Tattersalls February Sale begins

A marathon session is in prospect at Tattersalls on Thursday with the seventh

February Sale boasting a record 351-lot catalog. Although stakes-winning Slip

Dance (Celtic Sing), the expected star of the show, has been withdrawn, there

are plenty of other attractive pages in the mixed catalog.

Lot 75 is the 12-year-old mare EXPECTATION (Night Shift), consigned from

Lostford Manor Stud and carrying a full sibling to last season's Richmond S.

(Eng-G2) winner and Middle Park S. (Eng-G1) third Always Hopeful (Mind Games).

Ian Matthews, whose dispersal included the top two lots at last year's

December Sale, consigns four yearlings through Lanwades Stud. They include Lot

137, a Selkirk colt whose dam, First Exhibit (GB) (Machiavellian), was sold for

240,000 guineas two months ago. Lot 140 is a Domedriver (Ire) half-sister to

Champagne S. (Eng-G2) winner Etlaala (Selkirk).

"Last year's February Sale got 2005 off to a great start and the catalog for

this year's sale suggests we can expect a similar story," said Jimmy George,

Tattersalls marketing director. "It's the largest ever February Sale with 351

lots cataloged and widely regarded as the strongest we've put together to date.

"The final part of Ian Matthews' dispersal has created a lot of interest as

has some quality breeding stock and the good number of decent horses and fillies

in training we have on offer."

The one-day sale is preceded by a stallion parade.