Wedding Ring Kicks Off The 2013/14 Tattersalls Millions Series In Great Style

Charlie Appleby saddled the favourite WEDDING RING to win the 14 runner £100,000 Tattersalls Millions Fillies’ Median Auction Stakes at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Racecourse today, the first race of the 2013/14 Tattersalls Millions series.

The daughter of Oasis Dream was bought by John Ferguson from the 2012 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 from Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber’s Watership Down Stud. WEDDING RING’S half-brother by Invincible Spirit, consigned by New England Stud, is lot 314 in this year’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1.

After the race Charlie Appleby commented, “On form she was the class filly of the race. The only concern was the ground but Mickael said she’s handled it well. She traveled so well into the race that he had no option but to go when he did; in an ideal world he would have liked to have held onto her a bit longer but there was nothing coming along with him. She probably did hit the front a bit soon but she held on. We will see how she comes out of the race but potentially the plan will be to come back for the next Tattersalls Millions race in two weeks.”

The William Haggas trained OXSANA was second, with FASHION FUND for Brian Meehan in third.

The next race on the card was the £100,000 Tattersalls Millions Median Auction Trophy, in which TOOFI stormed to victory under William Buick for Roger Varian. The son of Henrythenavigator was bought by Tony Nerses for Kuwait-based owners Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar from the 2012 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1.

Trainer Roger Varian commented, “We’ve always liked this horse. His runs in maidens were very good, he was third at Ascot when he was a bit green and got beaten by a smart horse on the July course a little while ago. We had to give him a bit of time as he wasn’t 100% like some of the other horses through August, but we are really pleased at the way he has trained the last two weeks and this has been the target for a month or so. He’s got some big race entries and he is also in another Tattersalls Millions race in a couple of weeks. William thinks he will stay 7 furlongs but we enjoyed today and we’ll get him home and make sure he checks over healthy and sound. He will have one more run before the end of the season. He likes this good ground and so we’d hope for a dry time up until his next start.”

JALLOTA, trained by Mick Channon was second and MUIR LODGE was third for Andrew Balding.

The two remaining races in this year’s Tattersalls Millions 2YO race series are the £500,000 Tattersalls Millions 2YO Trophy and the £300,000 Tattersalls Millions 2YO Fillies’ Trophy which both take place at Newmarket Rowley Mile on Saturday 5th October.

Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, featuring the only yearlings eligible for next year’s series takes place from 8th – 10th October.