Cover image courtesy of Tattersalls
The 600,000gns ($1.26 million) sale topper Fantasy World (Make Believe) headlined what was a pretty solid day of trade on the third session of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale on Wednesday.
The turnover climbed by 13% to 11,211,500gns (AU$23.6 million), while the median was up by 9% to 24,000gns (AU$50,500) and the average by 18% to 44,314gns (AU$93,390). The clearance rate nestled at a respectable 89% (down by 3% on last year).
Waller thinking long-term with Tattersalls purchases
While there was certainly less action on the third day of selling, Australian trainers were still active amongst the bidders, with Chris Waller Racing securing two lots; the trainer signed for Northern Hemisphere 3-year-old colt Pinhole (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Lot 1045, for 200,000 gns (AU$421,000) and also picked up a filly in Lot 1110C, Nasebah (GB) (Kingman {GB}), for 100,000gns (AU$210,000).
Purchased from the much-anticipated Juddmonte draft, Pinhole is a full brother to G1 Fillies’ Mile winner Quadrilateral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), and shares his second dam Skiable (Ire) (Niniski {USA}) with the dam of Scissor Kick. He was fifth at his last outing in the G2 Geoffrey Freer Stakes. Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth indicated the son of Frankel (GB) could be a potential G1 Melbourne Cup horse in the future.
Lot 1045 - Pinhole (GB) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
“He’s a genuine stayer,” Duckworth said in a post-sales video shared on X. “He ran at Royal Ascot and then was a winner at his next start after that. He stays well. He will be getting gelded and is definitely a Sydney Cup horse. If he can pass that mark, he could definitely be down (in Melbourne) next year.”
“He (Pinhole) will be getting gelded and is definitely a Sydney Cup horse. If he can pass that mark, he could definitely be down (in Melbourne) next year.” - Charlie Duckworth
Consigned by Barton Sales, Nasebah is out of a winning daughter of multiple stakes winner Fugitive Angel (USA) (Alphabet Soup {USA}) and knocked off her maiden at her most recent start at the beginning of October.
“She’s only lightly raced,” Duckworth said. “She’s a light-framed filly, she’s a Kingman and is from a good American family. She should really furnish and strengthen under Australian conditions.”
“She will enjoy a bit of this Australian warmth,” said Waller. The team shared that they had specifically targeted younger horses this year with the intention of a smoother transition to Australian racing.
Lot 1042 - Brave Mission (GB) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Henry Dwyer was also on the scene, teaming up with Hurworth Bloodstock to secure Lot 1042, Brave Mission (GB) (Frankel {GB}), for 70,000 gns (AU$147,000). The gelding has been a winner over seven furlongs on the synthetic. His dam Bravo Sierra (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) is a Listed-placed half-sister to G1 Kenny Wiley Stakes winner Juliet Foxtrot (GB) (Dansili {GB}), and descends from a full sister to the dam of multiple Group 1-winning sire Dancing Brave (USA).
'He'll make some hurdler': Triumph candidate off to Nicky Henderson at 600k
Powerhouse jumps trainers Willie Mullins, Dan Skelton, and Nicky Henderson clashed on potential Triumph Hurdle candidate Fantasy World on day three of the Autumn Horses-In-Training at Tattersalls, with the 103-rated gelding destined for Seven Barrows after agent Jerry McGrath struck the 600,000 gns (AU$1.26 million) winning bid.
McGrath had to see off a determined challenge from Harold Kirk on behalf of Mullins – who has drawn a blank this week – while Ryan Mahon, bidding on behalf of Skelton, filled the role as underbidder.
Fantasy World was sourced by Luke Lillingston for €70,000 (AU$124,000) at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale on behalf of the Kennet Valley Syndicate and, trained by Andrew Balding, he has gone from strength to strength this season. A neck victory over Nightwalker in the Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot earlier this month helped to bolster the price tag.
Lot 1072 - Fantasy World (Ire) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
“He has been bought to go jumping, but also with a dual-purpose career in mind,” McGrath confirmed. “He has been a horse on the radar for some time and he is progressing. He goes to Seven Barrows and is for an existing owner. Hopefully he is lucky.”
“He (Fantasy World) has been bought to go jumping, but also with a dual-purpose career in mind.” - Jerry McGrath
He added, “This lad is very progressive – he has won over 1m2f, 1m4f and 1m6f, goes on the slower ground and is a real hurdling type. He looked beaten at Ascot last time and battled back well. He is an exciting horse going forward. He is gelded, but he will have a break now as he has been busy this summer.”
Kennet Valley's racing manager Sam Hoskins was visibly delighted after the sale.
Hoskins said, “he was always going to be the kind of horse who was going to appeal to the National Hunt or Australian market and we were not going to do either of those things. We are a Flat syndicate and historically we offer our horses at the end of their 3-year-old season. He fitted that bill and he will make some hurdler. The timing is perfect having won the Listed race. I would love to see him coming down that hill at Cheltenham – he looks like a real jumper – and that is what he should be doing.”
“I would love to see him (Fantasy World) coming down that hill at Cheltenham – he looks like a real jumper – and that is what he should be doing.” - Sam Hoskins
Skelton finds quick consolation with 580k Push The Limit
Skelton didn't spend long licking his wounds on Fantasy World as, just a few lots later, the leading British-based jumps trainer added Push The Limit (Le Havre) to his team of juvenile hurdle prospects at 580,000gns (AU$1.22 million) through Mahon.
Push The Limit was the most expensive horse sold through Alex Elliott's Imperium draft. He had been sourced by Elliott for just €48,000 (AU$85,000) at the Goffs Orby Sale on behalf of Valmont. He came into Wednesday's sale with a rating of 103 and two wins under his belt over 1m3f (2200 metres) and 1m4f (2400 metres) respectively.
Lot 1078 - Push The Limit (Fr) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Mahon commented, “They were the two horses that we very much wanted tonight. We missed the other horse so we were not going to miss this one. We loved him as a model and he is for a new owner with Dan. Hopefully he will make up into a really nice hurdler.”
“The ones you really want are very difficult to get and you have to go all out to get them.” - Ryan Mahon
He added, “The ones you really want are very difficult to get and you have to go all out to get them. Myself and Dan have spoken about him a lot over the last couple of days. Potentially, he could have a dual-purpose career, but that is for Dan to work out!”
No fear for Najd Stud with 500k purchase
Clive Cox's Fearnot (Invincible Spirit), who boasts a rating of 103, was one of the first horses to raise the temperature on what was a chilly afternoon at Park Paddocks when selling to Nico Archdale on behalf of Najd Stud for 500,000gns (AU$1.05 million).
“He goes to Saudi Arabia and will be one for the King's Cup,” Archdale commented on the 3-year-old colt. “He is a lovely horse, came highly recommended by Clive Cox, and has been highly progressive this season. He was our top pick of the sale.”
“He (Fearnot) is a lovely horse, came highly recommended by Clive Cox, and has been highly progressive this season.” - Nico Archdale
That sale represented a massive upswing in price for Fearnot, who was sourced by Cox himself for 90,000gns ($190,000) at Book 1.
Lot 1002 - Fearnot (Ire) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
The trainer said, “I am thrilled that he commanded a lot of respect and appreciation – he is a lovely horse and has done everything right. He is a real athlete and I am thrilled he has had such an increase in price.
“He (Fearnot) is a real athlete and I am thrilled he has had such an increase in price.” - Clive Cox
“This is the way the journey goes. I am pleased we have invested quite heavily in yearlings and this allows us to keep taking that approach. Like any marketplace, quality is key and that it is very clear to see.”
He added, “It is hard to say goodbye to these horses, but I am also very proud to have these horses through our hands. It keeps the enthusiasm and momentum to try and do it again. (Owner) Jason Goddard has been a very loyal supporter so I am really pleased for him.”
Cunningham and Spencer bolster Dubai squad
Owner Phil Cunningham and trainer Richard Spencer invested heavily at the yearling sales this year and continued their recruitment drive on Wednesday, this time with a focus on adding proven horses for a stint in Dubai, where the latter will operate a satellite yard this winter.
Through bloodstock agent Sam Haggas, Cunningham and Spencer added the 101-rated Nightwalker (Frankel) from the Juddmonte draft to the team at 320,000gns (AU$674,000).
Lot 1049 - Nightwalker (GB) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Haggas said, “Richard has a team going out to Dubai this winter and that is the main aim for this horse. We bought Sisyphean (Dubawi) for that job yesterday. There is a good program over 1m6f out there but I will leave that up to Richard.”
“This (Nightwalker) is a lovely staying horse and I think he should have plenty more in him going forward.” - Sam Haggas
He added, “This is a lovely staying horse and I think he should have plenty more in him going forward. He looks a really promising horse – he is a big galloping type and he has been highly tried. He was thought good enough to run in the Derby – he was quite well-fancied at Epsom.
“He remains a bit unexposed over staying trips – the only time he has run over as far as 1m6f was last time in the Noel Murless and he ran a super race. He has a lot to offer over those distances.”
BBA Ireland bags classy prospect Gran Descans
Less than 24 hours after landing Geography for 570,000gns (AU$1.2 million) on behalf of a Middle Eastern client, BBA Ireland's Mick Donohoe went to 425,000gns (AU$896,000) to secure Gran Descans (Frankel) on behalf of the same owner.
One of the highest-rated horses offered on Wednesday, the Juddmonte-owned and Harry Charlton-trained Gran Descans was a cosy winner at Newcastle when last seen and was bought to continue his career in the Middle East.
Lot 1046 - Gran Decans (GB) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Donohoe said, “he came highly recommended by Juddmonte. It is a fantastic breeding operation and nursery to buy from. He is a very progressive horse. We certainly think there is more to come – he stays well and has been bought for the same client in the Middle East. Interestingly, pedigree-wise, he is out of a Dansili mare and Dansili is going well in the Middle East. There is more Dansili about this horse than Frankel.”
“He (Gran Descans) came highly recommended by Juddmonte. It is a fantastic breeding operation and nursery to buy from.” - Mick Donohoe
The agent added, “He vetted very well and is another straightforward horse. He will go from here to George Peckham. All the horses we buy for the Middle East go to him. He does a great job, keeps them in full training and they ship from him. Hopefully the horses will be ready to run soon off the plane.”
Thought for the day
Some of the top lots sold on Wednesday represented a significant upswing on what they cost as yearlings which illustrates, when things go right in this game, the financial gain can be massive. It was great to see.
