Tattersalls opens level with '09

The Tattersalls July fillies and mares sale in Newmarket, England, ended its first day Tuesday nearly level with last year. The opening session's highlight was an unraced 3-year-old Pivotal filly named Flag Day who sold for about $182,000 to agent Amanda Skiffington.

The session sold 147 horses, two fewer than last year despite a larger catalog, and lost 3 percent in gross. The average price fell 2 percent, and the median remained level with last year. The gross was about $2,883,866, average price was about $19,618, and the median was approximately $7,928.

Skiffington bought the session-topping bay filly from Darley Stud on behalf of John Deer's Oakgrove Stud. The filly is out of European champion juvenile filly Blue Duster, by Danzig, and is a half-sister to Group 1 producer Blue Symphony.

American breeder Bill McAlpin of Greenwood Lodge Farm bought day's second most expensive mare Cross Section. Darley also consigned the 4-year-old Cape Cross broodmare, who sold in foal to Darley stallion Dubawi. McAlpin, bidding via agent Charlie Gordon-Watson, paid about $174,400.

The sale was to continue through July 9.