Girls aloud

The ITBA’s chairwoman Cathy Grassick is delighted with her purchases at the July Sale, has been making hay at home, as well as judging at the Bannow and Rathangan Agricultural Show

JULY ALWAYS STARTS with a bang and the quality of this year’s Tattersalls July Sale catalogue meant that prospective buyers from all across the globe were in town to enjoy a fine week of sales and racing.

The demand for high-quality stock from Europe has increased with the increasing popularity and great prize-money for Turf racing in the US, a buoyant market in Australia and many Middle Eastern buyers looking for additions to their racing strings.

I was very busy working on behalf of a number of clients from Ireland and further afield to try find a hidden gem. The list was a long one as I was looking for both racing prospects and breeding prospects – a lot of time and effort went into putting the various short lists together.

The undulating hills of Park Paddocks are certainly more enjoyable in sunny July, so it was pleasant work. It was also exciting to see the excellent redevelopment of the Solario complex.

I was delighted with what we managed to buy and so were my clients – we bought some lovely value mares and fillies to breed and race. The higher end of the market proved very competitive, and a lot of highquality fillies and mares are due to leave the British and Irish stud book for further shores.

While it is wonderful to see such healthy trade, but we also must be mindful as breeders to protect the quality of our broodmare bands and not to let it be diminished as, otherwise, we will not maintain the high standards of the stock currently produced.

The racing at the Newmarket July course never disappoints and this year the weather had got the memo and we were greeted with beautiful sunshine to bathe the picturesque track. It is always such an enjoyable meeting and has one of the most stunning pre-parade rings – a delight for both humans and horses alike.

On the track there were many exciting performances to enjoy from the electrifying two-year-olds by colts and fillies – Persian Force (Mehmas), Isaac Shelby (Night Of Thunder) and Mawj (Exceed And Excel) to the high-class Group 1 performances from Prosperous Voyage (Zoffany) and Alcohol Free (No Nay Never).

Sadly, I was unable to sneak up to York on Friday to see our homebred speed queen Flotus (Starspangledbanner) run in the 6f Group 3 William Hill Summer Stakes.

The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained filly, now owned by Katsumi Yoshida, did not disappoint, and led nearly from start to finish. She has her connections dreaming of a Group 1 win to add to her second in the Cheveley Park and then Commonwealth Cup third.

Her dam Floriade, who has a full-sister at foot, got extra carrots that night back in Newtown Stud!

I did get to visit Carisbrooke Stud, with whom I work closely, and it was wonderful to get to see the beautiful foals and yearlings, enjoying

The beautiful shaded pre-parade ring on the July course at Newmarket

the sun and lush grass of the Lambourn valley. The farm has been developed into such a wonderful facility with a quality broodmare band the result of careful investment and planning by owner Yvonne Jacques, as well as the care and attention from stud director Martin Grassick and manager Fay Cort.

It was also fantastic to be able to catch up on all the news from my cousin Chris Grassick, who is training very successfully in partnership with William Muir in Lambourn. The team had recently landed the spoils at Haydock with exciting prospect Swayze, who had previously put in an eye-catching run when seventh in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes at Royal Ascot. Team Muir Grassick had also just won with Stockpyle, an Oasis Dream brother to stable star Pyledriver.

BACK HOME IN IRELAND it was time to turn attention to making hay and the whole country seemed to be busy in that endeavour at that moment. I took time out to visit Wexford and attend the Bannow and Rathangan Agricultural Show to judge some equestrian classes, including the thoroughbred broodmare class with good friend John Lenihan of Ballyogue Stud. It was such a pleasure see so many enthusiastic horse people proudly displaying their stock and I really enjoyed my visit.

At the show, I spotted Redmill’s marketing guru Jane Davis in the show ring and was reminded of the Ireland’s Corinthian Challenge, Jane one of the amateur jockeys taking part in the three-race charity series.

Jane has been hosting the social media initiative Thoroughbred Tales on Twitter detailing her journey to the series, and it has been excellent to follow her progress.

We wish her and all of her fellow riders the very best of luck raising funds for the Irish Injured Jockeys fund.

Details of how to support the riders can be found at https:// corinthianchallenge.com/2022-riders.