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Al Shami Tops Final Day Of “Extraordinary” Tattersalls HIT Sale

Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony described the trade at the Autumn Horses in Training Sale as “extraordinary” as more records were broken in a week where the Mark Johnston-trained I'm A Gambler (Ire) (No Nay Never) was knocked down for a cool 850,000gns to American clients.

That was the top lot of a four-day sale that attracted buyers from all over the world, including on Thursday, when trade was not as strong but still managed to bring 80,000gns for John Butler's Al Shami (Ire) to Eoin Sullivan, buying on behalf of clients from Saudi Arabia.

Sullivan bought six horses this week for a total spend of 407,000gns on behalf of Saudi Arabian interests. Sooghan (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) topped the agent's list on Wednesday at 160,000gns but in Al Shami, a recent winner by Awtaad (Ire), he thinks he has a horse to do well in that jurisdiction.

Sullivan said, “He's for Saudi Arabia again and is a nice big strong horse who needs a bit of time but he will get it. What he's done so far for the physical that he is, he obviously has a level of ability there. We will take him along slowly and give him the time that he needs. We're happy enough to get him.”

He added, “We bought a mixture of horses for different connections. We're happy enough with the week. It wasn't easy but we got there.”

And the strength of that trade contributed to an astounding 36,164,500gns traded in the four days, representing a 15% rise on last year.

The average was up to 35,949gns from 31,377gns, which is also a 15% rise, while the median stayed the same at 16,000gns. The clearance rate was 90%, down 2% on 2021, with 107 of the total 1,113 lots offered going unsold.

Mahony commented, “It has been another extraordinary Tattersalls sale in a month which has seen the record books completely rewritten time after time. The unprecedented demand at all four books of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale has been followed by unrelenting demand from start to finish at this week's Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale.

“Turnover has surpassed last year's record level by a considerable margin, the average has reached an unprecedented height, the median has equalled last year's record and the clearance rate has again been in excess of 90%, all of which points to a sale of genuine strength and depth at all levels of the market.

“This sale is a truly remarkable, unmatched anywhere else in the world and the sheer number and diversity of buyers here at Park Paddocks this week is a tribute not only to the quality of the stock on offer, but also to the high esteem in which British and Irish racing is held throughout the world.”

He added, “Owners and trainers from throughout Britain and Ireland and further afield have the utmost confidence that this unique fixture will annually provide them with an unrivalled marketplace and never has this been more evident than over the past four days.

“Swathes of overseas buyers from more than 30 different countries have as ever made a massive contribution and the domestic buyers, both Flat and National Hunt, have also been out in force.

“Particular mention must go to the huge contingent of buyers from throughout the Gulf region, spurred on by their burgeoning racing carnivals which have become such an important feature of the international racing calendar in recent years. Their contribution has been immense, and they have met determined competition, especially at the top of the market, from strong teams of buyers most notably from Australia and the USA.

“Yet again we have experienced a sale which has reinforced Newmarket's reputation as the hub of the European thoroughbred business and the success of this week's sale suggests that we can look forward to welcoming a similarly international cast of buyers to the Tattersalls December Foal and Breeding Stock Sale which annually showcases the very best of European bloodstock to a global audience.”

Wathnan Racing Tops Buyers List

Not many people would have been aware of Wathnan Racing ahead of the sale but the new Qatari-based ownership vehicle made a lasting impression by ending the week as leading buyers.

Headed by bloodstock agent Olly Tait, Wathnan Racing signed for nine horses for a total spend of 1,750,000gns across Monday and Tuesday, headed by 450,000gns purchase Persian Royal (GB) (Al Kazeem {GB}).

Aussies On The Advance

It hardly came as a surprise to see the Australian-based buyers play a major role this week and Annabel Neasham, Chris Waller, Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott did exactly that.

Neasham played her cards relatively late to snap up what Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock described as a potential Melbourne Cup candidate in Fancy Man (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) for 675,000gns on Wednesday.

Through Guy Mulcaster, Waller landed another notable European-trained runner to head down under in the Irish Cesarewitch winner Waterville (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) for 410,000gns.

Castlebridge Come Out Tops

The biggest draft, by some way, came from The Castlebridge Consignment, who cleared just shy of 5,000,000gns for the week.

There were 106 horses sold from that draft for a total spend of 4,733,500gns averaging at 44,656gns.

Progeny Of Sea The Stars In Demand

Be it the premier yearling sales or horses-in-training sales, the demand for the progeny of Sea The Stars (Ire) and Frankel (GB), the leading Flat sires of this era, remains high.

Sea The Stars proved most popular this week with 14 horses making 1,506,000gns while Frankel cleared 1,256,500gns for his 13 horses through the ring.

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Appleby Aiming To Outstrip Last Year’s Breeders’ Cup Hat-Trick

NEWMARKET, UK–The Breeders' Cup has special resonance for Charlie Appleby, who trained his first Grade I winner at the championships not four months into his tenure as trainer for Godolphin back in 2013.

That important first milestone was provided by Darley homebred Outstrip (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) in the Juvenile Turf, and if the American race fans didn't pay much attention to Appleby that day, they do now, for it was a win which set the tone for the years to follow, not just at the Breeders' Cup, but in top-level races in North America generally. Rarely does an Appleby runner under-perform when sent stateside, and more often than not they will return with another trophy to add to the overflowing sideboards in the trainer's office at Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket.

Behind his desk, neatly spaced, are three matching trophies from Del Mar last year, when Appleby and his newly-crowned champion jockey for 2022, William Buick, took Del Mar by storm. As important as those victories were for the racing stable, the icing on the cake for Sheikh Mohammed's vast breeding operation was the fact that Yibir (GB), Space Blues (Ire) and Modern Games (Ire) are all homebred sons of Darley's flagship stallion, Dubawi (Ire).

“It was a big win,” says Appleby casting his mind back to Outstrip while catching up with some Australian racing on TV before heading out to oversee his first lot. “And it was one of those very surreal moments. To stand at Santa Anita with that backdrop and watching your first Grade 1 winner go by the line…”

He tails off, momentarily reliving a significant moment in his own career, which has gone from strength to strength in subsequent seasons to see him crowned champion trainer in Britain last year for the first time. It is a title he is odds-on to retain as 2022 draws to a close.

“Look, I'd been in the operation for a long time before that, so you always know what these moments mean, but when you're holding that trophy, and my name was next to it, that does really give you an amazing feeling, and a feeling that you want more,” he adds.

“So the Breeders' Cup always been a meeting that we've campaigned. I'm not saying we've campaigned hard, but I feel that we've always tried to find the right horses to be the most competitive anyway. And thankfully, it's so far been a lucky hunting ground.”

In 2017 came the turn of Wuheida (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Filly & Mare Turf, while Line Of Duty (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) gave Appleby his second strike in the Juvenile Turf the following year. That race has now gone the trainer's way three times, though last year's success was not without drama. One of his two intended starters in the race, Albahr (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), became fractious in the stalls, forcing him and his stablemate Modern Games to be removed from the gates. In a tumultuous few moments ahead of the start, it initially appeared as if both horses had been scratched from the race, but eventually Modern Games and Buick were reinstated and went on to win, with chaos ensuing for punters.

“Last year was an amazing year. I felt that we added plenty of drama to the meeting as well,” says Appleby with no little understatement.

“Walking away with three homebred winners and all three of them by Dubawi, I did say to the team there, as much as we say 'well, that was great', we must try harder next year to better that. That might take a little bit of surpassing though, because it was a huge achievement by everybody and we were very proud to walk off the racetrack with what we'd achieved.”

Indeed, it will be hard to top those results at Keeneland this year, but the Appleby team—and the trainer consistently refers to the stable's success as 'we' rather than 'I'—certainly plans to give it a good old rattle.

The one thing I'm confident of with Naval Crown is that he's got gate speed in abundance

The seven runners bound for Kentucky all came through their last piece of fast work on Wednesday in good heart, and will continue with routine canters until shipping on Saturday. With Space Blues now at Kildangan Stud in Ireland and Yibir not travelling, it falls to Modern Games to lead the raiders as he bids to add the Breeders' Cup Mile to his victory last year. In the interim, he became Appleby's third Guineas winner of 2022 when landing the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, following the victory of the late Coreoebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the 2000 Guineas and Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Modern Games has already made another trip back across the Atlantic this year to win the GI Woodbine Mile.

“When unfortunately Coroebus didn't turn up for the Sussex Stakes, it was felt that Modern Games was the substitute. But he posted one of the closest finishes to Baaeed when finishing second in the Sussex. He then went to Canada and won very well there,” says Appleby.

“Then with the QEII on Champions Day, as the rain came down again on the day, I thought 'should we really be running this horse?'. But he was in great order, and as always, he went out on his shield, finishing second in ground that William said he hated from start to finish.

“It won't be too soft at Keeneland. I imagine Kinross will start favourite, but he's up there and in great order.”

The statuesque Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is one of two Godolphin runners, along with Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), being aimed at the Breeders' Cup Turf, claimed last year by Yibir. The four-year-old has had quite the season, with four straight wins culminating in back-to-back Group 1s in Germany over 1m4f.

Appleby says of Rebel's Romance, “He's a past UAE Derby winner and he went out to America on the back end of that winter in Dubai to potentially participate in the Kentucky Derby, but he met with setbacks out there so that didn't materialise. We went back out to Dubai to try and continue his dirt career, which again didn't materialise last winter, but he's been a revelation since we switched him to the turf.

“He stays well, he's got the experience, he's well travelled. I think he's a big player on the night. He'll be joined by Nation's Pride, who's a three-year-old coming into it with a similar profile to Yibir. Obviously they both won the Jockey Club Derby Invitational en route to the Breeders' Cup. But prior to that, Nation's Pride does bring a bit more American experience to the table as well.”

That experience was provided by the son of Teofilo heading straight from his eighth-place finish at Epsom in the Derby to take second in the GI Belmont Derby before winning the GI Saratoga Derby.

Appleby adds, “Nations Pride will probably go off favourite on the day. William [Buick] will ride him and James [Doyle] will ride Rebel's Romance; they're two live players.”

If he gets a good draw, [Silver Knott] is probably the horse they've all got to beat realistically

The trainer is also double-handed in the Turf Sprint with the Dubawi duo of Naval Crown (GB) and Creative Force (Ire), who finished first and second, a neck separating them, in the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot.

“They are both rock solid little horses,” states Appleby. “Creative Force had a break after the summer and we were delighted with his reappearance run on Champions Day, finishing third. He's definitely come forward for that run.

“Naval Crown has got quicker, dare I say it, as the season's gone on. But it hasn't quite gone right for him since the Platinum Jubilee. He ran a good race in the July Cup [when second to Alcohol Free] but was disappointing on very quick ground [at Haydock] and then obviously disappointed on the soft ground on Champions Day. “But the one thing I'm confident of with Naval Crown is that he's got gate speed in abundance. That's what's needed over there, so that's a tick for him. He's got experience and I think he'll enjoy being back on a turning track.”

Appleby also takes aim once more at the Juvenile Turf, this time with the smart Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who already has a pair of Group 3 wins to his credit, and whose yearling half-brother by Dubawi was recently recruited to the Godolphin team for next year to the tune of 1,500,000gns at Tattersalls.

“His form has worked out quite well and, dare I say it, he has a profile similar to Outstrip,” notes the trainer. “He's competed at a nice level and a sounder surface will suit him, so hopefully we will get that. If he gets a good draw, he's probably the horse they've all got to beat realistically.”

Completing the septet is the G3 Sirenia S. winner Mischief Magic (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), who was subsequently fourth to Blackbeard (Ire) in the G1 Middle Park S. and will line up in the Juvenile Turf Sprint.

“He's got plenty of natural pace and he's definitely a player,” Appleby adds.

“As we all know, you've got to have a lot of luck around there. You've got to travel well, you've got to acclimatise well. And in the shorter-distance events, you have to have a draw. So there's still a few more hurdles to get over, but it's an exciting team to be taking out there.”

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Dual Group Malavath To Sell At Arqana

Group 2 winner and Breeders' Cup runner-up Malavath (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) has been confirmed for the Vente d'Elevage, an auction that will take place from December 3-6 at Arqana in Deauville.

The Tally-Ho Stud-bred filly, who chased home Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last year, was a £29,000 purchase by Star Bloodstock at the Goffs Premier Yearling Sale in 2020.

She was then sold to a partnership that includes David Redvers, Everest Racing and Barbara Keller for £120,000 at Arqana's Breeze-Up Sale in Doncaster the following spring.

Trained by Francis Graffard, Malavath was placed on her first two starts at two before breaking her maiden at Chantilly that September.

She then went on to win the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte before running that creditable second at the Breeders' Cup.

A Group 3 winner earlier this season, Malavath was last seen finishing second in the G1 Prix de la Foret.

The page could get even better as the talented filly is set to run in the G1 Breeders' Mile in Keeneland on November 5.

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“We Wanted A Melbourne Cup Horse” – Fancy Man Snapped Up For 675,000

Annabel Neasham's dreams of one day winning the Melbourne Cup were provided with a boost when the leading Australian-based trainer added the ultra-consistent Fancy Man (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) to her stable for 675,000gns.

Fancy Man, a four-time winner who rarely let the Richard Hannon side down by placing a further eight times and amassing close to £150,000, was identified as the best horse in the sale by Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock.

The big horses were making big money at Tattersalls this week and, with a rating of 108, Fancy Man fitted the profile of what Boman was looking for-a horse to win Australia's most famous race.

The leading agent said, “We wanted a Melbourne Cup horse so we thought we'd come and buy the best horse here and I genuinely think he is that. He has been running to a very high level for a long time, he has been beautifully trained by Richard Hannon and I have followed him through the year. He vetted very cleanly.”

Boman added, “Annabel is extraordinarily brave and willing to go to that sort of figure. We always knew he'd be an expensive horse. But you either get on with it and buy them and make it happen or you don't.

“He is a highly-rated horse and you are really buying the number. He has been high-class all the way through and is one of those horses who can perform over a mile-and-a-half. We think he will get two miles in Australia.

“Annabel had 200 people sign up expressing an interest to get involved with whatever horse we bought so I am sure she will be able to sell him. She has been very patient and we think we have bought a Cup horse.”

Boman and Neasham's exploits at Tattersalls are there for everyone to see; precisely on the back page of the gigantic Autumn Horses-In-Training Catalogue as the trainer's multiple Group 1 winner down under is one of the rightful poster boys for this sale.

Fancy Man was the highlight of a nine-strong draft from the Hannon stable that also featured four-time winner Pure Dreamer (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), sold to Sackville Donald for 200,000gns.

Hannon's horses went for 1,130,000gns all told and, on Fancy Man, the trainer commented, “It is always sad with that much ability leaving the yard but it makes way for new horses. He has been a gentleman for us and Michael [Pescod, owner].

“He brought the money I think that he deserved. I thought he'd make that as physically he is a gorgeous horse. Trade here is unbelievable.”

For the third day in a row, figures were up. The 13,532,000gns spent represented a rise of 27% while the average was also up 20%. The clearance rate was down just 1% to 92% while the median climbed 14% to 46,027.

One World The Highlight Of Juddmonte Draft

What do Giant Treasure (Mizzen Mast), Mirage Dancer (GB) and Derevo (GB) (Dansili {GB}) have in common? All three horses were previously owned and bred by Juddmonte before going on to win Group 1 races internationally for their new connections.

The stud's 22-strong draft proved predictably popular on Thursday, with the 86-rated One World (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) selling to a new Saudi Arabian-based racing owner who signed for the gelding under the name Athbah Racing for 525,000gns.

The new connections were aided by Ted Durcan, who was labelled “a good man” by the delighted racing manager, Dr Abdul Moniem.

He explained, “The plan is to take him to Saudi Arabia. We are so delighted as this is the first time for HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to buy a thoroughbred horse at Tattersalls. We have been racing Arabians, and he is a leading owner, but we are just developing our thoroughbred side of ownership.”

Moniem added on One World, “The pedigree is beautiful; he is a very well-bred horse and he was bred by Juddmonte, which we really like. We like his conformation and he vetted well. He will be trained by Lucas Gaitan, who is already training a few horses for us.”

One World won twice and placed a further three times for John and Thady Gosden and is a half-brother to narrow Listed runner-up Time Lock (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

One enthusiastic buyer provided some entertainment a couple of lots previously. The unknown man, who had been standing in the front row of the bidders area for most of the day and opened up plenty of horses at 1,000gns, tried to do the same for Special Envoy (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Upon realising that when auctioneer Matt Hall said one, he meant 100,000gns, the man stopped waving and promptly made for the exit.

All's well that ends well and Special Envoy eventually sold to Susie McKeever on behalf of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott for 250,000gns.

It was McKeever who actually struck that opening bid of 100,000gns, and after securing the classy runner for Australia, said, “I couldn't see the point of the bidding starting lower. He will head down tomorrow with yesterday's purchase [Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire})]. We liked his profile and he is a lovely horse.”

There was another set of Saudi owners to make a splash as Bjorn Nielsen's homebred Magisterial (GB) (Frankel {GB}) fetched 425,000gns to bloodstock agent Andre Pereira.

He said, “Sami Alhurabi will be training the horse and he liked him when he saw him here. The team likes him, being by Frankel, and he has a great pedigree, too.

“The intention for this horse is to be aimed for the Saudi World Cup day, depending on how he adapts to the new environment. And, yes, we thought we'd have to pay that for him!”

He added, “The owner is new to racing and he is ambitious and keen to get to have a runner on Saudi Cup day.”

Marco Bozzi went on to secure Going Gone (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) for Saudi-based HRH Prince Saud Bin Salman Al Saud for 330,000gns.

Gadget Goes To Australia

Guy Mulcaster signed for Monday's top lot Waterville (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) on behalf of Chris Waller and snapped up another notable runner in Ralph Beckett's The Gadget Man (GB) for the Australian-based handler on Wednesday.

The highest-rated [91] son of Irish Derby-winning stallion (Jack Hobbs {GB}), The Gadget Man won twice over staying trips, and Mulcaster said that he is confident there is more improvement in the 310,000gns buy.

“Let's hope he keeps on the upward curve,” the agent said. “I just watched his replays this morning and thought he was so tough. He is also a very athletic horse-he is light on his feet, moves well and we think he will fit into our programme pretty well.”

Mulcaster added, “He was not cheap, but judging by the way this sale has gone, he might not have been that expensive either. There were a number of people pushing us along.

“We are pretty happy to have gotten him at that sort of money. He has a pretty dour sort of pedigree.”

Mulcaster and Waller got stuck into the Juddmonte draft, buying Counter (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) for 80,000gns, Pervade (GB) (Kingman {GB}) for 140,000gns and Demarcay (GB) (Postponed {Ire}) for 180,000gns.

Najd Stud Strong On Sound

Recent form has resulted in good prices in the ring all week and Finest Sound (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) boasted exactly that after placing third behind Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Woodbine Mile last month.

The five-year-old, who ran in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum for Simon and Ed Crisford and won close to £250,000 in prize-money, was sold to Najd Stud for 350,000gns.

The Saudi Arabian-based buyers have been strong all week, including when buying Beautiful Aisling (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) off the Crisfords on Monday for 240,000gns.

Speaking after adding Finest Sound to the team, Saad Bin Mishraf of Najd Stud said, “Hopefully he will acclimatise quickly and we have bought him for the Saudi Cup meeting-we don't know for which race yet.

He added, “It has been a very good market here and there are a lot of people from all around the world here to try and buy horses. We have been underbidders to three or four different groups from Australia and America.”

Few horses have captured the imagination quite like Amichi (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) this season. Ed Sackville's 15,500 yearling purchase at last year's Sommerville Sale has bagged two big auction races under the guidance of Ed Walker and netted his owner Laurence Bellman almost £140,000 in prize-money.

But the wheel needs to keep on turning and Bellman secured his last big payday from the grey on Thursday when Najd Stud added gelding to their haul at 325,000gns.

Walker said, “What a legend. He really has been a cool horse. I was just saying to Jimmy George of Tattersalls that I wished I hadn't sold him to Laurence now! I bought him on spec with Ed Sackville. It's great and Laurence has been a brilliant supporter of mine since I started training. We offered him straight to Laurence and he bought him straight away on our recommendation and never hesitated. The rest is history.”

He added, “Without banging on and being negative about the state of British racing, but we have to make our money through other avenues than through prize-money so we have to keep trading horses. I've got yearlings for sale and, the great thing about Laurence is, he will buy one or two of them. He doesn't take out of the game. He puts in. I have sold plenty of horses for big money in the past and the wheels haven't kept turning. For this one, I know that the wheels will keep turning and it's great.”

Big In Japan? Shark Buys Eight And Reveals Hewick Plan

“Hup, hup, hup,” said Shark Hanlon striding out behind Godolphin's Bold Presence, who was a little hesitant entering the ring before selling to Mouse O'Ryan for 32,000gns.

It wasn't the first time that Shark, fresh from sending out €850 buy Hewick (Ire) (Virtual {GB}) to win the American Grand National, made his presence felt at Tattersalls this week.

He may have failed to secure Bold Presence, who is heading to rival jumps trainer Gordon Elliott, but Hanlon has been riding on a crest of a wave all week and added eight horses to his County Carlow yard.

Hanlon said, “We've bought eight and we have to drive on now that we've got a few customers. I got a new owner out in America and gave 40,000gns for a horse of John Butler's [Ivasecret (Ire) (Ivawood {Ire}) for him.”

He added, “We're going to leave him with John and run him in an all-weather final worth £80,000 at Kempton. After that, we'll bring him home and he'll go hurdling. Everything I bought this week, the plan is to go jumping with them.”

The immediate plan for Hewick is a well-earned break but, after that, a tilt at the Nakayama Grand Jump has entered the picture for Hanlon's Gold Cup charge.

Hanlon said, “I've been here since Monday and the amount of people who have been coming up shaking my hand is unreal. I can remember Danoli (Ire) (The Parson {GB}) years ago and he was the people's horse. Hewick is the people's horse now.

“The Nakayama Jump in April is in the back of my mind for him. It's worth a lot of money and Willie [Mullins] won it before with Blackstairmountain (Ire) (Imperial Ballet {Ire}). He'll go for the Gold Cup first and then it's quite possible that he could go to Japan afterwards.”

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