Cover image courtesy of Tattersalls
At A Glance
At the close of trade, turnover for the session was 13,532,000gns (AU$24,229,700), which is a 27 per cent compared to 2021 which finished at 10,661,000gns (AU$19,039,000).
Meanwhile, the average rose by 20 per cent, finishing up at 46,027gns (AU$82,200).
The median was 24,000gns (AU$42,900), 14 points up on the 21,000gns (AU$37,500) figure recorded last year. The clearance rate was 92 per cent as 294 sold from 319 offered.
| Lot 1132 | Fancy Man | Bladford Bloodstock / Annabel Neasham | 675,000gns (AU$1,205,000) |
| Lot 1032 | The Gadget Man | Waller / Mulcaster | 310,000gns (AU$553,500) |
| Lot 1086 | Special Envoy | McKeever / Waterhouse / Bott | 250,000gns (AU$446,500) |
| Lot 1159 | For Victory | Mulcaster Bloodstock | 240,000gns (AU$428,600) |
| Lot 1098 | Demarcay | Waller / Mulcaster | 180,000gns (AU$321,500) |
| Lot 1029 | Unspoken | Snowden Racing / William Johnson Bloodstock | 170,000gns (AU$303,600) |
| Lot 1099 | Pervade | Waller / Mulcaster | 140,000gns (AU$250,000) |
| Lot 1094 | Badge | Hurworth Bloodstock / McKeever / Malua Racing | 130,000gns (AU$232,200) |
| Lot 1060 | Valley Forge | Import Racing / Price Kent / Farrington | 100,000gns (AU$178,600) |
| Lot 1062 | Harrow | Blandford Bloodstock / Bennett Racing / Annabel Neasham Racing | 75,000gns (AU$134,000) |
| Lot 975 | Speycaster | Go Racing | 70,000gns (AU$125,000) |
| Lot 1157 | Rogue Bear | Australian Bloodstock / Ronald Rauscher | 65,000gns (AU$116,000) |
| Lot 920 | Keep Bidding | Australian Bloodstock / Ronald Rauscher | 50,000gns (AU$89,300) |
Table: Australian activity on Day 3 of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale
Melbourne Cup aim for Fancy Man
Annabel Neasham’s dream of winning a G1 Melbourne Cup moved one step closer to becoming a reality on Wednesday when her longtime European Bloodstock agent Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock purchased the classy 4-year-old Fancy Man for a session-topping 675,000gns (AU$1,205,000) at the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale on Wednesday evening.
Lot 1132 - Fancy Man (Ire) was purchased by Annabel Neasham for 675,000gns (AU$1,205,000) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
The pair have struck gold at this sale in the past with Boman having purchased Neasham’s three-time Group 1 winner Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) for 150,000gns (AU$267,800) at the 2020 edition of the Newmarket-based auction.
Fancy Man ran 16 times for Richard Hannon and owner Michael Pescod, winning four races and £140,919 (AU$251,600) in prizemoney. As a juvenile the son of Pride Of Dubai - who shuttled to Coolmore's Irish base for three seasons - landed the Listed Ascendant S., before adding a second stakes success to his record in this year’s Listed Winter Derby Trial at Lingfield, while he can also lay claim to a host of Group-placed form.
“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,” said Boman.
“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.
“Annabel (Neasham) is extraordinarily brave and willing to go to that sort of figure. We always knew he'd (Fancy Man) be an expensive horse. But you either get on with it and buy them and make it happen or you don't.” - Stuart Boman
“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.”
All week Boman and Neasham have been teaming up with Bennett Racing to purchase suitable acquisitions for the Australia all week and they added another horse, Harrow (Ire) (El Kabeir {USA}), to their shopping bag on Wednesday, paying Andrew Balding’s Park House Stables 75,000gns (AU$134,000) for the three-time-winning gelding.
Stuart Boman | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
It was the second trip the gelding had had to a public auction, having made €30,000 (AU$46,400) at the Goffs Orby Sale as a yearling in 2019.
Over the week, Neasham, Boman and Bennett Racing purchased three horses for an aggregate of 250,000gns (AU$446,300).
Pride Of Dubai, meanwhile, has been enjoying a particularly good spell of late, headlined by his ever-consistent daughter Bella Nipotina adding a much deserved Group 1 to her CV in the G1 Manikato S. at Moonee Valley last Saturday. The stallion stands for a fee of $16,500 (inc GST).
Six for Mulcaster
Guy Mulcaster has been making a splash all week at the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale and on Wednesday, he upped his spending, taking home six horses for a total spend of 1,200,000gns (AU$2,143,000) and they will all be headed for Chris Waller’s Sydney stable.
The most expensive of the quartet was the 3-year-old son of Overbury Stud resident Jack Hobbs (GB), The Gadget Man (GB), who Mulcaster snared for 310,000gns (AU$553,500).
A two-time winner for Ralph Beckett, The Gadget Man is out of the Listed-placed Whipper (USA) mare Kallisha (GB) and Mulcaster is hopeful the gelding can keep on improving when he gets to the Southern Hemisphere.
“Let's hope he keeps on the upward curve,” said Mulcaster. “I just watched his replays this morning and thought he was so tough. He’s also a very athletic horse, he’s light on his feet, moves well and we think he will fit into our program pretty well.
“He wasn’t 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’re pretty happy to have got him for that sort of money. When you see his replays and he gets stuck in, he’s only going to go forward and he’s going to develop a bit as well. He has a pretty dour sort of pedigree.”
“He (The Gadget Man) wasn’t 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.” - Guy Mulcaster
Earlier in the day, Mulcaster bought one-time winner Speycaster (GB) (Highland Reel {Ire}) for 70,000gns (AU$125,000) on behalf of Albert Bosma’s Go Racing Syndicate and he will also head to Waller’s stable.
Offered by Jamie Railton, the gelding is out of Monsun (Ger) mare Examinee (GB), herself a sister to Group 3 winner Energizer (Ger).
Mulcaster also purchased a one-time-winning colt Demarcay (GB) (Postponed {Ire}) and three-time winner Pervade (GB) (Kingman {GB}) for 180,000gns (AU$321,500) and 140,000gns (AU$250,000) respectively, while he also took home Counter (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) for 80,000gns (AU$142,900) and he also left the sale with one-time winner, For Victory (Ire) (Mehmas {GB}), having paid 240,000gns (AU$428,600) for the colt.
Special Envoy join Waterhouse and Bott
Having purchased Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for 300,000gns (AU$536,700) on Tuesday at the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale, Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and McKeever Bloodstock teamed up again on Wednesday to purchase regally-bred Juddmonte offering, Special Envoy (GB) (Frankel {GB}), for 250,000gns (AU$446,500).
Lot 1087 - Special Envoy (GB) purchased by Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and McKeever Bloodstock for 250,000gns (AU$446,500) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
With Johnny McKeever on a flight to Australia to watch three of his purchases, including Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}), which he bought for Waterhouse, Bott and Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock for £1.2 million (AU$2,048,300) at the Goffs London Sale on the eve of Royal Ascot in June, run in the G1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday, bidding was left to his wife Susie and she kicked things off with an opening bid of 100,000gns (AU$178,600).
“I couldn't see the point of the bidding starting lower," she said. "He will head down tomorrow with yesterday's purchase (the 300,000gns Just Fine). We liked his profile and he’s a lovely horse.”
“I couldn't see the point of the bidding starting lower. He (Special Envoy) will head down tomorrow with yesterday's purchase (the 300,000gns Just Fine). We liked his profile and he’s a lovely horse.” - Susie McKeever
Another of McKeever’s previous purchases, Knight’s Order (Ire) (So You Think {NZ}), will also be taking his chance in the Flemington showpiece on Tuesday and he was bought by the international agents alongside Waterhouse for 250,000gns (AU$446,500) at the 2018 edition of the Newmarket sale and produced a memorable performance to win last season's G1 Sydney Cup.
“He (Johnny) has three runners in the Melbourne Cup – Hoo Ya Mal, Knights Order, who is also a Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training graduate, and Camorra.”
A two-time winner for John Gosden, Special Envoy is out of the Listed-winning mare Marlinka (GB) (Marju {Ire}), making him a half-brother to dual Group 1 winner Marsha (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and two-time Group 3 scorer Judicial (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}).
Later on in the evening, McKeever paired up with Leon and Troy Corstens of Malua Racing and Sam Haggas’ Hurworth Bloodstock for another colt from the Juddmonte Farms' draft, Badge (GB), who is placed son of the late Coolmore Stud stallion Galileo (Ire), for 130,000gns (AU$232,200).
Susie McKeever | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
The 3-year-old colt is out of the Listed-winning Oasis Dream (GB) mare Joyeuse (GB), making him a brother to Group 1-placed Maximal (GB), who is now in training with John O’Shea in Sydney, while he also counts fellow Group 1 placegetter Jubiloso (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) and Listed-placed Jovial (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Joyeuse herself is a daughter of Listed winner Kind (Ire) (Danehill {USA}), who is now famed as being the dam of unbeaten Champion Frankel (GB) and fellow Group 1 winner Noble Mission (GB) (Galileo {Ire}).
Snowden Racing and Johnson active again
Will Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) and Peter and Paul of Snowden Racing made their second purchase of the week on Wednesday when they snared Unspoken (Ire) (Territories {Ire}) for 170,000gns (AU$303,600). The gelding will now head back to Australia with Substantial (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), who they purchased on Tuesday for 160,000gns (AU$285,800).
Will Johnson | Image courtesy of FBAA
Trained by Ralph Beckett, the son of Territories (Ire) has run eight times and won three races, including on his most recent start at Doncaster on October 21.
“He has some good form over seven furlongs (1400 metres),” said Johnson. “Ralph (Beckett, trainer) ran him over 1m1f (1700 metres) last weekend at Doncaster - he was tough and tenacious and won well. We can often have wet autumns here in Australia and he has shown he will go on good ground as well as rain-softened ground, too.
“His form over seven furlongs (1400 metres) gives a few options and Peter and Paul like to see that in a horse. Hopefully, he can come here well handicapped, and go up through the grades.”
“His (Unspoken) form over seven furlongs (1400 metres) gives a few options and Peter and Paul (Snowden) like to see that in a horse. Hopefully, he can come here well handicapped, and go up through the grades.” - Will Johnson
Johnson, who spent a number of years in the Northern Hemisphere, first as the assistant trainer to Roger Varian in Newmarket and then he worked alongside Hubie de Burgh, before moving back to Australia. He said that he still keeps up with all the European form.
“With access to all the race replays now, and such good racing in Europe, it makes for good viewing on a Monday morning,” he continued.
The gelding is out of the winning Silent Secret (Ire) (Dubai Destination {USA}) making him stakes winner Sparkle ‘N’ Joy (Ire) (Sepoy).
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr came to the table on Wednesday, when they teamed up with Import Racing and Dermot Farrington, paying 100,000gns (AU$178,600) for one-time winner Valley Forge (GB) (Dansili {GB}).
Lot 1060 - Valley Forge (GB) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Meanwhile, Australian Bloodstock and Ronald Rauscher added to their portfolio, when they bought two horses on Wednesday, Keep Bidding (Ire), a placed filly by Haunui Farm shuttler Ribchester (Ire) and winning gelding Rogue Bear (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), paying 50,000gns (AU$89,300) for the former and 65,000gns (AU$116,000) for the latter.
Over the three days, Australian Bloodstock and Ronald Rauscher have purchased five lots for a total spend of 540,000gns (AU$964,400).
