Strong first day’s trade at Craven Breeze Up for the Darley stallions

Exceed And Excel, Shamardal and first-season sire Epaulette prove popular at Tattersalls

The opening session of the 2017 Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale saw an incredible day’s trade with the average up 48% and the median up 83% on last year.

The Darley stallions featured prominently, with Exceed And Excel responsible for the third-highest price of the day when his colt out of Cherry Hinton Stakes winner Please Sing (consigned by Knockanglass Stables, pictured) attracted a final bid of 370,000 guineas. Later in the session, David Redvers went to 165,000 guineas to secure Exceed And Excel’s daughter of G1 1,000 Guineas third Super Sleuth, from the same consignor.

Just one two-year-old by leading sire Shamardal went through the ring, an impeccably bred filly out of Lavender And Lace (Barathea) who was consigned by Mocklershill. Bought by Alliance Bloodstock and John Egan for 320,000 guineas, her dam is a half-sister to Manduro’s G1-winning son Mandaean and fellow G1 winner Wavering.

Epaulette’s first crop are now two-year-olds and he enjoyed an outstanding day, averaging over 128,000 guineas – almost 23 times his covering fee. His highest price of the day was 220,000 guineas, given by Al Shaqab Racing and Ross and Peter Doyle for a filly out of Pearls Of Wisdom, consigned by Tally-Ho Stud. Just one lot later, Stroud Coleman went to 115,000 guineas for Bansha House Stables’ filly out of Phi Phi, herself a half-sister to Champion two-year-old filly and Black type producer Superstar Leo.

Sepoy also recorded a six-figure lot when his colt out of Stakes winner Promesse de l’Aube was bought by Rob Speers for 150,000 guineas.

The sale continues today.