Competitive Field Declared for Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes

A competitive field of 16 horses, representing 14 different trainers, has been declared for Sunday’s Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes at The Curragh as part of Irish Champions Festival. The prize fund has been increased to a substantial €316,500.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained STAR OF STATE is likely to play a leading role based on her fine second in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York last month. She produced a scintillating performance on her second start when winning by nine lengths at Leopardstown, and she holds Group 1 entries in the Cheveley Park Stakes and the Fillies’ Mile.

The daughter of State Of Rest was an €85,000 purchase from Noel O’Callaghan’s Mountarmstrong Stud by Rabbah Bloodstock last September, and is out of the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes winner Nations Alexander.

ATLANTIC BRIDGE broke his maiden on his third start at Navan last month, and the son of Dubawi Legend is a dual Tattersalls Ireland graduate. He showed good speed throughout that five furlong contest, and Sunday’s race will see him stepping back up to six-and-a-half furlongs.

He was sold by Luke Coen’s Q-Cross Stables to Tally-Ho Stud for €23,000 last September, and he was subsequently pinhooked and purchased at the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze Up Sale in May for €300,000.

SWITCHING SIDES is another contender who possesses stakes level form having contested the Group 2 Railway Stakes last time.

He is well related being out of a half-sister to Group 1 placed Besharah, and his trainer saddled the runner-up in this race two years ago.

UK trained runners have an excellent record in the contest, with eight of the last ten renewals going to UK trained horses. The last Irish trained horse to win the race was Michael O’Callaghan’s King X J who won it five years ago.

The race is open to horses sold or bought in under the hammer at the September Yearling Sale and Sapphire Sale. The vendor of the winning horse in the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes will receive an Overlander R240 horsebox for one year.