Another Strong Hand for Havana Grey in Somerville Yearling Sale Catalogue

[Wandering Eyes]

Havana Grey, the sire of the most expensive lot at the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale in both 2023 and 2024, will be represented by 10 yearlings when the Whitsbury Manor Stud stallion tries to repeat those sale-topping exploits at this year's Somerville, which takes place at Park Paddocks on Tuesday, September 2.

A total of 272 yearlings have been catalogued, with lot 145 featuring among the sons and daughters of Havana Grey. Offered by Bearstone Stud, the filly is a full-sister to the G3 Prix Eclipse and Weatherbys Super Sprint winner Eddie's Boy, who was a 45,000gns purchase at the Somerville Yearling Sale in 2021. Havana Grey will also be represented by lot 73, a filly out of the Listed winner and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes fourth Miss Work Of Art, herself the dam of the Listed scorer Tapisserie.

First-season sires Caturra and Perfect Power lead the way numerically with 13 yearlings apiece, while other stallions with their first yearlings catalogued include Baaeed, Bayside Boy, Dubawi Legend, Minzaal, Naval Crown, Persian Force, Space Traveller and State Of Rest. Lot 267, Houghton Bloodstock's half-sister to the G2 Dubai City Of Gold Stakes hero Prize Money, is one of the potential highlights among Perfect Power's yearlings, while lot 205 is another to look out for as a son of Minzaal and the dual Group 3 winner Alanza.

Other well-bred yearlings catalogued include lot 74, a Tasleet half-brother to the Cheveley Park third Baileys Jubilee; lot 139, Castledillon Stud's Ardad half-brother to the G1 2,000 Guineas fourth Galeron; and lot 151, a Sioux Nation half-sister to the GII Dance Smartly Stakes heroine and GI Just A Game Stakes runner-up Wakanaka.

The largest consignment of yearlings will come from Tally-Ho Stud with 21 lots catalogued, including lot 271, a Cotai Glory half-sister to the GII Appalachian Stakes winner and Cheveley Park second The Mackem Bullet. Meanwhile, last year's sale-topping consignor, Whitsbury Manor Stud, will offer a draft of 6 lots.

One of the bargains from last year's sale was Norris Bloodstock's Havana Gold colt out of Spitfire Limited, who sold to Highflyer and Eve Johnson Houghton for just 9,000gns. Later named Havana Hurricane, he has proved himself a smart two-year-old this season, having followed his victory in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot with a runner-up finish in the Weatherbys Super Sprint.

The Royal Ascot roll of honour among Somerville graduates is headed by Bradsell, the winner of the G2 Coventry Stakes and G1 King's Stand Stakes. Meanwhile, this year's G2 Queen Mary Stakes second Flowerhead features among a further eight Somerville juveniles who have gone on to finish placed at that meeting since the sale's inception in 2021.

All yearlings catalogued in the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale are eligible for the £200,000 Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes, as well as the £200,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes held five weeks later.

“Yet another Royal Ascot two-year-old winner for the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale in 2025 underlines the sale's extraordinary record as a source of top-class juvenile talent in its short history,” said Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony. “Havana Hurricane joins the ranks of star graduates such as Bradsell, with their respective purchase prices of 9,000 guineas and 12,000 guineas illustrating the remarkable value to be found at the sale.

“Additional incentive to buyers is provided by a substantial increase in the prize-money for the Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes and the Tattersalls October Auction Stakes which will now both be run for £200,000 each, underlining Tattersalls commitment to rewarding owners and further enhancing the appeal of the sale to a wide cross-section of domestic and international buyers.”

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