Records Fall at Tatts Autumn

RECORDS FALLS AT TATTS AUTUMN 
The final session of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale may have lacked the fireworks of Wednesday’s frenzied session, but yesterday’s trade nonetheless produced solid results. A total of 186 horses changed hands from 210 offered for a buyback rate of 11% that was down 11 points from the same session 12 months ago. The day’s average of 6,929gns marked a 17% rise from last year, while the median was up 13% to 4,500gns. The day’s turnover of 1,288,800gns well exceeded last year’s figure of 767,100gns. 

The strength of the sale overall was highlighted by the fact that last year’s cumulative gross of 20,863,800gns was surpassed during yesterday’s session with still a full day of trade to go, and that figure ended up at 24,304,100gns yesterday–a record for the sale. A total of 922 horses sold over the four days at a buyback rate of 12%, down from 18% last year, while the average was up 13% to a second-best of 26,360gns and the median climbed 30% to a best-ever 13,000gns. 

“While our prize money may not be the envy of the global racing community, the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale has yet again proved that British and Irish bloodstock is coveted throughout the world,” said Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony. “Horses purchased at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale have won races at the highest level this year in Asia, Australasia, Europe, the Gulf region and North America, and consistent racecourse success is the reason why such huge numbers of buyers come to this unique sale year after year.” 

The high price of the session–which far exceeded last year’s day four topper of 26,000gns–came near the end of the day when Brian Ellison saw off a determined Dermot Farrington for lot 1436, the 3-year-old gelding Seamour (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), for 110,000gns. A second-out winner of a 12-furlong Kempton maiden Sept. 25, Seamour was purchased for owner Phil Martin. 

“He’s a lovely horse and the form around his runs reads well,” said Ellison. “Owner Phil Martin picked him out, and it is up to me to look at any horses he has found to say if I like them and then get them vetted.” 
Ellison noted that he had unsuccessfully bid on a number of horses throughout the week. 

“We tried on a few earlier this week, but they were making so much,” he explained. “We’ll take him home and tip away, get him schooled and see how we go.” 

The 3-year-old gelding Notnowsam (GB) (Notnowcato {GB}) (lot 1388) is set for a career change after being picked up by Raymond Tooth for 46,000gns. Winless in four outings on the flat, and most recently fourth at Dundalk Oct. 17, Notnowsam is set for a career over jumps, and has a pair of half-brothers that have raced with success under that code. 

“He has lots of scope and plenty of bone and looks just the type to be running up the hill at Cheltenham,” said Tony Stafford after signing on behalf of Tooth. 

The 2-year-old colt Wolfofwallstreet (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}) (lot 1456) broke the track record for five furlongs at Redcar while breaking his maiden on the weekend, and he is now bound for Switzerland, where he will join trainer Karl Klein after being purchased for 35,000gns by Richard Venn Bloodstock. 

“He will come back home and have a winter break,” said Klein’s daughter, Isabelle. “We hope he might be good enough for the top 3-year-old races in the spring–a race such as the 2,000 Guineas–and if he’s good enough then go on to run in France.” 

A condensed Book 4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale immediately followed the horses-in-training sale, and that session saw a buyback rate that dropped six points from last year, but the average fell 13% to 4,007gns, and the median dropped 34% to 2,300gns. Forty-six horses were sold for 184,300gns. 

The top price of 18,000gns for the session was paid for lot 1947, a colt by Paco Boy (Ire) from the draft of Salcey Forest Stud. Successful buyer Darren Popely of Follow the Flag Partnership noted that the colt found his way onto his radar by mistake. 

“We went to see a Bahamian Bounty filly and this colt was out of his stables–we saw him and liked him,” Popely explained. “He is a lovely horse, and out of an Exceed And Excel mare, so should have some speed.” 

The last lot through the ring commanded the second-highest price of the sale, when lot 1958, a Motivator (GB) colt, sold to Dermot Farrington for 13,000gns. The Apr. 1 foal is out of the Green Desert mare Quip (GB), a full-sister to the stakes-winning Secret Charm (Ire) and half-sister to stakes winner Relish The Thought (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells). He is a half-brother to three winners. 

A pair of fillies hit the 12,000gns barrier, the first through the ring being lot 1890, a daughter of Shirocco (Ger) out of River of Silence (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells). She was knocked down to Highflyer Bloodstock. Next came lot 1919, a daughter of successful first-season sire Zebedee (GB) out of Dazzling View (Distant View). She was another purchase for Dermot Farrington.