Cover image courtesy of Tattersalls
At A Glance
The opening session saw 234 lots sold, recording a total yield of 6,273,500gns (AU$12.68 million). The gross is below the 2022 opening session figure of 8,566,100gns (AU$17.32 million).
The average sat at 26,810gns (AU$54,200) below the 2022 figure of 32,820gns (AU$66,300). The median sat 16,000gns (AU$32,300) which emulated the figure of the opening session in 2022.
The top price of 320,000gns (AU$646,700) was achieved by Lot 183, Carracci, a 3-year-old by Quality Road offered by Coolmore. The top price was below the 2022 session topper Waterville (Camelot) (Lot 275) who was also offered by Coolmore but sold for 410,000gns (AU$828,500) to Chris Waller and Mulcaster Bloodstock.
Coolmore colt tops sale
The 2023 edition of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale is underway. Coolmore bought a strong contingent of thoroughbreds for sale and walked away selling 17 including the session-topper Lot 183, Carracci (USA) (Quality Road {USA}).
Lot 183 - Carracci (USA) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
The 3-year-old colt cost 320,000gns (AU$646,600) to Aidan O’Ryan, who purchased the Group 3-placed galloper on behalf of Saudi interests.
“He has been bought for SBS Global, and he goes to Saudi Arabia. He is my pick of the sale, I love the sire and he speaks for himself. This horse’s (Carracci) form is good, and we were keen to get him. He should be one for the big races in Saudi in the spring.”
Australian buyers land a blow
It is no secret the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale has been a happy hunting ground for Australians.
Only last Saturday, we saw two graduates succeed. The Mike Moroney-trained 2018 graduate Buffalo River (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) took out the G3 Moonga S. at Caulfield for the second time to take his career earnings past the $1 million mark, whilst last year’s graduate Unspoken (Ire) (Territories {Ire}) made it three wins on the bounce with a dominant 3.9l success in the $160,000 Filante H. at Royal Randwick.
Buffalo River (USA), winner of the G3 Moonga S. at Caulfield, was purchased by Paul Moroney Bloodstock for 180,000gns (AU$363,300) at the 2018 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The latter was sourced for 170,000gns (AU$343,500) by William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) in conjunction with Snowden Racing.
Will Bourne, head of bloodstock for Ciaron Maher, was in on the action early when going to 140,000gns (AU$282,900) for Lot 134 - Kings Valley (Ire) (Territories {Ire}) from the draft of Jamie Railton.
The 2-year-old colt is from the Dansili (GB) mare Crystal Etoile (GB). She is the dam of Crystal Pegasus (GB) (Australia {GB}), who has performed successfully in Australia, winning the Listed Mornington Cup and the Listed Roy Higgins Quality H.
Lot 134 - Kings Valley (Ire) was purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for 140,000gns (AU$282,900) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
In addition, Crystal Pegasus was placed at Group 3 level in Australia.
Furthermore, Kings Valley is from the family of the star galloper Crystal Ocean (GB), a victor of the G1 Prince Of Wales’s S.
Kings Valley ran four times and placed twice in Britain for trainer Ollie Sangster.
“The plan is to send him to Harry Eustace for now and then ship him straight off to Australia,” Bourne said.
“The plan is to send him (Lot 134) to Harry Eustace for now and then ship him straight off to Australia.” - Will Bourne
“He has run some good races and been unlucky; he is still a maiden but a lightly raced 2-year-old.
“Kings Valley is very athletic, sound, clean-limbed, has good feet, and he ticks a lot of boxes for Ciaron (Maher). We spoke to Ciaron and videoed the horse for him, and he was very keen on this horse.”
Will Bourne | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Neasham and Blandford team up
Warwick Farm-based trainer Annabel Neasham spent her Tuesday morning at Moonee Valley choosing barriers for her star gallopers running in the Cox Plate on Saturday: Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), a well-known graduate of this sale, and My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).
However, it didn’t stop Neasham from making her presence felt at Tattersalls, teaming up with Blandford Bloodstock; the pair signed for Lot 41, and later, the duo joined forces with Bennett Racing to secure Lot 315.
Lot 41, a 2-year-old colt by Churchill (Ire) named Akkadian Emperor (Ire) was offered by Baroda Stud and purchased for 70,000gns (AU$141,400).
Lot 41 - Akkadian Emperor (Ire) was purchased by Blandford Bloodstock and Annabel Neasham Racing for 70,000gns (AU$141,400) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Akkadian Emperor has raced thrice from the Excelebration (Ire) mare Summerseat Flyer (Ire).
The dam is a half-sister to Laguna Salada (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), a victress at the Listed level in Italy. Summerseat Flyer is also a half-sister to the Listed Jebel Ali S. winner Montserrat (Ire) (Poet’s Voice {GB}).
Lot 315, offered by Park House Stables, was picked up for 60,000gns (AU$121,200).
Lot 315 - New Business (GB) was purchased by Blandford Bloodstock, Bennett Racing and Annabel Neasham Racing for 60,000gns (AU$121,200) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
The 3-year-old colt named New Business (GB) is a son of Sea The Stars (Ire) and from the Group 3-placed Invincible Spirit (Ire) Instance (GB).
New Business has run four times and won once. He is a half-sister to the Listed-placed Sound Angela (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) and hails from the family of the Group 1 gallopers Seal Of Approval (GB) (Authorized {Ire}), Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
Other Australian purchases
McKeever Bloodstock, alongside Hurworth and Dom Sutton, signed 125,000gns (AU$252,500) for Lot 202 Halla Dubai (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}) offered by Owen Burrows Racing.
Halla Dubai is from the Kingmambo (USA) mare Soft Ice (Ire). She is a full sister to the Champion 2-Year-Old in France, Okawango (USA).
The 3-year-old colt is a winner over the extended mile and is a half-brother to the Listed placegetter Iceberg (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}).
Lot 202 - Halla Dubai (Ire) was purchased by McKeever Bloodstock, Hurworth and Dom Sutton for 125,000gns (AU$252,500) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Furthermore, Halla Dubai is from the family of the G1 The Derby at Epsom Downs victor Authorized (Ire) and G1 Prix de I’Arc de Triomphe victress Solemia (Ire) (Poliglote {GB}).
The privately-owned Domeland based in New South Wales and fronted by trainer Sara Ryan took home Lot 270 for 100,000gns (AU$201,800) from Coolmore. The colt, a 3-year-old named Salt Lake City (Ire) is a son of the great Galileo (Ire) and from the Kyllachy (GB) mare Heartache (GB).
Heartache was a high-class galloper saluting in the G2 Queen Mary S. and the G2 Flying Childers S.
Lot 270 - Salt Lake City (Ire) was purchased by Domeland for 100,000gns (AU$201,800) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Also buying from the Coolmore draft was the Australian-based Darby Racing who teamed up with De Burgh Equine to secure Lot 91 Farnborough (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for 75,000gns (AU$151,400).
The 3-year-old colt has raced seven times and won once. He is from the Hennessy (USA) mare Sing Softly (USA), a victress at the Listed level.
Farnborough hails from a high-class family that includes the multiple Group 1 winner in North America to Honor And Serve (USA), while the G1 Yasuda Kinen victor Mozu Ascot (USA) (Frankel {GB}) also makes a show.
Hubie De Burgh | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
The Australian purchases concluded with Australian Bloodstock and Ronald Rauscher purchasing Lot 338 Chillaxing (Ire) offered by Baroda Stud for 22,000gns (AU$44,500).
Chillaxing, a 3-year-old colt by the super stallion Galileo, has been unplaced from one run. However, he is well-related, being a half-brother to the G1 National S. victor Toormore (Ire) (Arakan {USA}) and the multiple Group 2 winner Estidhkaar (Ire).
