Group 1 Double for September Graduates Time For Sandals and Cercene

September Yearling Sale graduates TIME FOR SANDALS and CERCENE completed a remarkable Group 1 double for the yearling sale at Royal Ascot. Today’s result means three of the four Group 1 winners so far, that were sold as yearlings, were purchased at the September Yearling Sale.

TIME FOR SANDALS produced a devastating turn of foot to claim the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup.

Her victory was a second Group 1 Royal Ascot success this week for trainer Harry Eustace, whose Newmarket stable won the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes with September Yearling Sale graduate Docklands on Tuesday.

She hails from the first crop of Group 1 winning sprinter Sands Of Mali, and she travelled strongly among a group of six on the far side, that raced away from the main body of the field.

She hit the front a furlong-and-a-half from home, and although without company for that final part of the race, she responded bravely to land the prestigious Group 1 sprint confined to three-year-olds.

Owned by D Bevan and Mrs D Bevan, she had a strong level of form last year that featured a close second in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes, before returning with two placed efforts in Group 3 company earlier this season.

She was sold by Rathbride Farm to Harry Eustace and David Appleton for €35,000 at the 2023 September Yearling Sale.

CERCENE completed the Group 1 double for the September Yearling Sale in the Coronation Stakes, as Joe Murphy’s filly fended off some persistent challengers in the straight and provided her trainer and rider Gary Carroll with their first Group 1 successes.

She was ridden just behind the pace, but when angled out to deliver her challenge at the two furlong pole, she quickened decisively and held on to win by half-a-length.

She is owned by Shane Stafford, and was a €50,000 purchase by her trainer’s Crampscastle Bloodstock from Baroda Stud at the 2023 September Yearling Sale.

Entries for the 2025 September Yearling Sale close on Monday 7^th July.