Bloomfields Dispersal Confirmed for Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham April Sale
John Ferguson announced in December last year, while lying fifth in the British NH Trainers’ Championship, that he was to relinquish his trainer’s licence to become Chief Executive and Racing Manager to Sheikh Mohammed’s global Godolphin operation. As a result, one of the strongest teams of NH horses in the UK will now be offered for sale at one venue during the Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham Sale.
Ferguson trained his first Graded winner Cotton Mill in January 2012 and saddled Ruacana to land his first Grade 1 winner in the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow in January 2013. The quality of the Bloomfields string is demonstrated by Ferguson’s impressive strike rate in recent seasons. In 2015 - 16 Ferguson has returned a 29% strike rate, higher than any of the current top 20 NH trainers in Britain, and the rare opportunity now exists for owners and trainers to invest into this high class and unique dispersal. The age profile and quality on offer at the Bloomfields dispersal are sure to appeal to a wide domestic and international audience of buyers looking to acquire ready made, proven performers who can compete at the very highest level of NH racing, or embark on a career on the flat.
Tattersalls Ireland Director of Horses In Training Sales Richard Pugh said;
‘We are obviously delighted to announce that the Bloomfields Dispersal will take place as part of the Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham April Sale. The April Sale has seen eighteen horses realise £100,000 or more in the last two years and we are delighted and honoured that John Ferguson has chosen the sale to disperse such an outstanding team of NH performers. It is a privilege to be dealing with such an array of talent on behalf of the Bloomfields team and we look forward to being able to market these high quality horses in the weeks leading up to the sale. I really cannot imagine that any NH trainer can afford to miss this sale.’
The 48 strong dispersal features Grade 1 and 2 winners, ten horses rated 130 or above, as well as plenty of unexposed horses of huge potential, incluuding 35 lots aged seven or younger.
Amongst the eyecatching lots are the high class hurdler Aqalim, beaten only 7 lengths when third to the mighty Thistlecrack in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury earlier this season, 151 rated hurdler Commissioned, the very promising dual ‘Bumper’ winners Amirr and Joe Farrell, exciting young ‘Bumper’ winner London Prize, and 146 rated nine times winner Ittirad.
Once raced highly regarded ‘Bumper’ horses Wenyereadyfreddie and Scarteen also look likeley to attract plenty of attention, as do Grade 1 winner Ruacana and Grade 2 winner Three Kingdoms.
Full details of the Bloomfields Dispersal will be available on the Tattersalls Ireland website from Wednesday 6th April.
For further information please contact Tattersalls Ireland Leominster Office on +44 (0) 1568 617724 or cheltenham@tattersalls.com.