James Ferguson and offered with an official rating of 97, having won three of his six starts.    

JUBILEE WALK is out of the OASIS DREAM mare STARLIT SANDS, winner of the Group 3 Prix d’Arenberg and runner up in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes. STARLIT SANDS is the granddam of SANDRINE, winner of the Group 2 Lennox Stakes, the Group 2 Park Stakes and the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and twice Group 1 placed.  

Matt Houldsworth, European manager for China Horse Club, said: “He’ll stay with James and we’re going to target Bahrain. We’ll take him around the Middle East and perhaps we’ll go to Dubai as well. We haven’t had runners in Bahrain before but it’s something we’re keen to do as it’s obviously an emerging part of the world. We thought this horse fitted the profile nicely as he’s very much on the up.”  

Soldier’s Empire Another Heading to Bahrain at 180,000 Guineas  

Another horse set to head to Bahrain is the three-year-old colt SOLDIER’S EMPIRE who was knocked down to Al Mohamediya Racing’s Sheikh Sultan for 180,000 guineas after he saw off a determined effort from Irish bloodstock agent Barry Lynch.    

Spokesperson Ali Majeed revealed: “He will go straight to Bahrain from here and will not run again in the UK, and he will be trained by Fawzi Nass. He is a serious horse, he could suit the Crown Prince Cup or the King’s Cup, and he will have lots of options when he is four.”  

The son of BATED BREATH was sold by Ballygallon Stud having been in training with Ger Lyons. He won his maiden last October at Dundalk and has been placed twice this year in competitive races at Gowran Park and the Curragh, racing off a handicap mark of 90. 

Marconi Secures Swindon for Libyan Syndicate Sky Racing  

The progressive and lightly raced SWINDON, from William Haggas’ Somerville Lodge draft, was added to the July Sale catalogue as a wildcard two weeks ago before franking his credentials by winning impressively at Sandown last week. He was knocked down to agent Alessandro Marconi on behalf of the Libyan syndicate Sky Racing for 175,000 guineas, outbidding Oliver St Lawrence and Fawzi Nass as well as agent Jamie Piggott.  

A Sky Racing spokesman said: “This syndicate is organising racing in Libya and we have horses in Dubai and Libya. We hope this horse will go to Dubai and might come back to Europe next season, however he may also take in a big race in Libya at the end of October at the National Shooting and Equestrian Club, that will be the main target.  

“The owners of the syndicate are pushing hard to improve the racing industry in Libya – there is good prizemoney for the race in October, and it should be open to horses from other countries. There are also stallions and broodmares going to the country too.”  

Marconi added: “We have been trying hard to buy horses for three days but have been hitting the crossbar. We have been underbidders on four horses at least, and it was kind of frustrating, but we have been able to score late like the English team last night!  

“We wanted to buy a horse who could improve and he might handle the dirt eventually, he is versatile and, hopefully, he will carry the flag for an emerging syndicate.”  

The team also purchased the three-year-old BLUE POINT colt GAMEKEEPER from Godolphin for 110,000 guineas. 

Chairman’s Statement  

At the conclusion of the 2024 Tattersalls July Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;  

“The combination of top class racing at Newmarket’s July Meeting and the quality bloodstock on offer at the Tattersalls July Sale makes this one of the most enjoyable weeks of the European racing and sales calendar and as ever Europe’s premier midsummer sale has attracted an extraordinarily diverse crowd of buyers to Park Paddocks.  

“A smaller catalogue and one perhaps lacking a little of the depth which produced the record breaking 2023 July Sale has understandably produced a set of figures which have not quite matched the heights of last year. Nevertheless there has been sustained demand at all levels of the market which has resulted in an enviable clearance rate yet again in excess of 90% and a record-equalling number of horses selling for 250,000 guineas or more.  

“So often we reflect on the sheer number of overseas buyers drawn to sales of this nature at Tattersalls and yet again the international buyers have played a huge part in the success of the past three days. Participation from throughout the Gulf region has been prolific as ever, Australian and New Zealand buyers continue to demonstrate their appetite for quality European middle distance performers and we have had buyers from throughout Europe, India, Japan, Libya, Turkey and first time visitors from Indonesia all making significant contributions alongside their British and Irish Flat and National Hunt counterparts.  

“We should also recognise the importance of the consistent support we receive from so many of the world’s leading owner/breeders. Regular high-class consignments from the likes of Coolmore, Godolphin, Juddmonte and Shadwell are hugely enticing and consistently attract international owners and breeders confident that they will be able to access some of the finest bloodlines to be found anywhere in the world at Tattersalls.”