Cover image courtesy of Tattersalls
At A Glance
The 7,559,000 guineas (AU16.16 million) was down 18% from 9,168,700 guineas (AU$19.6 million) last year, which was a record-breaking trade for the opening session of the Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale.
The median was down 16% at 16,000 guineas (AU$34,216) while the average was down 18% to 32,166 guineas (AU$68,793). As for the clearance rate, it settled at 84%, which was up from 80% last year.
Smart 2-year-old August George topped the opening day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale at Park Paddocks when selling for 375,000 guineas (AU$801,884) to Qatari trainer Gassim Ghazali.
Mukhtalif was knocked down for 325,000 guineas (AU$694,886) to Will Bourne, head of bloodstock for Ciaron Maher, standing alongside bloodstock agent Billy Jackson-Stops. The combination also picked up Zain Blue for 150,000 guineas (AU$320,716).
Coolmore was one of the busiest consignors on Monday and sold 22 horses for a sum of 1,153,000 guineas (AU$2.47 million).
Chris Waller made two purchases on Day 1, including the 200,000 guineas (AU$427,579) purchase of Hard Evidence.
The bulk of the horses heading overseas
The bulk of the 271 horses offered on day one of the Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale at Tattersalls were sold to continue their careers abroad, including the 375,000 guineas (AU$801,884) purchase August George (Night Of Thunder), who was snapped up by Qatari-based trainer Gassim Ghazali.
Runner-up to subsequent Group 3 scorer Dorset (Wootton Bassett) in the Goffs Million, the Ivan Furtado-trained juvenile boasted one of the most attractive profiles on Monday and the market responded suitably with Ghazali – a regular visitor to Park Paddocks – outlasting a number of leading buyers on the 97-rated gelding.
Gassim Ghazali | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
“For me, he is the best horse in the auction today – and (is) only two years old,” Ghazali said. “Expensive, but I need him. I hoped to pay between 250,000gns and 300,000gns but I did not give him a chance to go.”
“For me, he (August George) is the best horse in the auction today – and (is) only two years old.” - Gassim Ghazali
He added, “One hundred percent, he will go for the Qatar Derby for 2-year-olds and, after that, we can aim for the Amir Sword Festival. I have had many Night Of Thunders before and have had good results with him back in Qatar. He is a son of Dubawi, who does so well in Qatar.”
August George was sourced by Finbar Kent at the Goffs Orby Sale on behalf of Stephen and Wendy Burdett, who also own Furtado's yard.
Monday's sale represented a massive upswing on that initial €90,000 (AU$159,986) outlay and Kent, who consigned the gelding on behalf of connections, commented, “It is a brilliant result and great for owners Stephen and Wendy Burdett. They put a lot into the game and buy 10 to 15 yearlings every year and it is nice to get one who gets a result on the track and then get a return today. It helps keep all the wheels turning.”
Lot 319C - August George (Ire) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
While the clearance rate was up by 5% to 84% on the day, turnover fell by 18% to 7,559,000 guineas (AU16.16 million), the median by 16% to 16,000 guineas (AU$34,216) and the average by 18% to 32,166 guineas (AU$68,793). It may have been a muted start but some better horses are expected to liven things up on Tuesday.
Ciaron Maher lands progressive Sea The Stars gelding
It was no surprise to see a number of leading Australian-based buyers flexing their muscles on some of the top middle-distance prospects and Ciaron Maher added a potentially smart Sea The Stars gelding to his team in the shape of Shadwell's 89-rated Mukhtalif.
Will Bourne, who was assisted by Billy Jackson-Stops, landed the William Haggas-trained dual winner for 325,000 guineas (AU$694,886).
Lot 188 - Mukhtalif (Ire) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
He said, “Mukhtalif is progressive and, having inspected the horse, you can see he's a beautiful animal. We really like the fact that the stallion works in Australia. David Hayes had the Australian Cup winner Fifty Stars and Johnny McKeever bought the Metropolitan winner Just Fine out of this sale, and they're both by Sea The Stars. This horse is a progressive stayer so he profiles perfectly for us and we're happy to be taking him down there.”
Bourne added, “When you look at Ciaron's results in the last two months, Royal Supremacy won a Metropolitan and our runners in the Melbourne Cup this week are from Europe, so we've just got to keep sourcing these horses out of here. We have a number that we try to hit, but buying this year has been very hard.
“We're probably 10 horses down on where we'd like to be – that's privately and through the sale ring. It's been extremely difficult to buy the horses that you want at the right price, which hasn't been helped by the Australian dollar.
“All these marginal factors, and more competition on tried horses, means it's been really hard. That can affect our bloodstock portfolio so we're keen to get a few here.”
Will Bourne | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Maher also struck for the 83-rated Zain Blue (Blue Point) at 150,000 guineas (AU$320,716) who was a winner at York back in September, taking his opening day spend at Tattersalls to 475,000 guineas (AU$1.02 million). From Johnny Butler's Charnwood Stables, he was bought on one bid by Will Bourne at that 150,000 guineas mark.
Bourne commented, “Johnny Butler has been touting him and saying that he is a very nice horse. We like this horse's profile, his form is very good, he will probably go to Sydney where there is a bit of cut in the ground, which Johnny says is a preferred surface. We think he could work, and might be a bit of value.:
He added: “He has not been heavily raced and he looks as though he will suit the 1m2f Sydney races.”
Waller can't ignore Hard Evidence at 200k
Another leading Australian trainer, Chris Waller, took home one of the smartest prospects offered under the hammer on Monday through 200,000 guineas (AU$427,579) purchase Hard Evidence (Fr) (Zarak), consigned by Imperium Sales.
A smooth winner at Bath for trainer Ed Walker and owners Valmont, the Zarak colt was knocked down to Guy Mulcaster on behalf of Waller.
Lot 166 - Hard Evidence (Fr) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
“He was impressive when he won and the second horse had been second before and the third horse had been third before, too, so the form is pretty strong,” Mulcaster said.
“He paraded really well – he looked beautiful in the back ring and we think he has got a lot more to come. He looks like he wants to be three and he wants to be four, so we will take him along quietly and see where we end up. He is a beautiful horse. They are better horses (the progeny of Zarak) with a bit of time.”
Guy Mulcaster | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Another purchase that was made by the stable was Mehsun (Mehmas) for a 70,000 guineas (AU$149,811). The 2-year-old has only two starts for two placings. Although he was actually the winner at Hamilton at his last start, but got demoted back to second due to interference.
Henry Dwyer gets involved after success last year
Synners Kid (Ten Sovereigns), a winner of a mile nursery at Bellewstown at the beginning of October off a mark of 74, was purchased by Sam Haggas, signing as Hurworth Bloodstock and Henry Dwyer Racing, for 110,000 guineas (AU$235,188).
Last year they purchased Atlantic Coast (Ire.) - Cote Atlantique (Ire) as he is known in Australia, has picked up the Listed Seymour Cup and placed in the Listed Sale Cup at his last start.
Lot 82 - Synners Kid (Ire) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
The colt by Ten Sovereigns, sold by Baroda Stud, is heading to Australia, and Haggas said: “He is bought for Henry Dwyer, we bought a couple last year and they have gone on ok, Cote Atlantique won a Listed last time out, and Henry was keen to go again, but he could not come up this time.
“I don't know yet whether this horse will ship immediately or will stay into the summer, there is a chance as there is some nice meetings a horse like this could run in – we could see if he could qualify for the Britannia or the Golden Gates, whatever route he will be in Australia in the long term.”
Sam Haggas | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Of the horse's profile, he added: “I was very impressed with him last time, he showed a great turn of foot, it might have been a smallish nursery at a smallish track but he bolted up, the style in which he did it suggests there could be plenty more to come and lots of improvement with some better ground. He is a progressive horse with a turn of foot.
Darby collect a couple of Coolmore prospects
Darby Racing is hoping their success with tried horses in Australia, can continue to develop into purchases from the Northern Hemisphere as they were active on Day 1. In conjunction with De Burgh Equine, they picked up Appeared (Justify), who was consigned by Coolmore and purchased for 120,000 guineas (AU$256,545).
The 3-year-old son of Justify (Scat Daddy), out of Living The Life (Footstepsinthesand), a three-time Graded stakes winner in America, won a 2400 metre maiden at The Curragh on October 16.
Lot 93 - Appeared (USA) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
He is a full brother to Living Magic (Justify) who was a dual Listed winner as a juvenile in America, the talented Kool Kompany also features further down in the pedigree.
Only two lots earlier the same duo picked up a son of Wootton Bassett in Grafton Street, who was a maiden winner at Listowel for 48,000 guineas (AU$102,627).
The 3-year-old was also offered by Coolmore and is out of Ennistymon (Galileo), who was a winner at a mile and a quarter and placed in the G1 The Oaks. Other family members include the dual Group 1 winner Opera Singer (Justify) and the Champion 2-year-old filly Brave Anna (War Front)
Other Aussies active
Archibald Racing got their hands on Eleven A (Calyx), purchasing the 2-year-old colt by Calyx that has had two starts for a win and a fourth for 80,000 guineas (AU$170,659) in conjunction with Blandford Bloodstock.
Mitch Beer Racing, alongside Blandford Bloodstock, picked up Iceford, a Beckford gelding for 35,000 guineas (AU$74,661). He has been a winner at the Curragh and is related to the dual Group 1 winner Fascinating Rock (Fastnet Rock).
Mick Price Racing and Breeding, alongside Matt Houldsworth, purchased Hit Squad (Kameko) for 70,000 guineas (AU$149,284). The promising colt has only had one start for a placing at Kempton.
Gallery: Lots bought by Aussies at the Tattersalls HIT Sale, Images courtesy of Tattersalls
Coolmore sells 22 horses for over a million
Coolmore was one of the busiest consignors on Monday and sold 22 horses for the not-so-insignificant sum of 1,153,000 guineas (AU$2.47 million).
Mount Kilimanjaro (Fr) (Siyouni), who Coolmore originally sourced for €420,000 (AU$746,532) at the October Yearling Sale at Arqana in 2023, was the most expensive of the 22 horses sold by the powerful owners when knocked down to Edgar Byrne on behalf of Scandinavian-based trainer Niels Pietersen.
Lot 300 - Mount Kilimanjaro (Fr) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Mount Kilimanjaro, winner of the Dee Stakes at Chester earlier in the year and second in last year's G1 Criterium International at Saint-Could, reached a rating of 110 for Aidan O'Brien.
Pietersen commented, “He will go from here to Dubai for the winter and will run there for (owner) Wibecke Nagell-Erichsen. He will then go to Scandinavia for the best races and I hope he will be a head above the rest.”
The trainer added, “He is a nicely-balanced horse - he is a galloping horse and they tend to race a little differently in Scandinavia than they do here. He has plenty of ability and that will take him a long way in Scandinavia. He is a striking-looking horse and the minute Wilbecke saw him she loved him.”
Channon fights to keep star in his stable
The majority of the highly-rated horses offered on Monday were sold to continue their careers abroad, however, trainer Jack Channon rallied the troops to keep dual winner Sarab Star (Zoustar) on the roster at 200,000 guineas (AU$373,236).
A cosy winner of a 7f novice at Kempton in the colours of Jaber Abdullah when last seen, Sarab Star was purchased on behalf of a newly-formed partnership to stay in Channon's yard.
Lot 214 - Sarab Star (GB) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Channon explained, “Jaber has bought a lot of new horses this year and he wanted to monetise some of his more valuable stock and this horse was one of them. I think he is too good to let go – there are very few very talented horses who come through my hands and I was not leaving without him. He will be syndicated for some existing owners in the yard. He is a very talented horse.”
Buys of the day
There were a fair few guesses flying around at Tattersalls as to the identity of the person who signed under the guise of Paddle Champ for the Jessica Harrington-trained Nancy J at 22,000 guineas (AU$47,042).
The Ten Sovereigns filly showed good form for Harrington and reached a rating of 95. Best case scenario, her new connections could have a filly that could rock up to something like the Kensington Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, a meeting in which she wasn't disgraced at when running eighth – beaten just over six lengths in the Sandringham – earlier this year.
At worst, she has a good enough pedigree to go straight to the covering shed. At 22,000gns (AU$47,042), the Paddle Champ team can't go too far wrong.
Lot 315 - Nancy J (Ire) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
At the more expensive end of things, Ian Williams and Jamie Piggott appeared to get a bit of value with Aqua Bear at 85,000 guineas (AU$181,756). A scopey 2-year-old colt by Kodi Bear who has twice been placed in maidens and achieved a good rating of 81 for Ado McGuinness in Ireland, he should be an absolute certainty to win a maiden in England and progress from there. Aqua Bear was probably entitled to make 100,000 guineas (AU$213,830) or more on form and looks. He was well bought.
Thought for the day
A leading bloodstock agent summed up Monday's state of affairs by simply saying, 'this is what they're really worth,' and he wasn't far wrong. Yes, the yearling sales have been incredibly strong in Europe this year but Monday served as yet another reminder that it can be easier to sell the dream of an unraced horse rather than the rating.
