Girls Aloud

Following on from my recent Bridgerton-themed Royal Ascot column - I briefly dabbled with the idea of changing this column from “Girls Aloud” to “Lady Whistlejacket”, which would feature an anonymous July Sale report from Newmarket full of gossip, scandal and intrigue. However, breathe a sigh of relief, gentle reader, wisely I thought better of this idea, as much to protect the esteemed editor from legal proceedings as to protect any anonymous sources!

In fact, it’s a good thing that the sales and racing are of such quality as to hold the main focus of attention. 

In this post-Covid world, there are now far less social occasions and events focused around the Tattersalls July Sales than there once was, and many people commented on missing the events. 

One that has survived is the EBN Clay Pigeon Shoot, which sadly this year I was unable to attend. I have really enjoyed this afternoon for many years and was sad to miss out. It was however with good reason as I attended the AGM of the European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeding Associations (EFTBA) in the Jockey Club Rooms. 

Sadly this is my last EFTBA meeting as that honour now passes to the new chairman of the ITBA, Cathal Beale. With so many important issues on the horizon for breeders across Europe, this was an important meeting and it was encouraging to have so many attendees from throughout Europe. 

There has been a lot done and there is a lot more to do.

The Tattersalls July Sale produced with two record-breakers. First up was Juddmonte’s filly Orchid Bouquet (Kingman) a full-sister to Calyx, who sold for 550,000gns to Badgers Bloodstock, then less than 24 hours later the Royal Ascot winner Quai De Bethune (Persian King) sold for 775,000gns to Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock for Wathnan Racing. 

Other exciting lots included the Group 1 second Green Storm (Circus Maximus) sold to Gassim Ghazali for 380,00gns and Regal Agenda (Pinatubo) from the family of Dubai selling for 375,000gns to Ace Stud, the new name for Zhang Yuesheng’s stallion farm and formerly Dullingham Park Stud.

The July Meeting provided some wonderful racing. Godolphin enjoyed a fabulous meeting with a Group 1 Falmouth Stakes victory with Cinderella Dream (Shamardal), a Princess Of Wales’s Stakes (G2) win for El Cordobes (Frankel), Listed victory for Opera Ballo (Ghaiyyath), while the smart juvenile Saba Desert (Dubawi) took the Group 2 Superlative Stakes.

It is such a well-deserved achievement for the hard-working jockey, who was quick to credit his trainers, owners, horses and his family as being the key to his success, as he says, “Without them none of those things can happen.”

The highlight of the meeting was the July Cup (G1) victory
for No Half Measures. She lived up to her name and landed the spoils under jockey Neil Callan for an emotional trainer Richard Hughes, who won the race as a jockey on Oasis Dream in 2003. 

It was just beautiful to see the passion and determination of the whole team behind the Cable Bay filly in the post race celebrations, a fitting conclusion to a memorable July week.

And so dearest reader it is time to sign off after another memorable July week.