Trained by Markus Klug, Aemilianus carried the colours of Gestut Schlenderhan to victory in a heavy-ground Group 3 contest at Dusseldorf last season. He has carried his form well this year as a four-year-old and arrived at Park Paddocks off the back of finishing third in that same Group 3 contest earlier this month. 

The result represented a triumph of persistence for Ghazali, a well-known buyer at Tattersalls, as he revealed afterwards that he had been sticking around especially for Aemilianus.

Ghazali said, “I am delighted. I have been waiting for this horse–three days I have waited for it! Some quality horses have been through the ring, but I have been outbid by Wathnan Racing and Najd Stud. I hope this horse will make it to some good races in Qatar. The pedigree should suit Qatar.

“I like the sire and I won the Qatar Derby last season with a son of Holy Roman Emperor called Emperor Maximus (Fr). The sire's progeny tend to like the track in Qatar and the good ground.”

He added, “I am not too sure of the horse's level and how that will slot in once he gets to Qatar, I know the horses from England and how they will work into the Qatari programme, Germany is a little different. I am hoping this horse will be good enough for either the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup or the HH The Amir Trophy.”

Gassim Ghazali also went on to purchase the twice-raced Heater (Ire) (No Nay Never) (lot 1351) from Imperium Sales for 75,000gns. Owned by Valmont, Heater arrived at the sales after a promising third on his second start at Wolverhampton.

Najd Stud was responsible for the second-highest priced horse through the ring on Thursday at 100,000gns. Tchaikovsky (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) (lot 1283), a winner of Kempton novice for John and Thady Gosden on just his second start, was bred by the late Sir Robert Ogden and proved to be one of the standouts on the day.

The juvenile is a half-brother to a winner in Kensington (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and hails from the family of Islingston (Ire) (Sadler's Wells).

“This horse goes to Saudi. His starts have been good and hopefully he will do well for us in Saudi,” said Saad bin Mishraf for Najd Stud. “We are looking for differing types of horses all the time as we have a variety of races in the country.”

Tchaikovsky's dam Canonbury (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), herself a daughter of Islington, is due to be sold as part of a complete dispersal of Lady Ogden's stock at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale.

Despite a smaller number (2%) of horses going through the ring on this day compared to last year, the aggregate was up a massive 51% to 2,553,400gns. Furthermore, the median climbed 20% to 6,000gns while the average was up 48% to 12,101gns. The clearance rate stayed the same on 88%.

Buy of the Day

Despite the fact there may not have been as many big-ticket lots compared to earlier in the week, there was still plenty of value on offer, and the 38,000gns Eve Johnson Houghton paid to retain Machiavellian Lady (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) (lot 1317) could prove money well spent. 

She should have no trouble finding new owners for this winning juvenile, presuming that's the plan, and judging by that hard-fought victory at Chelmsford, there could be more to come.

The post Group 3 Winner Aemilianus Bound For Qatar After 250k Sale At Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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That purchase through Blandford Bloodstock's ace agent Richard Brown came after the team spent 750,000gns on He's A Monster (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Just Bring It (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) from Alex Elliott's Imperium Sales draft on Tuesday.

The modus operandi has been simple; source quality horses, and in Dark Trooper, Wathnan Racing have secured a talented sprinter whose best days could be ahead of him still. Trained by Ed Walker, Dar Trooper has won six times and reached a rating of 104. He was last seen finishing sixth, beaten just two lengths, in a Group 3 at Ascot. 

“The idea is to buy quality over quantity, that is the message from Olly Tait to me and Ali Al Kubaisi, who is working the sale with me,” Brown said. “This horse has been on the radar for most of the year because Al Donald, who bought him and managed him, and Ed Walker, who trained him, have been trying to get me to buy him most of the year saying there is a lot more to come.”

Brown added, “He won a very competitive Ascot handicap on quick ground and then was unlucky in the Bengough. He is an interesting horse and will go to Qatar. There is a programme for him in that part of the world, but he is the sort of horse who could come back here. He is a gelding so can run on for a number of seasons. He will be trained by Alban de Mieulle and we'll see how things go.”

There was a good feeling at Park Paddocks throughout Wednesday and that extended to the figures. The average climbed 5% to 48,248gns while the median fell 2% to 23,500gns. However, the aggregate was down 12% to 11,869,000gns and the clearance rate fell 3% to 89%. 

The 104 rated DARK TROOPER (by Dark Angel) sells for 500,000gns at the #TattsAutumn HIT Sale

The Ed Walker consigned gelding has been bought by Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock. pic.twitter.com/tBj779kRsm

— TDN (@theTDN) October 25, 2023

Saudi Buyers Go Head-To-Head For Classy Sea The Casper

Two heavy hitters from Saudi Arabia went head-to-head for the 105-rated Sea The Casper (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) with Mubarak Al-Ruwis seeing off Najd Stud at 425,000gns.

Sea The Casper will be aimed at the Saudi Cup Carnival, according to the owner Al-Ruwis, who has a small but select string in the Gulf. 

The owner said, “He will ship straight to Saudi. We have two horses already in Saudi. We need a quality horse for the big Saudi Cup meeting. We think this horse could be a champion.”

Predictably, the Saudi investment at Tattersalls this week has been strong and Najd Stud struck earlier in the evening for Group 2 winner Jack Darcy (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}).

Trained by Paul and Oliver Cole to land the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville in August, Jack Darcy was one of the wildcards added to the sale and was drafted by Barton Sales. 

Oliver Cole said, “I think he is a Group 1 horse in the making. I would have preferred to keep him in training with us but owners have to do what they want to do.”

“We wanted to run in the Prix Dollar and he ran very well, arguably his best race, and we wildcarded him here.” 

Najd Stud also went to 170,000gns to secure Bresson (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) from Juddmonte and paid 155,000gns for Godolphin's Parchemin (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) earlier in the session. The leading Saudi buyers have added 12 horses to their haul this week to the tune of 1,483,000gns.

Royal Patronage Off To Oz

He has advertised his abilities in Britain and America but now Australia beckons for the 110-rated Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) after Johnny McKeever signed for the four-year-old on behalf of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. 

It was McKeever who lit up Park Paddocks on Tuesday evening when going to 575,000gns for Balance Play (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) out of Alex Elliott's Imperium Sales draft. 

Royal Patronage came highly recommended by his trainer Graham Motion, according to McKeever, whose total spend has now reached 1,280,000gns for the week.

He said, “We spoke to Graham Motion about the horse and he gave us a very positive report.. The horse had a few small training issues, nothing to worry about at all. 

“He is an ideal horse to go to Australia so we were confident that this is the right thing to do. It is hard to find Group form in the sale and he has got a certain quality. We are not guessing here, we know he is a pretty good horse if all goes well for him.” 

Royal Patronage has not raced since June. Prior to that, he landed an allowance race at Keeneland for the Motion team. But he is perhaps best known for showing high-class form for Mark and Charlie Johnston in Britain–for whom he landed the G2 Royal Lodge S.–before he was shipped to America. 

Juddmonte Draft Adds Intrigue

A Juddmonte draft always generates plenty of attention regardless of the sale and it was no different on Wednesday with 13 horses selling for a combined 1,368,000gns. 

The draft was headed by Halfway Line (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}), a three-time winner and listed-placed for Francis-Henri Graffard, who was knocked down to BBA Ireland online for 320,000gns.

BBA Ireland's Mick Donohoe revealed afterwards to the Tattersalls blog that the horse had been bought alongside Niall Dalton of Stakes Horses and will continue his career with trainer Phil D'Amato in America.

Donohoe said via telephone, “I have left the sale ground and so it worked well for me to bid online. The horse has been bought in conjunction with Niall Dalton of Stakes Horses to go to California and is for a new client with trainer Phil D'Amato, who has had a good bit of success training European horses.”

He added, “Halfway Line was recommended by Francois-Henri Graffard as well as Barry Mahon of Juddmonte. He should suit California-he is progressive, he goes on firm, he has a turn of foot, all the attributes you need.”

Juddmonte's Ziryab (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a winner for John and Thady Gosden, was another major attraction in the draft. The three-year-old was sold to Peter Trainor and Ciaron Maher for 240,000gns. 

Trainor said, “He goes to Ciaron Maher. Last year we bought Future History here from Juddmonte and this is the same type of horse with the same profile. Hopefully he will follow the same path and be a fun horse.”

He added, “Ziryab is well-bred and we were quite taken with his last run. He is lightly-raced and there is loads of upside with him.”

Smart Juvenile Hurdle Prospect Joins Jackdaws Castle 

Just 10 days after Mt Fugi Park (Ire) (Walk In The Park {Ire}) provided syndicate Tanzanite with its first winner from as many attempts when scoring on debut for Jonjo O'Neill at Ffos Las, the owners returned to the market to snap up smart juvenile hurdle prospect Circuit Breaker (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). 

Not only can Nathaniel get you a top-class horse on the level, as we saw with the brilliant Desert Crown and Enable, but the King George and Eclipse winner has proved he can get classy jumpers as well. 

The team at Jackdaws Castle will be hoping they have found the next Zanahiyr (Ire) after agent Matt Coleman signed for the Ralph Beckett-trained Circuit Breaker for 260,000gns on behalf of Tanzanite..

Coleman said, “He is going to Jackdaws and we had an order to look for a juvenile hurdle horse. This is a big fantastic-looking horse by Nathaniel. He looks like a National Hunt horse. Ralph [Beckett] was very complimentary about the horse and is extremely pleased with how well he has done on the Flat considering his size. He won on debut and ran second to Urban Outlook (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) [who made 280,000gns to Domeland] last time.”

The Tanzanite team can count themselves lucky to have come away with Circuit Breaker as, just when the hammer was about to fall, Harold Kirk tried to throw in one last bid. Alas, it was too late and the principal buyer for Ireland's champion National Hunt trainer Willie Mullins was forced to fill the role of the underbidder.

Mt Fugi Park was sourced by Coleman at the Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale for £290,000 after he won his point-to-point for trainer Donnchadh Doyle.

Coleman continued, “We were really pleased with Mt Fugi Park. The syndicate has two horses and they are both real out-and-out National Hunt types. For instance, Mt Fugi Park is very much a staying chaser of the future, and that's why we wanted to get something here with possibly a bit more speed.” 

That wasn't the only Beckett-trained gelding to be received well by the market as the previous lot, Campaign Trail (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), was sold to Ed Bailey Bloodstock and Peter Kerr Syndicates for 200,000gns. Both horses were consigned by Jamie Railton.

Buy of the day

Wednesday's buy of the day is something of a collaborative effort as the Racing Post's James Thomas made a strong case for Gaiden (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) to be given the nod. 

Trained by Richard Hannon, Gaiden was well-fancied and sent off as the 3-1 favourite to win on debut over the minimum trip at Windsor back in April. 

If connections had come away from that effort with any disappointment that would have soon dissipated with what the winner, Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), went on to achieve. 

Sadly, Gaiden hasn't followed a similar trajectory. She followed up on that effort with a rock-solid third in a listed contest at York, bagging valuable black-type in the process, but has been well-beaten in her three subsequent starts. 

Gaiden was knocked down to the Gaiden Partners for 32,000gns on Wednesday and she may well represent a bit of value. Even if she were never to set foot on a racecourse again, she has achieved black-type without winning and is by one of the sexiest stallions in the game. She looks well-bought. 

Away from Gaiden, Eastmore (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) could look well-bought by Charles Byrnes at 80,000gns. Placed in all three of his maidens for legendary trainer Kevin Prendergast in Ireland, he has been snapped up by one of the shrewdest dual-purpose handlers in the business and looks an ideal type to go down that route.

Thought for the day

Is it just me or is this the first year in a while where the National Hunt trainers have been able to play on the higher-rated juvenile hurdle prospects?

In previous years, even the top operators were being blown out of the water by international buyers for the three-year-olds who stayed 10f and beyond. 

This week, we've had Jonjo O'Neill buy the 89-rated Circuit Breaker for 260,000gns while Ed Bailey landed Campaign Trail for 200,000gns. At a lower end, we saw Charles Byrnes secure a nice horse for 80,000gns while Gordon Elliott has added five to his team over the past few days.

There has been a dearth of collective talent in the two-mile hurdling division in recent years and this week's results can only be a positive with a view towards providing the sphere with a much-needed shot in the arm.

There are few things as exciting as a Champion Hurdler at full cry. Think of that golden era of Hardy Eustace, Brave Inca, Harchibald and Mac's Joy. 

We have been starved of such competition in recent years over hurdles but, who knows, the first signs of this avenue being reopened to the jumps handers were apparent at Tattersalls this week. Who knows, we could be writing about Circuit Breaker or Campaign Trail by the time Cheltenham rolls around.

The post Wathnan Racing Flexes Buying Power By Snapping Up Dark Trooper For 500k appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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From what Elliott describes as a potential Melbourne Cup horse in Balance Play (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) to the rapidly-progressive He's A Monster (Ire) (No Nay Never), Imperium Sales has the potential to make its debut draft a memorable one. 

In many ways, Elliott offering horses on behalf of existing clients will represent a new phenomenon at Tattersalls this week, but he explained how the same idea has been replicated with great success in America and beyond.

He said, “It's something that I have seen Bradley Weisbord and Liz Crow do successfully in America. They've got Elite Sales over there where they buy the horses, manage them and then sell them on behalf of their clients.”

Elliott added, “We have bought 85 yearlings on behalf of various different clients this year so why wouldn't we offer them the facility to see the process the whole way through for them? 

“It's something of a new thing over here but you've got Jacob West, probably the biggest yearling buyer in America, and he has Highgate Sales [along with Jill Gordon], while Michel Zerolo of Oceanic Bloodstock is involved in Capucines. It's just another service that we can provide to our clients and a lot of them were keen for us to do it.”

Balance Play: one of the star attractions in the Imperium draft | Racingfotos.com

In an ideal world, horses with the ability of Balance Play and He's A Monster would not be going under the hammer this week. A lack of meaningful pots for horses rated 90 and above to aim for means that horses of this ilk are a far more valuable commodity to the international market than to keep in training in these shores. That's the simple fact of the matter at present and nobody is more aware of the situation than Elliott, who has been trading under his own name since 2014.

He explained, “We're offering 14 horses this week. Some of the horses we offer on Tuesday evening you wouldn't normally want to be selling those. But that's the way it is with my clients buying so many yearlings, they have to move some on. 

“Because we are racing around for little or no prize-money, the value is in the commodity, and you've got to look after that commodity. That's what I try to educate my clients about all the time.
“There is a time in a horse's life where he is worth more to the foreign market than he is to keep running here in Britain. That is the case with our entire draft, really. We will be sad to see them gone. I know our trainers will certainly be sad to see them gone. They've been with great caretakers-Ralph Beckett, Clive Cox and Archie Watson-and the horses will arrive at the sales in great shape and will do someone serious service.”

Elliott continued, “But they don't all have to be sold and, Balance Play, for example, will have an entry for the St Simon Stakes at Newbury the week after the sale. It's blue skies ahead for a horse like Balance Play. On one hand, we'd love to keep him but on the other, how do you hold on to a horse like that who could be running around for hundreds of thousands of pounds abroad whereas they are competing for a fraction of that in Britain? 

“As John Gosden said, we have become a nursery for the rest of world racing and if you own a three-year-old gelding who boasts a rating of 101 like Balance Play does, now is the time where he is at his maximum value to sell to the other jurisdictions around the world where he can potentially earn a lot of money. Balance Play could be a Melbourne Cup horse. But, as I said, buying so many yearlings for our clients, we've got to keep the conveyor belt going.”

Balance Play will form part of what promises to be a helter-skelter Tuesday for Elliott's Imperium Sales with 11 horses going through the ring. The classy He's A Monster and similarly progressive three-year-olds Bear On The Loose (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) and Just Bring It (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) also take to the stage on Tuesday with Elliott quietly optimistic that the market will react kindly to his offerings. 

“As I said with Balance Play, do we keep him here to run in a 20-runner November Handicap for thirty grand or do we sell him to a place where he will be running for a lot more money? He's a May foal and his best days are ahead of him. His numbers have improved run after run and he was very impressive last time at Newbury. He's very good over ten furlongs but he is bred to stay twelve-plus. He could be a Cup horse here next year or he could be a Cup horse abroad. Who knows?”

Elliott added, “Bear On The Loose is Timeform 103 and officially rated 93. He was a one-hundred-grand yearling and is three from five and very progressive. He's a half-brother to a black-type hurdler in Warnaq (Ire) and he hit the line strong over a-mile-and-a-quarter on his last start. He's very unexposed and has been very well cared for by Kevin Philippart De Foy. He's a horse I'd highly recommend. 

“He's A Monster is Timeform 113 and officially rated 104. He's five from nine and his last run was his best run where he demolished a competitive handicap field at Chelmsford off 99. He loves fast ground and the synthetic surface and is a beautiful horse. The only time he let us down was when we ran him on soft ground. He could go on to be anything. 

“Then we have Just Bring It, who has won his last two for Clive Cox. He's Timeform 99 and is officially rated 94. He's a rapidly-improving horse and, again, who do we keep an improving three-year-old running around for twenty grand? 

“He will love a mile on fast ground and, being out of a Pour Moi (Ire) mare, he'll probably get a-mile-and-a-quarter somewhere. He's an attractive horse. Overall, it's a very exciting bunch.”

It says something about Elliott's hunger that, in a year in which he bought his greatest number of yearlings and was once again thrust into the spotlight on Saturday through King Of Steel, a horse of whom he sourced for Amo Racing, that he has added another string to his bow. 

None of this would have been possible, according to Elliott, however, without the aid of right-hand woman Lucy Ryan.

He said, “Lucy Ryan, who works with me, has put this whole thing together. She has done all of the heavy lifting. Between us buying 85 yearlings and her getting this off the ground, she really is one in a million. 

“Lucy has put a great team of people together who I know personally. We have some great show people and some great horsemen and women. That's what we wanted and that's what she's done. We've both been very busy at the yearlings sales so, for her to have been doing this in the background, it has been a great effort.”

On future plans for Imperium, he added, “We're going to be selling four fillies at the December Mares Sale-two black-type fillies [Lose Yourself (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Trust The Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire})] and one [La Isla Mujeres (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire})] who is borderline black-type who might stay in training. I won't be getting involved in the yearling or foal market, it will simply be horses in training and fillies and mares.”

The post Alex Elliott’s Imperium Sales Out To Light Up Tatts With First Ever Draft appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Nonetheless the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale, after a fairly quiet start, rallied powerfully to complete what has been an extremely strong British cycle in the breeze-up calendar, registering an 18% hike in average from 35,678gns to 42,145gns and a new record in turnover.

This catalogue traditionally invites a slightly longer view than the earlier auctions, and a gratifying case in point was the Zoffany (Ire) colt found by Cormac Farrell at Fairyhouse last September for €55,000.

Brought here as lot 301, he had put a few eyeballs on stalks with the time he clocked the previous day, not least in view of the sturdy German blood clustering down the page. But he corroborated the impression made on the Rowley Mile with his languid stride round the ring, forcing Richard Hughes (with Ted Durcan alongside) all the way to 200,000gns to bring down the gavel.

“I think he might be a freak,” Farrell said. “He can do sectionals like a six-furlong horse, not one that should be wanting a mile and a half. He's a big rangy horse, nearly 16.2, but he just had this insane foot, it didn't make sense, particularly as we thought a bit of the other horses we had, the Kodiacs and the 'Starspangleds', and he could keep up with them. So he could just be exceptional.

“We'd just been nursing him along, he was raw and we minded him really, went very steady. It was only a month ago that we asked him to show us what he could do, and it came so natural to him that we only had to do a couple of gallops. It sounds silly, but we did come here thinking we might be able to top the sale. You never know until you get the breeze out of the way, though, so it's great that he's done what we hoped he would.”

Farrell acknowledged that the colt had not been an obvious type for the job.

“We thought we'd given plenty for him, at the time,” he admitted. “He was a big raw yearling, and people laughed when I said we were going to breeze him. And I could see why: in December he looked like an overgrown yearling still, but he has thrived since.”

He was delighted, moreover, to hear that his new trainer did not intend to press on with the horse immediately.

“We'll probably turn him out for some May grass,” Hughes confirmed. “I think six weeks will do him good and then we'll get him in and look to get him ready for an October maiden. He shouldn't be able to do what he's doing, really, at this time of the year, it's almost odd with the backbone of his pedigree a top-class German staying family.”

Sure enough, the colt is out of a sister to two most accomplished stayers: Getaway (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) won group races in Britain, France and Germany; while G1 Italian Oaks winner Guadalupe (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) has herself delivered two elite winners.

200,000gns for lot 301 at the #TattsGuineas Breeze Up Sale

This colt, by the late Zoffany, was a €55,000 yearling and was sold by C.F Bloodstock to @RHughesracing / @TedDurcan pic.twitter.com/ku9SjvfdN7

— TDN (@theTDN) May 4, 2023

The Main Talking Points

• Turnover for both sections of the sale reached a new high, for an aggregate 7,468,000gns on the day. Tally-Ho meanwhile continued their exceptional spring, leading consignors in processing eight juveniles for 438,000gns–highlighted by a 150,000gns Farhh (GB) colt (lot 309) sold to Rabbah.
• One of the principal services of the breeze-up sector is to bridge the abyss that has culpably opened in recent years between dirt-bred American horses and the European circuit. The latest imported pinhook to impress buyers with her speed over the turf was a brilliant effort, a Congrats filly brought here by Katie Walsh of Greenhills Farm as lot 308. Picked up by Alpha Bloodstock at Keeneland last September for just $20,000, here she made 150,000gns from Oliver St Lawrence for Fawzi Nass. She'll join Jamie Osborne with Dubai in the back of their mind.
• Rookies to celebrate headline sales included Calyx (GB), whose Apr. 28 foal from Bushypark Stables (lot 306) won over Richard Brown of Blandford at 135,000gns and who later added a 120,000gns colt (lot 351) sold by Tally-Ho; Magna Grecia (Ire), whose colt from Yeomanstown (lot 272) brought 115,000gns from John McConnell; and Soldier's Call (GB), who sold two colts at 110,000gns apiece, one from Powerstown (lot 289) to a stable that has excelled at this sale in Alan King (co-signed with Federico Barberini) and another from Derryconnor Stud (lot 327) to Amanda Skiffington.
• Profitable (Ire) has dropped to a four-figure fee at Kildangan but his third crop showed how he can make that pay when registering a couple of big scores: Richard Ryan gave 150,000gns for the 32,000gns Somerville pinhook presented by Malcolm Bastard (lot 204); while another son brought 78,000gns as lot 267. Ryan's fellow, acquired for Teme Valley and Opulence Racing, will join Profitable's trainer Clive Cox.
• After a fairly long and winding road, Starspangledbanner (Aus) has reached a new peak in his global reputation and prepared for the resumption of his shuttling career with two daughters catching the eye of shrewd racing syndicates. Middleham Park gave 120,000gns for lot 288, sold to Fozzy Stack at the Orby for €40,000 and brought here by A & N Bloodstock; while Nick Bradley landed lot 304, a 27,000gns Book 2 buy by Kilronan and consigned by Knockanglass, for 80,000gns.
• At a sale that provides some oxygen for those bred to need a little more time and distance, plaudits for showcasing potential within the constraints of the format went to Michael Cleere for turning an Almanzor (Fr) colt (lot 190), found in this ring for just 9,000gns last October, into a 95,000gns sale to Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock. The agent in turn gave credit to client Peter Jeffers, saying, “He doesn't want the whizz-bangs.”
• Whether enough attention was being paid to the breeding potential of fillies in the Horses-in-Training session must be in doubt, seeing that 5,000gns sufficed to land the collector's item that was Margaret Beaufort (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) (lot 29). Though her two recent wins for George Scott had come at a very modest level, her granddam is the only foal ever delivered to the tragic George Washington (Ire).
• The final transaction of the day prompted warm applause for auctioneer Ollie Fowlston, laying down his gavel after 25 years with Tattersalls to become managing director at Dullingham Park. He was never going to go quietly, given the volume he tends to favour! But there was no mistaking the affection and esteem of the many colleagues and friends who gathered to wish him well in his new role.

@richryanracing & @OpThoroughbreds team up to buy lot 204 for 150,000gns at #TattsGuineas Breeze Up Sale.

This colt by Profitable was consigned by Malcom Bastard and has been bought to race in partnership with Teme Valley. pic.twitter.com/NwTJj1n2qo

— TDN (@theTDN) May 4, 2023

O'Callaghan Passes Test of Resolve

Michael O'Callaghan has done too well, too often, with the business model he has more or less trademarked at the breeze-ups to be disheartened even by the calamity that befell his record-breaking Harry Angel (Ire) colt in a freak transport accident following his £500,000 purchase at Doncaster.

Certainly the trainer will deserve redress from Lady Luck with the Time Test (GB) colt (lot 322) that again took him to the top of the sale, alongside the Zoffany colt sold by Cormac Farrell a few minutes earlier, at 200,000gns.

Found in the same ring as a foal by Pier House Stud, for 67,000gns at the 2021 December Sale, he was brought back by the masterly Willie Browne of Mocklershill. The colt has some top-class blood behind him–his mother is an unraced sister to G3 Queen's Vase winner Mikhail Glinka (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the pair out of a sister to none other than Sir Percy (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire})–and Brendan Morrin of Pier House soon decided that he might be a longer-term project.

“Willie does five or six breezers for us every year,” he explained. “And this horses has a lot of Galileo in him. We decided we'd hang on and wait for breeze, rather than sell as a yearling. Sometimes those plans don't work out, when you're buying them as foals, but we have been lucky today: Willie has done a fantastic job on him. He went there in January unbroken, but we'd handled him with the sales yearlings.”

“He's a magnificent-looking horse,” enthused Browne. “He looks a racehorse, he has a great walk and a great mind on him. I thought waiting for this sale might give him a bit of extra time, and he was a standout today.”

O'Callaghan was additionally intrigued by a resemblance to G2 Beresford S. winner Crypto Force (GB), another son of Time Test that he found at this sale last year for 160,000gns.

“He's a lovely, quality horse, and I hope lightning can strike twice,” O'Callaghan said. “Crypto Force was also out of a Galileo mare. This horse has a lovely action, he was a bit green in his breeze but we can forgive him that.”

Stars Align For Oakgrove

The last lot catalogued in the first half of the sale, comprising older Horses-in-Training, actually belonged to the same crop as the breezers that followed. But this Sea The Stars (Ire) filly, out of an unraced Nathaniel (Ire) half-sister to G2 Lancashire Oaks winner Pongee (GB) (Barathea {Ire}), arrived with a challenging history as one of 30 yearlings purchased for some £20 million by Richard Knight Bloodstock last year, only for client Saleh Al Homaizi to fail to come up with payment.

Most have already been re-offered (including one that won at Salisbury on Thursday afternoon) but this filly, who made 600,000gns when consigned by Newsells Park at the October Sale, has meanwhile been in pre-training and, according to Oakgrove Stud manager David Hilton after signing a 150,000gns docket, has had to overcome a “couple of niggles”.

Whatever her immediate future, Hilton emphasised that his employer John Deer had targeted the filly as a long-term project for Oakgrove, given a long screed of black type beneath her granddam Puce (GB) (Darshaan {GB}).

“This is very much a pedigree-based purchase,” explained Hilton. “We have [Pongee's daughter] Poplin (GB) (Medicean {GB}) and she's doing well for us. Whether we race her or not is up for debate, but we're very happy to buy her and she will join the broodmare band eventually.

“I spoke to Megan Evans at [consignor] Vicarage Farm, who was very honest and said they have not done a great deal with her. She's a big filly but very elegant, a good mover with a lovely head. She's very Sea The Stars, and Nathaniel (Ire) is starting to do well as a broodmare sire. The mare is based at Newsells and I'm sure they will be looking after her very well, so we'll be looking on with interest.”

The only runner to date out of this filly's unraced dam is Paz (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), a dual juvenile scorer in France who ran second in the Listed Prix des Lilas at Chantilly Thursday evening.

saving the best for last at #TattsGuineas HIT Sale

Lot 154 – a filly by Sea The Stars from the family of Chiquita, sells for 150,000gns. She was consigned by @vicarage_farm and has been bought by @OakgroveStud. pic.twitter.com/R0X24g3rre

— TDN (@theTDN) May 4, 2023

Records All Round

Having seen his rivals at Doncaster celebrate a remarkable auction last week, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony was glad to note the continued strong trade here.

“The momentum from the recent record-breaking Craven Breeze-Up Sale has been well and truly sustained at a second consecutive record-breaking renewal of this sale,” he said. “The combined turnover for the breeze-up 2-year-olds and horses-in-training has surpassed last year's record of 6.7 million guineas; the key indicators of average and median have matched or exceeded last year's impressive returns; and 13 2-year-olds have sold for 100,000 guineas or more, which is another record for the fixture.

“This sale traditionally attracts an abundance of overseas buyers and this year has been no exception with international demand, most notably from throughout Europe and the Gulf region, proving to be a feature of the sale which has also produced a combined clearance rate well in excess of 80%.

“Domestic buyers have as ever made a huge contribution to a successful sale and it is a tribute to the consignors that the breeze-up sector continues to go from strength to strength. There is no doubt that the consistent ability of both the Tattersalls Craven and Guineas Breeze-Up Sales to produce Classic and Group 1 winners has not gone unnoticed by the buyers, and we look forward to seeing plenty more quality performers emerge from both sales in the coming months.”

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Past graduates of the Guineas Breeze-Up Sale include crack sprinter and multiple Group 1 winner The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), G2 Beresford S. hero Crypto Force (GB) (Time Test {GB}), and Grade/Group 1 winners Shantisara (Ire) (Coulsty {Ire}) and Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}).

At least 47 stallions with juveniles catalogued have sired Classic or Grade/Group 1 winners including Acclamation (GB), Australia (GB), Camelot (GB), Cotai Glory (GB), Dark Angel (Ire), Exceed And Excel (Aus), Invincible Spirit (Ire), Kodiac (GB), Mehmas (Ire), New Bay (GB), No Nay Never, Oasis Dream (GB), Saxon Warrior (Jpn), Sea The Moon (Ger), Showcasing (GB), Starspangledbanner (Aus), Teofilo (Ire), Zoffany (Ire), and Zoustar (Aus) among others. There are also 19 first-season sires with offspring slated for sale, among them Advertise (GB), Blue Point (Ire), Calyx (GB), Eqtidaar (Ire), Inns Of Court (Ire), Invincible Army (Ire), Masar (Ire), Phoenix of Spain (Ire), Soldier's Call (GB), Study of Man (Ire), Ten Sovereigns (Ire), Too Darn Hot (GB) and Magna Grecia (Ire), who has already produced an impressive debut winner, and American sire Catholic Boy.

The Horses-in-Training Sale features last out winners Naaser (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) (lot 152) from The Castlebridge Consignment, and Jamie Railton will consign Maasai Mara (GB) (Roaring Lion) (lot 100). The 100-rated Kiwano (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) (lot 114) will go through the ring for David Simcock; while the Michael Appleby-trained Zealot (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) (lot 99), is also set to sell off of a mark of 109. Juddmonte, too, offers a draft, with seven horses going under the hammer, among them lot 128, a Galileo (Ire) colt named Caustic (GB).Two lots of note from Vicarage Farm are a Sea The Stars (Ire) filly (lot 154) out of a Nathaniel (Ire) half-sister to G2 Lancashire Oaks winner Pongee (GB) (Barathea {Ire}), as well as the granddam of top producer Prudenzia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}). Also from their draft is lot 124, a 2-year-old colt by New Bay (GB) out of G2 Queen Mary S.-placed Hairy Rocket (GB) (Pivotal {GB}).

Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said, “The Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up enjoyed an exceptional year on the racecourse in 2022, led by historic G1 Prix de l'Abbaye winner The Platinum Queen, one of seven group and listed performers bought at last year's sale. Classic prospect Crypto Force, multiple Group 1-winning stayer Trueshan, US Grade I winner Shantisara and Scandinavian Champion Hard One To Please also illustrate the quality and diversity that buyers have come to expect from the sale. This year's catalogue features a strong selection of quality 2-year-olds that we are confident will appeal to domestic and international buyers in all sectors of the market, alongside the largest horses in training section in the sale's history.”

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I'm A Gambler (Ire) (No Nay Never), a typical Charlie and Mark Johnston-trained runner who has gone from strength to strength this season and was last seen winning a Listed event at Redcar, will continue his career in California.

Cohen said, “It's hard to find a solid three-year-old and he's obviously one of the highest-rated in the sale. Physically, he's beautiful. Certainly didn't want to go that far but also didn't want to come all this way and not use something worthwhile.”

“There are a few three-year-old stakes races left in California this year, but he has had quite a few races, so we will finish the year and then he can have a little break.”

Asked how high he thinks I'm A Gambler can go in America, Cohen joked, “He better go pretty high! He is a quality individual, has already proven that, so if we can maintain that and can enhance that, it will be even better. He does not have much left to prove to me.”

Charlie Johnson watched the sale on the rope and revealed that selling the nine-time winner made good sense financially for the Kingsley Park team and owners John Brown and Megan Dennis.

He said, “It was quite some theatre because bidders that seemed to drop out of the running suddenly came back for more. It just showed what high demand he was in. He's a phenomenal physical, a beautiful horse, and he's had no issues all the way through his career. He's been an easy horse to train as he's very sound and very tough and he's really taken off in the last four or five months. It's a phenomenal result.”

Johnson added, “Watching trade I thought he was going to make 400,000gns or maybe 500,000gns on a good day, so the end result is quite fantastic. Normally, you wouldn't sell good horses like that but the reality is, I spoke to John a few weeks ago and his dream campaign for next year would involve winning the Lennox S. 

“The horse has just earned five, six or maybe even seven times the prize-money of that race for selling here. It leaves a huge hole in our yard to sell a 110-rated horse but economically it was a logical decision for the owner.”

' & go , ' #

This gelding by No Nay Never recently won a Listed race and was consigned by @Johnston_Racing. pic.twitter.com/sDNz7CAzUr

— TDN (@theTDN) October 25, 2022

The Johnson team have sold a total of 27 horses at the sale thus far for 1,270,500gns while Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal pushed spending to 1,215,000gns after buying Bellstreet Bridie (GB) (Sir Percy {GB}) for 260,000gns and Maltese Falcon (Ire) (Caravaggio ) on Monday.

Figures were up again on Tuesday. Trade reached 12,373,000gns on the day which represents a 10% rise on last year. The median was also up 22% to 25,000gns while the average rose 15% to 50,709gns. 

The clearance rate was 93%, the same as in 2021, while the total spend for Monday and Tuesday together is 20,939,100gns. 

'Very Ambitious' Wathnan Racing Flexes Buying Power

Wathnan Racing, one of the newest racing ventures in Qatar that is headed by Alban Elie De Mieulle, the multiple champion trainer in that jurisdiction, once again flexed its buying power when snapping up Persian Royal (GB) and Inverness (Ire), two of the most expensive horses sold on Tuesday.

That helped elevate Wathnan Racing's spending to 1,750,000gns across the two days. It was Roger and Harry Charlton's Persian Royal, a four-time winner by Al Kazeem (GB), who boasts a rating of 90 that made 450,000gns while Inverness (Highland Reel {Ire}) was sold for 380,000gns. 

Wathnan Racing, for which Olly Tait has been buying on behalf of, acquired nine horses from the sale and were also in the running for the top lot I'm A Gambler for much of the bidding. 

“Wathnan Racing is a new stable that has started up in Qatar,” Tait said after buying Persian Royal. “We want to have enough horses so that the stable can be successful.”

He added, “His form was excellent and he looks progressive. Not only is he progressive but he's super consistent. He's a nice horse for this season and hopefully many more seasons to come.”

Persian Royal raced in the familiar silks of John Deer, who also owned the sire Al Kazeem, a four-time Group 1 winner for Roger Charlton. 

The Qatar Derby was identified as the likely target for Inverness, the second highest-rated son of Highland Reel with a mark of 94, who held on to top-lot status for much of the day.

Tait said of that dual winner, “He has very consistent, progressive form, and he will go on firm ground. He is a horse who could hopefully be competitive in the Qatar Derby. 

“He is that level of horse. He wasn't inexpensive but that is what you have to pay for a horse of that quality. He is very willing and his form stands up very well.”

He added, “There is a big programme of racing in Qatar and Wathnan Racing is very ambitious, looking for horses who can win races at different levels. In time, a broader Middle Eastern campaign for the horses could be on the radar.”

Havana Grey's Best Boy Off To Qatar

Eddie's Boy (GB), the highest-rated son of crack first-season sire Havana Grey (GB), will continue his career in Qatar after selling online to Will Douglass of Charlie Gordon Watson Bloodstock and Al Wasmiyah Stud for 320,000gns.

A teak-tough two-year-old, Eddie's Boy has won three of his 10 starts this term, and is set to be kept on the go a little longer with December targets in Qatar pencilled into his diary by the new connections. 

The Middleham Park-owned and Archie Watson-trained colt enjoyed his greatest day on a racecourse so far when landing a Group 3 at Chantilly last month and has amassed over £210,000 in prize-money. 

Douglass said, “He is an absolutely cracking-looking horse and has danced every dance this year. He vetted brilliantly–you can't knock what he has done. He is well-made, strong and solid, and is going to do well in Qatar. I think he has the best two-year-old form in the catalogue.

“He will first aim for the Al Rayyan S., which is run in mid-December, and then for the Al Biddah Mile in early February. We have managed to buy the winner of that for the last seven years so there is no pressure!”

The agent added, “Plans are a bit up in the air at the moment, but we have found that it works better to leave the horses here for the December race and run them off the plane, then leave them in Qatar for the later race.”

That would suggest that Eddie's Boy will stay in training with Watson for that December target in Qatar. 

Middleham's Tim Palin said, “A 45,000gns buy at Tattersalls to selling today, there is a certain synergy there, we have sold really well and it is just a privilege to be dining at the top table and selling at the top table.

“Horses such as him and The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) show that even for the cheaper sort of horse, if you club together and share the expense, you can achieve and get to the best places. He has been a fantastic success story under Archie's tutelage.”

On Breeders' Cup bound The Platinum Queen, who was a 57,000gns Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up purchase, he added, “She travels to America on Saturday for her Breeders' Cup assignment. We are looking forward to a fantastic race. She is favourite, we could do with a good draw, it is not imperative but important. 

“Hollie Doyle is booked. Let's hope we can go over and serve it up to the Americans in their own back yard. We will have around 20 members heading over.”

High Definition To Embark On Hurdles Career

He was once talked about as a leading Derby contender at Ballydoyle but now High Definition (Ire) will have major targets over jumps to aim for after Coolmore sold the 2020 G2 Beresford S. winner to join Joseph O'Brien for 350,000gns. 

, , !

The son of Galileo was consigned by @coolmorestud and has been bought by @mcstayagent for existing clients for 350,000gns. He'll go to @JosephOBrien2. pic.twitter.com/ka6f9fv1w7

— TDN (@theTDN) October 25, 2022

High Definition won twice for Aidan O'Brien but showed snippets of top-class form, including when second in this season's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, and Mark McStay secured the Galileo (Ire) colt for an existing client at Owning Hill. 

Celestial Halo (Ire), Supasundae (GB) and Windsor Park (Ire) rank among Galileo's best sons to have gone down the National Hunt route and McStay confirmed that he secured the 117-rated Flat performer for that sphere. 

“He is for an existing international client and he goes to Joseph O'Brien to go jumping,” McStay said afterwards. 

Another Coolmore-consigned wildcard, the Group 3-winning Aikhal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), sold to South Africa's leading bloodstock agency Form Bloodstock for 150,000gns. 

McStay's Avenue Bloodstock also signed for Aidan O'Brien's 107-rated dual winner Glounthaune (Ire), part-owned by the late Evie Stockwell, for 135,000gns. Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock were also down as buyers for the Kodiac (GB) colt.

Despite having a number of withdrawals, Coolmore have sold 14 horses for over 1.5 million across the opening two days of the sale, highlighted by Monday's 410,000 sale-topper Waterville. 

King's First Winner Sold As Australian Interest Amplifies

A number of The King's high profile runners, including Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who provided him with his first winner as an owner at Leicester earlier this month, sold strongly. 

The 99-rated Just Fine, trained by Sir Michael Stoute to win three races, changed hands for 300,000gns to Johnny McKeever on behalf of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

McKeever said, “It has been a while since I have bought one from the Royal Studs. Gai Waterhouse trained for the late Queen and will be thrilled to be getting a horse that she owned.

“Sea The Stars is one of my all-time favourite racehorses and sires. I rate him up there with all the great ones and, except for Frankel, is one of the best staying stallions in the world.”

He added, “We are looking for good quality horses and Sir Michael recommended him very strongly. I don't know if there have been many by Sea The Stars in Australia, but this horse's level of form is pretty good, and he has the right profile. We have tried on a few others-we were underbidders on Chairman and this morning on Inverness.”

Fellow Stoute-trained Royal runners Theme Park and Naval College sold similarly well. Theme Park (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) was knocked down to Jamie Piggott and Nigel Tinkler for 200,000gns while Sackville Donald bought Naval College (GB) (Dartmouth {GB}) for 185,000. 

Chairman (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) proved one of the highlights on Monday when selling from Freddie and Martin Meade to Ciaron Maher and David Eustace for 400,000gns and the Australian trainers were back for more on Tuesday. 

Will Bourne, the bloodstock executive for the powerful training partnership, struck for Ruling (Ger) (Camelot {GB}), fourth behind Monday's session-topper Waterville (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the Irish Cesarewitch last month, for 300,000gns. 

 “He is a nice athletic horse and will go to Ciaron's Sydney operation,” Bourne said. “He is a genuine stayer. He has had a break but has come back well and he has the perfect profile for the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

“The carnival can really accommodate a horse like him and there is a lot of prize-money on offer. We are looking for five or six horses in total this week but it is a very buoyant market and they are hard to buy.”

The strength of the trade took its toll on many, but not Ronald Rauscher, who described himself as pleasantly surprised about being able to pick up the 106-rated Earl Of Tyrone (Ire) (Australia {GB}) for 300,000 on behalf of Australian Bloodstock.

Earl Of Tyrone has improved 29lbs since joining Paddy Twomey this season and Rauscher said he is hopeful that there can be more to come.

He said, “The objective is staying races in Australia. I know where he has come from and who trains him very well-he was obvious for us. I thought there might be a bit more action on him, so I am not unhappy where we landed. He is a very nice horse, very correct, very well looked after.”

Rockingham Runner-Up Captures Imagination

The Rockingham S. runner-up Kyeema (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) captured the imagination with Chinese owner YP Cheng going to 360,000gns for the William Haggas-trained gelding. 

Kyeema was purchased under the name of Domeland and, while a trainer has yet to be decided upon, Roy Cheng revealed the 102-rated sprinter would head to Australia. 

He said, “My boss really liked this horse. He will be heading to Sydney. We are not sure about a trainer yet.”

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The trio is led by sale-topper and dual Group 3 winner Grocer Jack (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who was bought for 700,000gns from owner/breeder Dr Christoph Berglar.

“His second place in Group 1 company was behind Skalleti (Fr), who himself has good form behind Addeybb (Ire) last season,” said Haggas. “Grocer Jack was also third in the German Derby as a 3-year-old behind former Arc runner-up In Swoop (Ire) and this year's Arc winner Torquator Tasso (Ger), so he is clearly a high-class individual. He has settled into the way of life at Somerville Lodge very smoothly and has begun cantering as he builds up to what will hopefully be a very exciting campaign. He has possibilities all over the world and could head to Saudi Arabia or Dubai to get his season underway. He also has a host of races open to him in the UK over 10 and 12 furlongs so hopefully he can get a much deserved victory at the highest level.”

Chipotle (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}), a consistent and classy juvenile this season for Eve Johnson Houghton with wins in the Brocklesby S. on debut, followed by listed success in the Windsor Castle S. and Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy, has also joined the Haggas team. He could also make his first start of 2022 in his owner's home country of Saudi Arabia before targeting sprints in Europe during next summer.

Completing the set is the lightly-raced Shadwell 2-year-old Laatansa (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), who has moved from Ed Dunlop's stable having been bought for 250,000gns with a rating of 83.

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One of the last added to the list was the day's leader, Shadwell's Laatansa (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), offered as lot 1447. Ronald Rauscher and Matt Camacho were among the early bidders for the 2-year-old colt but none could match the staying power of the Saudi team. 

Back in their home country, the launch for the 2022 Saudi Cup was being held, where it was confirmed that $35.1 million would be on offer for the meeting, which will be held on Feb. 25 and 26. After two years, the Saudi Cup will now be run as a Group 1, with another five races on the undercard being promoted to Group 3 status.

“We could never have imagined the immediate impact the Saudi Cup would have on the international racing landscape, or indeed domestic racing,” said HRH Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Al Faisal at the press conference at the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia.

They are words which are also pretty apposite when it comes to the trade at Tattersalls this week and the two events are strongly connected, with Najd Stud, assisted by Peter and Ross Doyle, accounting for almost 10% of the sale's turnover. 

“Maybe new factors have come into play,” acknowledged Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony in his closing statement. 

That certainly appears to be the case, but then it is also a rarity for this auction to contain such a high number of horses from Shadwell, which is reducing its stock in the wake of the death of its principal, Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, in March this year.

Better Call Saud

With Saad bin Mishraf, who had been present for the purchases made earlier in the week by Najd Stud, having already left England to fly home, he entrusted his colleague, the Saudi trainer and consultant Saud Al Qahtani, to do the bidding for Laatansa, a son of the listed-placed Louve Rare (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), herself a daughter of Group 3 winner Louve (Irish River {Fr})). In three starts for Ed Dunlop, the striking chestnut has twice been placed in maidens on Newmarket's Rowley Mile.

Al Qahtani said, “Saad called and told me not to leave here without this horse. He is a beautiful horse and lovely physical. He is by a very promising stallion, whose progeny are booming. He has a very good family and we hope he will be a very good horse next year.”

He added, “We will have a great race in Saudi Arabia at the end of February, our race will be the destination for all the very best horses from Europe and America, and our Jockey Club racing manager is doing a great job.”

It wasn't only Saudi interest which boosted this year's marathon sale way beyond its previous levels. As ever, American and Australian interest was strong, as was the participation from Qatar and Bahrain.

Enhanced international demand for horses to run in countries with eye-watering levels of prize-money for feature races pushed the aggregate to a record high of 31,470,300gns, which was up by almost 50% on a troubled 2020 but also way beyond the 2019 tally of 25,393,400gns. 

Thirty more horses were sold this time around as the clearance rate soared to 92%, and those 1003 equines who changed hands did so at an average of 31,407gns (+40%) and median of 16,000gns (+78%).

The leading consignor, as easily predicted, was Shadwell, which sold 118 horses for 5,238,500gns, including the eight top lots of the final day. The enthusiasm for bloodstock, even at this final lower tier of the concluding session, saw figures leap from their former base. On Thursday, the average almost doubled to 11,867gns, while the median was up by 38% to 5,500gns and the clearance rate for 204 horses sold–one fewer than on the same day last year–matched the sale's overall figure of 92%.

'An Extraordinary Renewal'

“An extraordinary renewal of a unique sale,” was how Edmond Mahony assessed the week's action at the close of business on Thursday. 

“There is no sale in the world quite like the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale and there has never been one quite like the sale that has just taken place,” he continued. 

“Records for turnover, average and median are always notable landmarks for any sale, but when the record margins are so large it suggests that maybe new factors have come into play and to an extent that may have been the case this week. There is no doubt that the major consignment from the late Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shadwell Estates has introduced a new dynamic. A consignment of that size and quality does not go unnoticed and the buyers have seized the rare opportunity to source horses from one of the finest owner/breeder operations in the world.

“Additionally, the numerous racing carnivals that now take place during the autumn and winter months throughout the Gulf region have had a huge impact on the sale. Buyers from the Gulf have been major contributors to Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sales for many years, but new racing opportunities have brought buyers from the region in even greater numbers than before and crucially, they have been active at all levels of the market. 

“Equally important has been the sustained success-driven demand throughout the sale from Australian connections and this has been despite continued difficulties surrounding travel. There will be around 40 horses heading to Australia from this week's sale and that is in addition to the 30 or so yearlings which were purchased at the recent Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. The Australian buyers deserve huge praise for their collective commitment using every means possible to continue buying here despite being unable to travel and we look forward to them being rewarded with more success along the lines of recent Tattersalls Australian superstars Zaaki and Russian Camelot.”

Mahony concluded, “The strong domestic demand we saw at our yearling sales has also been replicated and we can not only look back on a successful month at Tattersalls, but also take encouragement as we look forward to the Tattersalls December Foal and Mares Sale which, similar to this week, features outstanding consignments from Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell Estates.”

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It took just 37,000gns to top the final session, that price being bid by Nick Bradley of Glebe Farm for the New Approach (Ire) 3-year-old Citronella (GB) (lot 1405) from the celebrated family of High Hawk (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}).

The strong clearance rate which had been the hallmark of the October Yearling Sales at Park Paddocks continued throughout this week, with 88% of the 1,105 horses offered being sold. This was down slightly from 90% in 2019 but was still an impressive figure given that many of the sale’s regular international buyers were unable to travel this year, a factor which was remarked upon by the company’s chairman Edmond Mahony in his closing statement.

He said, “The Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale is a uniquely international fixture and to stage it amidst such widespread global travel restrictions was a daunting prospect, but yet again the industry has risen to the challenge.

“The sale understandably lacked some of its customary vibrancy with so many of our regular overseas buyers unable to travel, but the market has again held up remarkably well, particularly at the top end where we have seen a record sale price for a colt of 925,000gns and double last year’s number of lots sold for more than 300,000 guineas. It is a similar scenario to the recent Tattersalls October Yearling Sales. Quality bloodstock remains a coveted commodity and the status of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale as the premier sale of its type in the world is based on consistent achievement on racecourses throughout the world.”

Overall the sale’s key indicators dipped, with the aggregate of 21,375,100gns being down by 14%, while the average fell by 13% to 22,384gns and the median by 25% to 9,000gns.

Despite the travel restrictions, there was notable participation from Australian trainers, with New Zealand-born Michael Moroney buying three lots through his brother Paul and their agent on the ground in Newmarket, Armando Duarte. The trio accounted for 1,475,000gns of the sale’s turnover, while fellow New Zealander and Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller, acting through John Ferguson, bought five horses for a total of 935,000gns. Ciaron Maher and Annabel Neasham were also active, along with syndicators Australian Bloodstock, Dynamic Syndications and Darby Racing.

New Saudi Arabian venture Najd Stud was also one of the sale’s leading buyers with four horses purchased through Ted Voute for 935,000gns.

Mahony continued, “It is no coincidence that the most notable feature of the international influence this week has been the contribution from Australian and Saudi Arabian connections. The inaugural $30 million Saudi Cup night in February this year saw the connections of two Autumn Horses-in-Training purchases standing proudly in the winner’s enclosure and there have been four individual Australian Group 1 winners from the sale since 2019. Success-driven demand is the key to so many sales at Tattersalls and it has been especially evident at all levels of this year’s market.

“Equally important has been the role of the live internet and telephone bidding facilities which have both played a crucial part in enabling participation from buyers unable to attend the sale in person. We all crave the return of some semblance of normality to everyday life, but in the meantime we are having to explore all possible ways in which to facilitate business and the live internet and telephone bidding platforms have been vital innovations which have proved particularly well suited to this sector of the bloodstock market.”

As French sales company Arqana announced on Thursday that it is reviewing its remaining sales for the year in light of a new month-long lockdown in France, Mahony expressed his gratitude that the Horses-in-Training Sale had been able to take place in Newmarket.

He added, “As ever in this turbulent year we must also express our thanks to everyone who has participated in the sale this week. The challenges we all face show few signs of abating, but yet again everyone has conducted themselves with commendable patience and determination. We continue to be enormously grateful for this collective spirit of cooperation and now look forward to the December Foal and Breeding Stock Sale, incorporating the Cheltenham December Sale, which will bring the 2020 Tattersalls sales season at Park Paddocks to a conclusion.”

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