Invincible Spirit colts lead the way at Tattersalls

A pair of colts by Invincible Spirit topped proceedings on the one-day

Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale as 83 lots were sold for 2,149,500 guineas at

an average of 25,898 guineas and a median of 20,000 guineas.

The Invincible Spirit own brother to the listed-winning Stevie Gee was a late

addition to the Guineas Breeze Up catalog, as Lot No. 73A, after he failed to

take his place at the Craven Breeze Up two weeks earlier. The colt, who is out

of the Seeking the Gold mare Mangaree Mary, caught the attention of the Stobart

Group's Andrew Tinkler as well as bloodstock agent David Redvers, but the pair

were unable to match local agent Richard O'Gorman who landed the two-year-old

with a bid of 220,000 guineas. The sale represented a great pinhooking result

for consignor Willie Slattery's Meadowview Stables who had purchased him for

€48,000 as a yearling.

O'Gorman struck again for the only other lot to realize 100,000 guineas or

more, when he signed for the Invincible Spirit colt out of the Silver Hawk mare

Virgin Hawk. Consigned from Tom Whitehead's Powerstown Stud in Ireland, the racy

colt was the subject of a spirited bidding duel between O'Gorman and County

Kildare-based owner Norman Steel, with the latter eventually waving the white

flag. The sale of the half-brother to the listed-winning Metaphoric (Montjeu

[Ire]) proved a fruitful one for his owners, who had secured him as a yearling

for €46,000.

"There have been a number of positives to take from today's trade,"

Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented at the conclusion of the sale. "We

were delighted to be able to accommodate the Invincible Spirit colt from

Meadowview Stables who was originally scheduled to sell at our Craven Breeze Up

two weeks ago. He was always a colt of real quality and it was great to see his

vendor rewarded with the top price of 220,000 guineas.

"As well as a top price which exceeded the 170,000 guineas sale topper at

last year's Guineas Breeze Up, we were pleased that the clearance rate also

significantly improved on last year.

"Having said that, we would still like to have seen a higher percentage of

lots sold and the sale has graphically demonstrated the old adage of 'breeze

well, sell well'. Nevertheless, while there is little doubt that the market

remains selective, numerous buyers have remarked that there has been plenty of

competition for quality horses.

"The Guineas Breeze Up is still in its infancy, but in the three years since

its inception it has quickly established itself as an important middle market

sale which is increasingly targeted by buyers from throughout Europe as well as

a wide cross section of domestic buyers. These are still difficult times, but I

have little doubt that today's sale will produce its usual steady stream of high

class winners and also unprecedented returns on investment for those lucky

owners whose purchases benefit from the two extensively promoted bonus schemes."