Tabor splashes out

A syndicate headed by Michael Tabor, the owner of Entrepreneur and Desert King, and John Magnier bought the three highest-priced lots during the first session of Keeneland's July Selected Yearling Sales in Kentucky.

The group, represented by the Irish vet Demi O'Byrne, bought a filly by Gulch for $1,050,000 (pounds 635,000) and two colts by Storm Cat, one for $1,000,000, the other for $975,000.

The Gulch filly, who is out of Sabin (by Lyphard), is a half- sister to stakes winners Al Sabin and Sabina. The $1,000,000 colt by Storm Cat out of Quite Honestly is a half-brother to stakes winners Hot Novel and Makinanhonestbuck. The second Storm Cat colt is out of the stakes- placed Aly Tigress.

Keeneland sold 91 yearlings in the session for $33,450,000, an average of $367,582, an increase of 22.9 per cent on last year's opening session.

Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stud Management purchased 10 lots for $4,060,000 and there was a demand for fillies. The Cheveley Park Stud splashed out $1,475,000 for two fillies. The bulk ($950,000) was spent on a daughter of Mr Prospector out of the Group-winning and Graded Stakes winner Heart Of Joy. Both are expected to be trained by Michael Stoute.