By Chris McGrath
And so the bloodstock calendar enters its next cycle. At the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale, of course, many of the dreams that sustain the yearling market have long been dashed. But many horses, equally, arrive having expanded their appeal to diverse markets–above all, this year, thanks to the seductive fragility of sterling. Sure enough, the three top lots of the opening day all reflected strong international competition for talent tested on the European racecourse: one heading to Australia, another to Hong Kong and the other to Saudi Arabia.
There were corresponding leaps in all the main indices, with 270 head grossing 6,424,800 guineas for a clearance rate of 91%, up 9% on 2015. That was echoed in an average of 26,011 guineas, up from 22,390gns, and a median of 13,500gns, up from 12,000–representing gains of 16% and 12.5% respectively.
Certainly there was a spectacular dividend for the syndicate that spent just £32,000 for a colt at the Goffs UK Breeze-Ups at Doncaster just six months ago. For if they had a bargain on paper–after all, he was by a champion Japanese miler out of a daughter of G1 Coronation S. winner Magic Of Life (Seattle Slew)–then things have worked out even better on the track. Named Sincil Bank (Hat Trick {Jpn}) (lot 315), he has made three starts for David Simcock: passing the post first in two maidens (disqualified for interference on debut) before finishing a close third in a conditions race down the road on the Rowley Mile last week.
Bidding opened at 100,000 guineas for Sincil Bank and competition from Stephen Hillen forced Alastair Donald to 270,000gns.
“He's for an owner in Hong Kong,” Donald said. “He's a very nice, scopey horse with a fair bit of maturing to do, and had a very good physical. The two horses that beat him the other day look pretty smart and he just got a bit tired up the hill. I know the Simcock team were keen not to lose him.”
Two More Going East…
The same price was matched by Johnny McKeever for lot 391, Imperial Aviator (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}), on behalf of Gai Waterhouse. This colt had already been subject of a private transaction this year, after beating the smart Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in a Leicester maiden in the spring. Subsequently wildly impressive in a hot Newbury handicap, he even tried his luck in the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club and had run well only on Saturday. His profile obviously appealed to the Antipodean market, those pushing McKeever hardest including Guy Mulcaster.
“But it was also good to see Roger Charlton bidding so hard to keep him,” McKeever remarked. “He's a gorgeous horse, absolutely the outstanding one of the day if you're looking for a good-looking stayer. Gai is obviously busy preparing her horses for the Melbourne Cup but this has been a happy hunting ground for her in the past.”
There was also sustained international interest in lot 185, a Saudi bid of 260,000gns securing Hawke (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) on behalf of Prince Sultan bin Mohammed.
“With his form and all-weather ability, we hope he can be a contender for the King's Cup,” explained the new owner's agent.
Hitherto trained by Johnny Murtagh, the 4-year-old gelding has been thriving round Dundalk over recent weeks, winning a listed race 10 days before the sale.
A Road To Stud Paved With Gold…
It is not too often that you get the chance to buy a Group 1 winner and stallion prospect at auction, but lot 193, Dick Whittington (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), had won the 2014 G1 Phoenix S. for Aidan O'Brien and, nursed back to form after only one start at three, landed the G3 Ballychorus S. in June.
Though bidding was coaxed only in painful increments, Luke Comer stuck to the task until gaining the day at 150,000 gns. Comer's rags-to-riches tale as a property developer has been on a Dick Whittington scale, such that he was able to respond to press inquiries with enviable vagueness.
“I've eight farms in Ireland and don't know which one I'll send him to yet,” he said.
Dick Whittington, whose dam Sahara Sky (Ire) (Danehill) is closely related to Owington (GB) (Green Desert), will join Green Moon (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Kargali (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in serving Comer's 150-odd broodmares.
Juveniles In Demand…
Sincil Bank was only one of several with his racing future very much in front of him. Lot 110, Souter (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}), opened his account for Keith Dalgleish in a juvenile event at Ayr last month and is now off to California for Tim Cohen–an owner who can count 2016 G2 winner Si Sage (Fr) (Sageburg {Ire}) among those European imports to have made the grade at stakes level. Bidding through agent Alastair Donald, Cohen acknowledged that the plunging pound had made it easier to keep going to 130,000 gns.
“It certainly helped,” he said. “But it depends who you're bidding against–if you're buying at a discount, so will others be.”
Souter represented good Book II business by Jill Lamb Bloodstock when bought for 34,000gns out of the same ring a year ago. Another promising juvenile is lot 300, The Statesman (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}), placed on both starts for Ballydoyle and now on his way to Jamie Osborne after agent Richard Knight signed at 90,000gns. The same price was paid for lot 153. Recently placed in listed company in France for Brian Meehan, Moi Moi Moi (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) is joining Ibrahim Al-Malki in Qatar.
Miles On The Clock But Gas Still In The Tank…
At the other end of the scale, those more seasoned campaigners to retain plenty of value included lot 364, Bravo Zolo (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), runner-up in the Lincoln and a Chantilly Listed winner for Jeremy Noseda days before the sale. Anthony Stroud was duly obliged to pay 170,000gns to add him to the Dubai team he routinely assembles at this sale.
“He fits the profile, with the right rating, so there should be some nice opportunities for him out there,” he said.
Minutes later Stroud was back in action, paying 100,000gns for lot 379, Azraff (Ire) (Paco Boy {Ire}), fourth in the Hunt Cup for Marco Botti.
Some classy middle-distance handicap form for Ed Dunlop in the first half of the season meanwhile, had Oasis Fantasy (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) on a variety of shopping lists. But a bid of 100,000gns for lot 219 from Stephen Hillen, on behalf of Mrs. Fitri Hay, was enough to preserve him from any radical change of scene or role. Instead, he is making the short journey across Newmarket to join David Simcock with “summer festivals” in view.
Damage Limitation…
Bellajeu (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) (lot 114) admittedly took 10 starts to break her maiden, but one of them was in the Oaks after finished second in the Lingfield trial. Hitherto trained by Ralph Beckett for a Qatar Racing partnership, Bellajeu was signed for at 140,000 guineas by Richard Fitzsimons of BBA Ireland. Out of a listed-winning half-sister to the popular and versatile Overturn (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}), Bellajeu is destined for the paddocks sooner or later.
“Obviously a black-type Montjeu filly is a collector's item,” Fitzsimons said.
Though Bellajeu had a useful residual value, the fact remains that she had cost twice as much as a yearling. But the most poignant reckoning of the day concerned lot 95, Schubert (War Front), a $1.3-million yearling culled from Ballydoyle–for a 40,000-guinea docket to Th Nanos Epe–after finishing second for the sixth time in 11 starts.
The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale continues Tuesday, beginning at 9:30 a.m. local time.
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