WITH one day left of selling on Friday, the third time since 2010 that the sale has gone to five days, the turnover at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale was certain to be the second highest ever, and could come very close to being the best, that figure having been set in 2022.

Only The Castlebridge Consignment, by a long way the draft with the most horses catalogued, offered and sold, kept Coolmore from topping the vendors’ table. Coolmore sold 30 lots, including a number of exceptional wildcards, for an average of 119,050gns, and their draft included a late addition who set a new record for the sale. It took a coming together of a number of parties to secure the colt for Australia.

The Group 3 winner and Group 1 placed three-year-old Delius stood out as an exceptionally exciting prospect, and duly set a new high when selling for 1,300,000gns to a consortium of de Burgh Equine, McKeever Bloodstock, Go Bloodstock, Gai Waterhouse and Bott Racing, the best price ever achieved at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale.

An opening bid of 500,000gns signalled the possibility that a new mark would be set, with bloodstock agents Alastair Donald and Guy Mulcaster among those involved in the early exchanges, but the final duel narrowed down to an online bidder and Hubie de Burgh, the latter offering the successful bid. The agent said: “It is for Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock, who has had some good horses, including Lady Of Camelot trained by Gai. He wants a Cup horse, and Gai did as well, so this joint venture came together.”

Perfect profile

The colt was bred by David and Trish Brown of Furnace Mill Stud and purchased by M.V. Magnier for 675,000gns as a foal. “What can I say about him?”, de Burgh added. “He is a son of Frankel, he is Timeform-rated 118, has raced six times, has won over 10 and 12 furlongs, and he has a perfect profile for Australia. His only slight disappointing run was in the Arc [finished eighth of 16] when he hated the ground.

“It is a lot of money, but that is what this sort of horse costs. We have been trying to buy this horse for a long time, and I had Stevie O’Connor, Sir Owen’s racing manager, on the phone and he was quick to come back with the bids. It was going to be hard to buy the horse on our own as it is a lot of money, so by joining up with Gai and us all getting involved it has given us this opportunity.”

Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, Delius won the Group 3 Prix du Lys in June and placed third in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris and second in the Group 2 Prix Niel subsequently. He is a full-brother to the Royal Ascot listed winner and Group 2-placed Juan Elcano.

Coolmore’s attractive lots

IN addition to selling the week’s top lot, the record-breaking Delius, Coolmore sold three more of the 19 lots to trade for 250,000gns or more.

The three-year-old No Nay Never colt Mountain Bear was a stakes winner at two in Dundalk, but he reserved a couple of his best runs in defeat for forays to the United States. Last year he was runner-up in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and on his most recent start, at Keeneland, he placed third in the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile. Ollie Sangster secured the colt on behalf of Wesley Ward for 330,000gns.

“The horse ran well last time at Keeneland. Wesley is looking for a nice miler who can perform at the top level, and there should be a good chance the horse can pull back that price in prize-money,” said Sangster. Mountain Bear’s dam Holy Alliance is a Holy Roman Emperor half-sister to the Group 3 Jersey Stakes winner and Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas runner-up Ishvana, and is from the Ballymacoll family of the Group 1 winners and champions Greek Dance, Islington, Fiorente and Hellenic.

Monumental was an expected star, and the two-year-old wildcard entry from Coolmore sold for 325,000gns to Omar Esmil Ghrghar. The son of Kingman was second in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes before finishing third in the Group 3 Somerville Tattersall Stakes at Newmarket.

Ramzi Alghul, in charge of purchasing for Ghrghar, said: “He will be trained either in France or Dubai; plans are open at the moment. He is a very nice horse and has been Group 2 placed and trained by Aidan O’Brien. He is a perfect fit for us, and if he goes to Dubai he will be trained by Bhupat Seemar.” The Libyan-based Ghrghar purchased four horses at this year’s July Sale, at which he was the leading buyer.

Slipping though almost unnoticed, thanks to the excitement of Delius’s impending appearance in the ring, the Gowran Park listed winner The Euphrates sold to McKeever Bloodstock on behalf of the Waterhouse/Bott partnership for 250,000gns. The three-year-old son of Frankel was fourth in the Group 1 Irish St Leger in mid-September, and later that same month returned to the Curragh to win a handicap. He is from the Ballymacoll Stud family of Golan and the Derby runner-up Tartan Bearer.

Caviar Heights stays in England

MOST years, a colt selling for 520,000gns would be the headline act, but the sale of Caviar Heights for that sum came just minutes after Delius had been through the ring.

Given the strong international presence among buyers at the sale, with foreign money playing a huge part all week, it was something of a rarity to find that the 10 furlong, listed-winning son of Sea The Stars, was secured by Hurworth Bloodstock, and Sam Haggas revealed that the three-year-old is set to join the William Haggas team at Somerville Lodge. The colt was sold by Karl Burke’s Spigot Lodge Stables on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum.

“He is staying in Newmarket and going to my parents,” said Sam Haggas. “He is for some existing owners in the yard, who have been great supporters of my parents and I. It is a great result. I hope the horse can develop into an international campaigner. My parents have had a lot of success taking horses to Sydney for the Autumn Carnival and I hope he can develop into that sort of horse; that would be the dream.

“Caviar Heights put in a massive performance when he won the Newmarket Stakes. It was so impressive, especially on the clock. I am hoping that Caviar Heights can get back to that level of form, and if he can, they can have a lot of fun with him.”

Imperium Sales

Not long before the sale of Caviar Heights, consecutive geldings offered by Imperium Sales sold for significant sums. Both were bought to race in Australia. Imperium Sales topped last year’s sale on their consigning debut, and were to the fore again this year with 13 lots averaging 130,692gns.

“He came highly recommended from the Beckett stable, we thought he had good form and we like the horse,” said Guy Mulcaster of Hutchence, a three-year-old son of Sea The Stars, whom he bought for 460,000gns on behalf of Chris Waller Racing. “I think there is a little bit of juice still left in the lemon! We will take him home, poke along and see how we go. I thought he would make that sort of money; it has been hard to buy this week.”

Trained by Ralph Beckett for Valmont, Hutchence won three races from nine starts, culminating in a four-length success on his most recent start at Ascot, and was offered with a Timeform rating of 107. His half-brother Best Of Days won the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes before heading to Australia where he landed the Group 1 Cantala Stakes.

Mr Monaco

Hutchence was followed into the ring by another from the Imperium Sales consignment. Mr Monaco is also Australia bound after his sale for 410,000gns. He was bought by Will Bourne on behalf of Astute Bloodstock and Ciaron Maher, having seen off a determined effort by Johnny McKeever and Claudia Fitzgerald representing the Waterhouse/Bott Stable.

Offered on behalf of the Obank Partnership, the progressive three-year-old son of Territories was beaten just a nose on his most recent start over 10 furlongs for Ralph Beckett, earning an official rating of 98.

Imperium’s Alex Elliott commented: “Mr Monaco was above where I thought he would be, but when I saw Claudia lock up with Will Bourne, I could see the horse making a good price.

“It is a great price for Hutchence, I think he is a very good horse. He is just getting it together – he was a late foal and a late developer. He was very immature, but he has slowly got it all together. Ralph was very sweet on him and I think he could be a Cup horse next year.”

Blandford’s spending spree includes La Bellota

THE week’s leading buyers were Blandford Bloodstock, and they signed for a quarter of the top 20 lots, on their own account and with partners. The strong trade witnessed on the opening two days continued into the third, when trade was headed by the two-year-old La Bellota at 425,000gns.

A wildcard entry, La Bellota was consigned by his trainer John Ryan and purchased by Blandford Bloodstock, with Tom Biggs carrying out bidding duties on behalf of Richard Brown.

The juvenile had posted a significant update when blazing to victory in the Listed Doncaster Stakes on his most recent start, following several noteworthy performances, notably when second in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes and fourth in the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes.

“He is the best ‘freelance’ two-year-old on the market at the moment and is 105 rated,” said Ryan. “He has performed better than most out there. To be honest it is bittersweet to lose him, but at the end of the day, we bought him well and have sold him well. He is a superstar, a lovely horse to train, and anyone would love to have this horse in their yard. I think he is a very special horse. I hope he goes on to be what I think he could be.”

The son of Mehmas is out of an own-sister to the Group 2 Ridgewood Pearl Stakes winner Beshaayir, and provided a great return on his purchase price of 52,000gns when bought six months ago by his trainer at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale.

Garfield Shadow

Blandford’s spending spree saw them sign for three lots that cost 300,000gns each, and one that cost 10,000gns more.

Garfield Shadow, a three-year-old son of James Garfield, was the most expensive of this quartet, sold by Richard Fahey’s Musley Bank Stables. Rated 96, and runner-up in a handicap at Ascot at the beginning of October, he has only once finished out of the frame in nine career starts. “I bought him for Sheikh Juma at the [Tattersalls Ireland] Breeze Up Sale and have now bought him for a different client,” said Richard Brown. “He is a very good-looking horse, very sound, and a very consistent horse who always runs his race.”

Desperate Hero is heading to Dubai, purchased by Stuart Boman of Blandford as a Carnival prospect. The Captain Gerrard four-year-old sprinter, previously with Jack Channon, cost his new connections 300,000gns. Desperate Hero has won six races, including a Hamilton handicap over five furlongs in June, finished third in the Group 3 Coral Charge at Sandown in July, ran sixth in the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh in September, and was fourth in October’s Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye.

Boman explained: “He is one of those horses who, when I went through the replays and form, is hard not to like. He has great action, a powerful stride, he has roared through the handicap and turned into a Group 1 horse. He is going to Dubai for the Carnival. Godolphin mainly has horses in the mile and over distance range. There is a good series for sprinters and, hopefully, he is one for the Al Quoz Sprint and will be there on World Cup night.”

Rebel Diamond

Two-year-old Rebel Diamond is another Richard Brown, Blandford Bloodstock purchase, the agent going to 300,000gns to secure the colt by Cotai Glory who was in training with Natalia Lupini. He has high-class form and won the Listed Blenheim Stakes at Fairyhouse in September.

Brown said: “He has been progressive. We have no plans as yet. He was very well presented, looked great, has plenty of size and scope to continue his career as a three-year-old, and he does not look overtrained.”

“This is the one we wanted,” said Stuart Boman after going to 300,000gns for Hawk Power, a three-year-old son of Gleneagles, on behalf of trainer Annabel Neasham. He added: “He is a lovely horse – we have bought a couple of others along the way, but this the horse I wanted to buy and we have been patient.

“He is a very well-bred horse from a pedigree that has worked in Australia. and he is out of a Street Cry mare, which was attractive too.” Sold by Godolphin, Hawk Power won twice this year and was placed in a listed race at Chantilly since the catalogue was printed.

Juddmonte double scored by Najd Stud

CONSECUTIVE lots in the Juddmonte consignment which grossed 1,500,000gns were bought by Najd Stud and Archdale Bloodstock for 260,000gns and 380,000gns.

“They are both lovely horses,” said Saud Al Qahtani. “It was more than we expected to pay, but when you buy quality, you have to stretch. They have both been bought with the Kings Cup in mind. They have good form, are nice physicals and from great families.”

Task Force recently finished third to Prague in the Group 3 Joel Stakes, having been a good second in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes to Vandeek as a juvenile. He is out of the champion juvenile filly Special Duty, winner of the Cheveley Park Stakes before recording a classic double in the 1000 Guineas and the French equivalent, the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.

Amphius, a son of Kingman and the more expensive of the pair, won a four-runner maiden at Beverley in August. He is an own-brother to the Group 3 winner Sangarius and to the dam of the Group 1 winner Belbek. His second dam is the dual champion and blue hen mare Banks Hill, an own-sister to Dansili, Champs Elysees, Cacique and Intercontinental. The underbidder was Sean Graham, racing manager to Tony Bloom.

Go Daddy

Another for export, the three-year-old Smooth Daddy gelding Go Daddy won a Nottingham nursery last October, and this year was placed third in two Group 3 races, the Deutsches St Leger and the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury.

He realised 350,000gns and will be joining Ciaron Maher. “He profiles perfectly for Australia and Ciaron loved him and how consistent he was,” said Will Bourne. “The plan is to keep him in work here with Harry [Eustace]. We’ll aim to run him off the plane during the Sydney Carnival.”

Go Daddy was sold by Willie Muir and Chris Grassick, as was the two-year-old Fearless Freddy, a three-time winner. He cost 280,000gns. “He is going to Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young in Cranbourne, Victoria,” reported Pat Sells. “I bought a horse for them called Craig last year. He finished second in the Toorak Handicap [Group 1] last week and this horse is almost a carbon copy, and both are by Territories.”

Atlantic Coast was bought by Australian trainer Henry Dwyer for 340,000gns in association with Hurworth Bloodstock. Formerly in training with Jospeh O’Brien, the Kodiac colt boasts a Group 3 win in the Killavullen Stakes as a juvenile, and a win at three in the Listed Prix Matchem on his last start. His new trainer said: “He is just a lovely physical, has a lovely head on him, and Joseph has trained him well. For a horse who has had a bit of racing at three and a bit of travelling, he looks in such good order.”

Significant additions go to Team Mullins

TOO Bossy For Us was the most expensive of three acquisitions by Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins this week, costing the duo 330,000gns. The son of Golden Horn was purchased from Kevin Philippart de Foy’s Induna Stables with a dual-purpose career in mind.

The action kicked off at 200,000gns and bids came from all around the ring until Kirk, standing at the bottom of the bidders’ area, saw off the opposition. “I did not expect to have to pay that!” he said. “I knew he was going to be very popular; I think he has been vetted seven times, and Australia was going to be very strong on him. He is a beautiful horse, very progressive, he looks as if he is going to stay a good trip, and he can only improve. I have not seen a nicer horse in a long, long time.

“He is by Golden Horn who is very sexy, and this is the first one by him that I have bought. We have bought him as a Royal Ascot and Melbourne Cup horse, but he will go jumping first. With the prize-money available abroad, there is so much of a market for these staying types. You’ve got jumping people, as well as those from Bahrain and Australia, all looking for these horses.”

Both of the other purchases by Kirk and Mullins cost 200,000gns each. “I am collecting them now!” laughed Kirk who doubled the number of horses by Golden Horn that he has purchased, adding Poniros to his list. Owned by Amo Racing, the three-year-old gelding has one win to his name, but was a good third on his penultimate start in a heritage handicap at Ascot.

Kirk added: “This lad has a bit more class than yesterday’s horse, and he could even be a sort to drop back in trip. He is very light on his feet, a good mover and he has again been bought as a dual-purpose type.”

Progressive sort

The Rachel Hood-bred and owned Nathaniel gelding Pappano is a progressive sort, and after winning a mile and six-furlong handicap at Southwell in September he went on to finish third in the Listed Murless Stakes over the same trip. The three-year-old is now on a career-high BHA mark of 96 and is Timeform rated 102. “He came highly recommended by the Gosdens,” said Kirk, adding: “I have been very lucky buying from the yard before. I have not bought from the stable for a couple of years, but whenever one is recommended, I take note and consider seriously. He will be a lovely four-year-old. He is a bit immature mentally, was not gelded until July, and it all happened a bit quick for him after. Willie has not had that many by Nathaniel, but those he has had have been good, Concertista being one. The options are open for this horse over hurdles and on the flat.”