Why buy at a breeze-up sale?
Since their introduction in Europe in the 1980s, breeze-up sales have produced an ever-growing flow of winners. Initially, such sales proved popular because the horses were seen as being ‘ready to run’. However, in recent years an extra dimension has been added to breeze-up sales because an ever-increasing number of the horses on offer are not merely ready to run, but also possess considerable potential for further improvement, making these sales an excellent source of high-class long-term prospects as well as ready-made racehorses.
In 2006, Speciosa took European breeze-ups to a higher level by winning the 1,000 Guineas, thus becoming the first European Classic winner to graduate from one of these auctions. Bought by her trainer Pam Sly for 30,000 gns at the 2005 Doncaster breeze-up, Speciosa won twice as a two-year-old, including taking the Group Two Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket, before winning another two races at three, preceding her Classic victory by landing the Group Three Nell Gwyn Stakes at the Craven Meeting.
Since their conception in Europe breeze-ups have now produced 12 individual Group one winners including two Group 1 two-year-old winners in 2009.
Doncaster graduate Group 1 winner Speciosa, the first European Breeze-up Classic winner
Goresbridge graduate Group 3 winner Shot Bless, total prize money €79,220
Goffs graduate Group 2 winner Langs Lash, total prize money £59,747
DBS graduate Group 1 winner Paco Boy, total prize money £322,392
Arqana graduate Group 1 winner Grand Couturier, winner of €862,415
Tattersalls graduate Group 1 winner Zafisio, total prize money £139,806
