Wednesday 18 January 2012

TATTERSALLS MILLIONS PROVES POPULAR


The 2012-2013 renewal of the Tattersalls Millions has seen a total of 263 two-year-olds entered for the £1,300,000 six race series, which starts in September of this year. All the horses are graduates of the 2011 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 with purchase prices ranging from 20,000 guineas to 700,000 guineas.

The leading British and Irish trainers have all made entries for a number of their two-year-old's including Aidan O'Brien, John Gosden, Luca Cumani, Saeed bin Suroor, Sir Michael Stoute, Sir Henry Cecil and Richard Hannon, who holds the largest number of entries at 21.
Richard Hannon, whose entries cost from 32,000 guineas to 280,000 guineas, knows the race series well, having been first and second in the 2011 renewal of the £500,000 Tattersalls Millions 2YO Trophy, with Coupe De Ville and Tell Dad.

Other trainers numerically well represented include William Haggas with 15 entries, Mark Johnston with 13, Mick Channon with 10 and Andrew Balding and David Wachman both with nine.

Manchester United star Wayne Rooney also stands a chance of hitting the jackpot with his first venture into racehorse ownership. His as yet unnamed Bahamian Bounty colt out of Amazon Beauty is one of two Tom Dascombe trained entries.

Further notable entries include Phaenomena from Sir Henry Cecil's yard, who was bought by the Niarchos Family for 700,000gns. Fantasy In Blue, bought by Cheveley Park Stud last October for 410,000gns has also been entered.

Other high profile buys include Dream India and Marciano, by Oasis Dream and Pivotal respectively; both cost 360,000gns. Dream India is owned by Mrs Fitri Hay, Mrs John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor and flamboyant Australian Paul Makin is the owner of Marciano.

First season stallions represented include Duke Of Marmalade, Mount Nelson, Raven's Pass and New Approach, whose 525,000gns colt out of Lady Miletrian has been entered by his owner Sheikh Mohammed. He is, as yet, unnamed.

Edmond Mahony, Chairman of Tattersalls commented, "The number and quality of the entries again demonstrates the popularity of the Tattersalls Millions series and it is particularly pleasing to see seven of the eight 2011 Tattersalls Millions winning connections with entries in the 2012/2013 series. The importance of giving owners opportunities to win decent prize money cannot be overstated and we are already looking forward to another competitive Tattersalls Millions series."

There are a total six races in the £1,300,000 series, starting in September 2012. All races take place at Newmarket's Rowley Mile Racecourse

TWO YEAR OLD RACES
£500,000 Tattersalls Millions 2YO Trophy - Saturday 6 October
£300,000 Tattersalls Millions 2YO Fillies' Trophy - Saturday 6 October
£100,000 Tattersalls Millions Median Auction Trophy - Saturday 22 September £100,000 Tattersalls Millions Fillies' Median Auction Stakes - Saturday 22 September