Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith paid 900,000gns for the sale-topper 13 year old Ventura (Ire) (Spectrum {Ire}), offered as one of Makfi (GB)’s first book of mares this year. The mare, owned by the Al-Thani family’s Qatar Bloodstock, was bought for 260,000gns at Tattersalls last year, but her daughter Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire} ) subsequently won this year’s G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest. M.V. Magnier outbid first Grant Pritchard-Gordon and finally Liam Norris for the mare.
“She’s for Derrick and Michael and they wanted her to send to Pour Moi (Ire) [Montjeu {Ire}] next year,” confirmed Magnier.
Hollywoodbets Durban July 2025 – 61 First Entries
The number of entries compares favourably in quantum with recent years, with 58 first entries received in 2024, 60 in 2023, 68 in 2022, 53 in 2021, 52 in 2020, 49 in 2019, and 69 in 2018