INTRODUCED four years ago as a result of a delay to the flat season due to the pandemic, this year’s Tattersalls September Sale was numerically the smallest to date. Taking all factors into consideration, it produced a solid set of results, albeit that all, with the exception of the median, were down.

Debora’s Dream topped the one-day sale at 80,000gns, and the three-time winning three-year-old son of Sioux Nation was one of 128 lots sold during the session, in which turnover of 1,887,200gns was boosted by the sale of 10 lots selling for 40,000gns or more, and a clearance rate of 77%, marginally down from last year’s 80%.

In 2023 this sale produced eight six-figure lots. There were none this year.

The top lot was consigned by Baroda Stud on behalf of trainer Roger Varian and owner Opulence Thoroughbreds, and knocked down to Alan O’Keeffe, assistant to dual-purpose trainer Jennie Candlish, on behalf of owner Clare Dolan. The colt has a Timeform rating of 96 but races off an official mark of 88.

“He looks like he will be a nice horse for next year; his profile looks progressive, he has been bought for a new owner and we are hoping he will be lucky,” said O’Keeffe. “He has won on the turf and the all-weather and we think he can go on. He has come from a good yard; Roger’s horses tend to keep progressing. It was a tad more than we had thought we’d need to spend, but when they have this sort of rating you have to go somewhere in that region.”

Debora’s Dream doubled his sale price to Richard Ryan and Opulence Thoroughbreds at the Guineas Breeze Up Sale last year.

Jonjo connection

The Muhaarar gelding God Of Fire was second-best on the day when he was knocked down to Chris Dixon for 70,000gns on behalf of Jonjo O’Neill Racing. The Daniel and Claire Kubler-trained four-year-old, a 42,000gns purchase last October, was another consigned by David Cox’s Baroda Stud, and was offered with a Timeform rating of 97.

“Jonjo rang and asked me to give him a shout when we were doing the catalogue if we saw anything that could do a job hurdling, so we put this horse forward,” said Dixon. “He has obviously progressed nicely since Dan and Claire have had him on the flat [winning three of five starts and second twice], he has got a winning hurdler in his pedigree, the only one who has tried it.

“Muhaarar has had a few good jumpers over the last year or so and he might be one of those who make a bit of an impact as a jumps stallion with the right type of horse; I do think he is a good and underrated stallion.”

Castlebridge pair

Two lots, not far apart, realised 60,000gns, Tourist selling just minutes before Rocking Tree, and both were from The Castlebridge Consignment. “He is a very consistent horse, his trainer [Hilal Kobeissi] has done very well with him and he is verging on a Saturday horse,” said trainer Robert Cowell after buying Tourist. “We will be put the horse away now and we will aim for some big races next year.” A son of Zoustar, Tourist has raced 14 times, winning twice and finishing second or third eight times.

Minutes later, Peter Harper bought Rocking Tree for Sheikh Abdullah Salman Alsabah, and the horse will be going to Saudi Arabia. “He is a very strong horse, ideal for Saudi, he vetted clean and well, and he fitted the bill for the order,” said Harper after signing for the Kodiac three-year-old, a winner last time out over a mile at Kempton. The gelding is a three-time winner for Teme Valley Racing and George Boughey