Lot 1694: The Horse Watchers purchase a sixth horse this week for a total spend of 216,000gns and an average price of 36,000gns.
Escarpment by Fastnet Rock and out of Heroic Heart (Invincible Spirit) cost the team 28,000gns and is bought by the team from owner Aquis Farm & Manton Park, and trainer Freddie and Martyn Meade. He was sold by The Castlebridge Consignment.
The gelding has run five times, finished fourth twice, second and third. He has not run since June 2023He is BHA rated 78, having started on a BHA mark of 84. .
He hails from the leading family of the Classic winner Yesterday, the champion juvenile Quarter Moon, the Group 2 winners Eminent and Thomas Chippendale. (14:32)
Lot 1693: the filly Yasmina is bought online for 26,000gns.
Bred by Martyn Meade and sold by The Castlebridge Consignment, the filly ran twice as a two-year-old.
She is by Iffraaj and out of the Princess Elizabeth Stakes (G3) winner and Dahlia Stakes (G2) runner-up Wilamina (Zoffany), a half-sister to the 1m2f Group 2 winner Tropical Lady. (14:02)
Lot 1643: the four-year-old Ideal Guest, who has run 28 times, won five races and has finished second or third seven times, changes hands at 22,000gns, sold by trainer George Margarson and owner John Guest Racing bought by W. Bethell.
By Shalaa, the four-year-old gelding won his fifth race last time out over a mile at Yarmouth off a BHA mark of 67.
He was offered today by The Castlebridge Consignment. (13:58)
Lot 1588: bought by an online bid from AOR Bloodstock and sold by The Castlebridge Consignment, Bjorn Ironside makes 40,000gns.
The gelding has run four times and was a good second last time over a mile at Windsor.
The son of one of this season's leading first-season sires Too Darn Hot, the gelding is out of the Listed winner Frankel Light. She is a daughter of the Listed winner Mambo Light, dam of the Australian Group 3 winner Le Juge.
The extended family traces to the dual Group 1 winner Chimes Of Freedom.
"He is a nice horse, I like the sire, his last run was good," said buyer Mouse O'Ryan. "At the moment the plans for him are fluid." (12:15)
Lot 1586: the unraced Wiltshire Wonder, a 2020 gelding by Wootton Bassett and out of Chanterelle (Trempolino), an own-sister to the multiple Group and Grade 3 winner Cox Orange, is bought by Blandford Bloodstock for 30,000gns.
The gelding, a half-brother to four winners, including the dual Lillie Langtry Stakes (G2), the Lonsdale Cup (G2) and the Park Hill Stakes (G2) winner Enbihaar (Redoute's Choice), was sold by The Castlebridge Consignment for Clarehaven Stables. (12:00)
Lot 1579: Walter Hartright, previously trained by Joseph O'Brien and a juvneile colt by Saxon Warrior, is set to move to Newmarket, bought by Ed Dunlop Racing for 26,000gns.
He was unraced when the catalogue was published, but has now run twice in Ireland.
Sold by Baroda Stud, the colt is out of Marian Halcombe (Bernardini), a half-sister to Falling Petals (Raven's Pass), the dam of the Group 1 winner Saffron Beach (New Bay), and to Continua (Elusive Quality), the dam of the Group 3 winner and Group 1 palced Cotai Glory (11:55)
Lot 1562: Veiled Illusion is joining the equine flight booked to Saudi Arabia, bought for 55,000gns from Jamesfield Stables.
The son of Kodiac has won and been placed since the catalogue was published – successful on October 5 at Lingfield over 7f and then third over the same course and distance yesterday.
An October Book 2 yearling he has been trained by James Tate for Saeed Manana, bred by Gerry Flannery Developments Ltd out of the Group 3 placed Pastoral Pursuits mare Veiled Intrigue.
"He is in good form, and will ship soon to Saudi," said purchaser Nawaf Abdullah Al-Saif. "I think he will like the better weather in the Middle East and should be one to go on both the Turf and Dirt surfaces at the King Abdulaziz racecourse." (11:10)
Lot 1538: Deep Havana (Havana Grey) has been signed for by the Qatar-based Al Jasra Stud at 25,000gns, sold by The Castlebridge Consignment.
Bred by Fiona Marner Bloodstock and Mount Coote Estate, the gelding who has run once when third at Chelmsford last week for trainer Hilal Kobeissi, is out of the Listed Wickfield Stakes-placed Strictly Silca. She is out of a half-sister to the Prix Morny (G1) winner Silca's Sister, the dam of the Irish champion older mare of 2000 and German champion two-year-old filly of 1998, Golden Silca. (10:36)
Lot 1524: the Newmarket-based trainer Jack Jones, who has had a good first full season with a training licence sending out 19 winners, goes to 11,000gns for Seattle Time.
The Time Test three-year-old is still a maiden but has two placed results over 6f and 7f at Chesptow and Yarmouth for trainer Sylvester Kirk and owner Jeff Smith.
The Littleton Stud-bred gelding is out of the dual Listed winner Snoqualmie Girl (Montjeu), dam of the Listed winner Great Ambassador and the Listed and Group 3-placed Seattle Rock. (10:19)
Morning and welcome to the last day of the Autumn Horses In Training Sale 2023 (08:58)
Day 4
Day 4 statistics: (+/-) compared to last year
Catalogued: 326
Offered: 239
Sold: 211
Total: 2,553,400gns (+51%)
Median: 6,000gns (+20%)
Average: 12,101gns (+48%)
% Sold: 89%
200,000gns+ (cumulative): 28
Leading consignors (cumulative, by aggregate): 1. The Castlebridge Consignment, 2. Jamie Railton, 3. Barton Sales
Leading purchasers (cumulative, by aggregate): 1. Blandford Bloodstock, 2. Najd Stud, 3. McKeever Bloodstock / Waterhouse / Bott
Leading sires (cumulative, by aggregate): 1. Lope de Vega, 2. No Nay Never, 3. Sea The Stars
Today's top five prices
1. Lot 1243: Aemilianus 2019 B.G. >> Holy Roman Emperor ex Assisi >> Barton Sales >> Gassim Ghazali >> 250,000gns
2. Lot 1283: Tchaikovsky 2021 B.C. >> Bated Breath ex Canonbury >> The Castlebridge Consignment >> Najd Stud >> 100,000gns
3. Lot 1351: Heater 2021 Br.C. >> No Nay Never ex Weekend Fling >> Imperium Sales >> Gassim Ghazali >> 75,000gns
4. Lot 1324: Greer 2021 B.C. >> Night of Thunder ex Rawaaq >> Bellwood Cottage Stables (J. Quinn) >> M J Racing (P.S.) 70,000gns
4. Lot 1352: Pick Your Battles (GB) 2021 B.C. >> Ulysses ex Traditionelle >> Imperium Sales >> Eoin Sullivan >> 70,000gns
5. Lot 1196: Consoling (IRE) 2021 B.F. >> Inns of Court ex Solace >> Jamie Railton (Agent) >> BBA Ireland >> 48,000gns (18:17)
Lot 1367: Bona Fortuna is a second purchase this week of a new two-year-old prospect for Value Racing Club co uk / Ted Durcan.
The two-year-old colt by Mehmas is bought for 30,000gns and has run twice since the catalogue was published – finishing third on his debut at Ayr at the beginning of October, then fifth of 15 at York. Both runs were over 6f and both were on soft ground.
Bona Fortuna is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Ajla, the dam of three winners from three runners, including the Listed-placed Mojomaker. She is a half-sister to Independence, the dam of the dual Group 1 winner Mount Nelson and the Dante Stakes (G2) winner Monitor Closely.
Bona Fortuna was sold by Karl Burke's Spigot Lodge Stables. (15:37)
Lot 1350, Lot 1351 and Lot 1352: Imperium Sales' strong debut at Tattersalls continues, the last three in the consignment sell for 42,000gns (Bateman, Lot 1350), 75,000gns (Heater, Lot 1351) and 70,000gns (Pick Your Battles, Lot 1352).
Buyers are TJE Racing, Gassim Ghazali and Eoin Sullivan. All three horses are lightly raced maidens formerly owned by Valmont. (14:38)
Lot 1324: bought in a private sale, Greer, consigned by John Quinn's Bellwood Cottage Stables, changes hands for 70,000gns and is set to join M J Racing.
The Night Of Thunder juvenile colt won on his debut over 7f at Chester in September, and then took fifth in a Redcar novice stakes in October.
Greer is out of the Group 3 winner Rawaaq (Invincible Spirit). (14:23)
Lot 1290: the Dermot Weld-trained Collaborative, owned by Newtown Anner Stud Farm, is bought by Keep The Faith Bloodstock for 44,000gns.
By Fastnet Rock, out of Magen's Star and bred by Mr Maurice Regan of Newtown Anner, the three-year-old gelding has run once when fourth of 20 in a Curragh maiden over 1m4f in October.
Magen's Star, by Galileo, won twice on the Flat and twice over hurdles for trainer Tommy Stack. (13:20)
Lot 1283: the twice-raced and one-time winner Tchaikovsky is bought by Najd Stud at 100,000gns from Clarehaven Stables and owner Lady Ogden.
After a first start at Yarmouth where he finished mid-field, the son of Bated Breath showed the benefit of that run to take a 7f novice at Kempton by a neck rom American Bay, who had good placed form already under his belt.
It is a 13th purchase this week for the Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz's Saudi Arabian-based racing and breeding organisation.
"This horse goes to Saudi, his starts have been good and hopefully he will do well for us in Saudi," said Saad bin Mishraf for Najd Stud. "We are looking for differing types of horses all the time as we have a variety of races in the country."
Tchaikovsky's dam Canonbury is due to be sold as part of a complete dispersal of Lady Ogden's stock at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale – the Oasis Dream filly, a daughter of Islington, catalogued as Lot 1943. Her colt foal by Too Darn Hot due in the ring the week before, Lot 644. (12:40)
Lot 1243: Qatar-based trainer Gassim Ghazali has bought three horses so far this week and adds a fourth, and his most expensive, with this purchase of Aemilianus, a Group 3-winning son of Holy Roman Emperor.
"I am delighted, I have been waiting for this horse – three days I have waited for it!" said Ghazali. "Some quality horses have been through the ring, but I have been outbid by Wathnan Racing and Najd Stud. I hope this horse will make it to some good races in Qatar, the pedigree should suit Qatar.
"I like the sire and I won the Qatar Derby last season with a son of Holy Roman Emperor called Emperor Maximus. The sire's progeny tend to like the track in Qatar and the good ground."
Aemilianus has been based with trainer Markus Klug in Germany for owner Gestut Schlenderhan and Ghazali said: "I am not too sure of the horse's level and how that will slot in once he gets to Qatar, I know the horses from England and how they will work into the Qatari programme, Germany is a little different. I am hoping this horse will be good enough for either the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup or the HH The Amir Trophy."
Although Ghazali says is a little unsure of the German form, he has previoously done very well with a horse whose early form was in Germany – Dubday, who was Group 3 placed as a three-year-old, joined Ghazali and went onto win the Amir's Trophy, the Qatar Gold Cup (twice) and the Qatar Derby. The son of Dubawi also returned to Europe and was successful in the Glorious Stakes (G3) and Group 1 placed in the Pries von Europa. (11:47)
Lot 1226: Elegant Call (Soldier's Call) and from Dullingham Park is bought by Value Racing Club co uk / Ted Durcan for 42,000gns.
The two-year-old filly, bred by Ballyhane, has been in the Bonte Collection ownership and trained for the syndicate by Tim Easterby. She has run three times, finished second last time out at York in an October novice stakes over 6f, and she has been given an opening handicap mark of 74. (11:04)
Lot 1048: BBA Ireland buys online again, this time going to 48,000gns for Consoling (Inns Of Court), sold by Jamie Railton for trainer Ollie Pears and owner Crystal Clear Racing.
The juvenile filly has run six times and is a dual winner, successful at Newcastle over a mile at the beginning of October. (10:35)
Day 3
Day 3 statistics: (+/-) compared to last year
Catalogued: 385
Offered: 277
Sold: 246
Total: 11,869,000gns (-12%)
Median: 23,500gns (-2%)
Average: 48,248gns (+5%)
% Sold: 89%
200,000gns+ (cumulative): 27
Leading consignors (cumulative, by aggregate): 1. The Castlebridge Consignment, 2. Jamie Railton, 3. Barton Sales
Leading purchasers (cumulative, by aggregate): 1. Blandford Bloodstock, 2. Najd Stud, 3. McKeever Bloodstock / Waterhouse / Bott
Leading sires (cumulative, by aggregate): 1. Lope de Vega, 2. No Nay Never, 3. Sea The Stars
Today's top five prices
1. Lot 1026: Dark Trooper B.G. >> Dark Angel ex Warshah >> Ed Walker Racing >> Blandford Bloodstock >> 500,000gns
2. Lot 1133: Sea The Casper Ch.G. >> Sea The Stars ex October Queen >> Barton Sales >> Mubarak Al-Ruwis >> 425,000gns
3. Lot 1081: Halfway Line B.G. >> Zoffany ex Midweek >> Juddmonte >> BBA Ireland / Stakes Horses >> 320,000gns
4. Lot 1021: Royal Patronage B.C. >> Wootton Bassett ex Shaloushka >> WH Bloodstock >> McKeever Bloodstock / Waterhouse / Bott >> 300,000gns
5. Lot 1032: Urban Outlook B.G. >> Cityscape ex Casual Glance >> Park House Stables (A. Balding) >> Domeland >> 280,000 gns (21:35)
Lot 1133:  Sea The Casper (Sea The Stars) is on his travels to Saudi Arabia, bought by Mubarak Al-Ruwis.
Sat with a group of friends under the back window, a spokesman for Al-Ruwis said: "He will ship straight to Saudi. We have two horses already in Saudi, we need a quality and good horses for the big Saudi Cup meeting. We think this horse could be a champion."
Bred by Rabbah, the four-year-old gelding won three times as a juvenile and on his three-year-old debut in June. He finished second last time out in the Diamond Stakes (L) at Dundalk, beaten just a neck by the Group 3 winner Piz Badile, who was a runner-up in the Irish Derby (G1) behind Westover in 2022.
It is a second horse purchased this week by Al-Ruwis, who spent 105,000gns on the 89-rated Out Of Shadows (Outstrip) yesterday. (20:25)
Lot 1131A: wild card entry Jack Darcy is bought by Najd Stud for 280,000gns, joining a purchase list of nine horses already bought this week, all of which are shipping to Saudia Arabia.
The four-year-old gelding was sold by Barton Stud for Paul and Oliver Cole.
Cole Jnr watched the horse sell and was visibly emotional to see him sold.
"It is one of those things, he is a very very good horse, I think he is a Group 1 horse in the making," said Cole. "I would have preferred to keep him in training with us, but owners have to do what they want to do."
"We wanted to run in the Prix Dollar and he ran very well, arguably his best race, and we wild carded him here." (20:11)
Lot 1123: Humanity, the son of Roaring Lion, is heading to Australia having been bought by Australian-based Domeland, a third purchase here this week for the farm, owned by King Cheng.
The colt, consigned by Jamie Railton, has run five times and won twice initially over 1m4f and then 1m3f. He ran once at two when third on the All-Weather at Newcastle.
“We’re looking for extremely sound horses that we can compete in the staying races in Australia,"said Cheng. "Obviously we’re a private stable but we’re looking to grow and compete with some of the bigger trainers. We’re all after the same horses so it’s been competitive but we’re glad to have picked up a few. We think there’s a lot of improvement to come from the horses we bought so we expect them to be progressive. We have about 50 horses in training and a couple of mares, too, but they’re mostly our own racemares who’ve retired.” (19:54)
Lot 1081: Halfway Line, from the Juddmonte draft, was bought online by BBA Ireland / Stakes Horses.
Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland said on the phone: "I have left the sale ground and so it worked well for me to bid online. The horse has been bought in conjunction with Niall Dalton of Stakes Horses to go to California, and is for a new client with trainer Phil D'Amato, who has had a good bit of success training European horses.
"Halfway Line was recommended by his former trainer Francois-Henri Graffard as well as Barry Mahon of Juddmonte. He should suit California – he is progressive, he goes on firm, he has a turn of foot, all the attributes you need."
The winning son of Zoffany revealed that he has stakes race ability when he finished third in the Prix Matchem (L) at Saint-Cloud at the end of September.
Phil D'Amato is also set to get two sons of Zoffany from this week's Autumn HIT Sale – Ottoman Prince (Lot 701), also by the late sire, was bought by Boomer Bloodstock on behalf of Armato's owner Anthony Fanticola.
The paternal siblings will be flying over together to join Amato's string in southern California. (18:26)
Lot 1067: Peter Trainor / Ciaron Maher Racing spend 240,000gns on Ziryab, a son of Kingman sold as part of the Juddmonte draft.
The gelding was previously trained by John and Thady Gosden. He did not run at two, but has now run six times, was successful on his third start and finished second on October 10 at Leicester. He is rated 88.
Trainor said: "He goes to Ciaron Maher. Last year we bought Future History here from Juddmonte and this is the same type of horse, with the same profile. Hopefully, he will follow the same path and be a fun horse."
The buyer added: "Ziryab is well bred, by Kingman, and we were quite taken with his last run. He is lightly raced and there are loads of upsides with him."
Future History (Showcasing) is now a dual winner Down Under and was a Group race winner when successful in Flemingon's 2520m Group 3 Lexus Bart Cummings at the beginning of October.
The gelding is entered in the 2500m Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup on Friday. (17:50)
Lot 1046: Matt Coleman, accompanied by AJ O'Neill, assistant to trainer Jonjo O'Neill, bids 260,000gns on Circuit Breaker, a son of Nathaniel.
"He is going toJackdaws and we had an order to look for a juvenile hurdle horse," said Coleman. "This is big fantastic-looking horse by Nathaniel. He looks like a NH horse. Trainer Ralph [Beckett] was very complimentary abut the horse and is extremely pleased with how well he has done on the Flat considering his size. He won on debut and ran second to Urban Outlook [Lot 1032] last time.
"He is a big fine, galloping sort of horse and we are hoping he will have more of a future than just as a juvenile hurdler, he has got the size and scope."
The horse has been bought for the syndicate Tanzanite, who enjoyed its first winner with its first runner last week with Mt Fugi Park's victory at Ffos Las, the son of Walk In The Park winning on his debut over hurdles.
The five-year-old gelding was bought by Coleman at the Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale for £290,000 after he won his point-to-point at Belharbour for trainer Donnchadh Doyle.
"We were really pleased with Mt Fugi Park," said Coleman. "The syndicate has two horses, they are both real out and out NH types, for instance, Mt Fugi Park is very much a staying chaser of the future, and so we wanted to get something here with possibly a bit more speed." (17:18)
Lot 1032: Urban Outlook, the Cityscape full-brother to the multiple Hong Kong-based Group winner and performer Urban Aspect, is bought by the Australian-based racing organisation Domeland – trainer Sara Ryan sat in the gods with her owner King Cheng. The pair bid to 280,000gns for the former Andrew Balding-trained three-time winner.
"We have bought him to race on in Australia," said Ryan. "He was not on the initial list, but when we saw him he struck us... he just has a great presence. He has a nice record and I think there is a lot of improvement in him. We are looking for distance horses."
Of the week's trade so far, she said: "All the horses that the Aussies are on, they have been strong, we are all looking at the same types."
Domeland has also bought Salt Lake City here this week (Lot 270) for 100,000gns. (17:06)
Lot 1026: Dark Trooper is bought by Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock for 500,000gns, the agent purchasing on behalf of Wathnan Racing.
"The idea is to buy quality over quantity, that is the message from Qatar to Olly Tait to me and Ali Al Kubaisi, who is working the sale with me," said Brown. "This hors has been on the radar for most of the year because Al Donald, who bought him and managed, and Ed Walker, who trainer him, have been trying to get me to buy him most of the year saying there is a lot more to come.
"He won a very competitive Ascot handicap on quick ground and then was unlucky in the Bengough. He is an interesting horse and will go to Qatar there is a programme with him in that part of the world, but he is the sort of horse who could come back here. He is a gelding so can run on for a number of seasons. He will be trained by Alban de Mieulle and see how things go."
Explaining further, Brown said: "Wathnan purchased Bolthole at this sale last year– the horse went on to do very well in Qatar [third in the Amir Trophy] and then came back to France and has won a Listed and finished second in a couple of Group 3 races this summer."
Of the price for Dark Trooper, he said: "He is obviously a Group calibre sprinter, he is very sound, he looks magnificent here so all credit to Ed Walker – the horse is still carrying plenty of condition at the end of a long season. We thought that he would be in that price bracket."
Dark Trooper was bought as a yearling by Sackville Donald for owner Chi Un Fred Ma here at the October Book 2 Sale in 2021 for 60,000gns. The horse has picked up over £104,000 in prize-money earnings. (16:55)
Lot 1021: Royal Patronage, consigned by WH Bloodstock, is bought by McKeever Bloodstock / Waterhouse / Bott for 300,000gns,
The son of Wootton Bassett won the Royal Lodge Stakes (G2) and the Acomb Stakes (G3) as a two-year-old, at three he finished second in the Dante Stakes (G2) then ran in the Epsom Derby (G1).
He shipped then to the US when he finished fifth in the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1) and remained in the States with trainer Graham Motion and ran in last year's Saratoga Derby (G1). This spring he won an allowance race and ran fifth in the Arlington Stakes (G3).
"Not only is he a beautiful type and with the form on the board, he rated very highly for us and I think he will adapt very well to Australia," said Claudia Miller, Gai Waterhouse's racing manager. "He had good form as a two-year-old, and as a four-year-old, he his very sound for us, very clean, we think he will adapt very well to and get him into the system and get him going.
"Wootton Bassett is a stallion that we have been looking at for a while as he has been very successful in Europe, and they will start to sell Down Under shortly, so great to get one in the stable."
Johnny McKeever added: "We spoke to Graham Motion about the horse and he gave us a very positive report about the hors, just had a few small training issue, nothing to worry at all. He is an ideal horse to go to Australia and so we were confidence that is the right thing to do. It is hard to find Group form in the sale, he has got a certain quality. We are not guessing here, we know he is a pretty good horse if all goes well for him." (16:37)
Lot 1008: George Baker spends 130,000gns on Simply Sondheim (Pivotal), the winner of seven races for trainer George Bourghey.
"He is going to Bahrain, George recommended him highly, we had a bit of fun out there last winter, and we plan to take a few more horse it there this winter. Hopefully, he will bounce around on the fast ground and give everyone a bit of fun," said Baker. "He won't be just restricted to Bahrain, and can go to the further around the Middle East."
Baker hopes to take seven or eight horses on tour to the Middle East this winter. (16:23)
Lot 997:  Australian Bloodstock / Ronald Rauscher spend again, this time in association with Kris Lees Racing, and the trio went to 125,000gns for the Trillium Place Stables-consigned Fulfilled.
The son of Ulysses, out of the Invincible Spirit mare Zoella, has run 15 times, won four races over a mile to 1m4f, and been placed five times. (15:44)
Lot 961: Concorde will be flying to Australia... the three-year-old by Sixties Icon bought by Nick Bell as a racing prospect for the training partnership of Tony and Calvin McEvoy at 150,000gns.
"He is going to ship to Australia for Tony and Calvin, they asked me to find a suitable prospect," said Bell. "He has been bought for a loyal client of theirs who wants a horse for the staying races down there. He is versatile trip-wise, he goes with a bit of juice in the ground, which they will get in Melbourne and he is a very consistent horse and came highly recommended by the Boughey team. It is the first I have bought for them, let's hope he is lucky."
Concorde, who was trained by George Boughey for Susan Roy, ran third last time over 1m4f on the All-Weather at Newcastle having won in September at Newbury over 1m2f on soft ground. He won three times at the beginning of the season on soft and good to soft ground over a mile. (14:39)
Lot 813, Lot 901, Lot 921 and Lot 923: as promised yesterday by Luke Murrell, Australian Bloodstock / Ronald Rauscher have been busy this morning and by lunchtime the duo have already purchased four horses.
Monty Be Quick (Lot 813) is a maiden three-year-old gelding from Ty-Derlwyn Farm (P. Evans) by New Bay and out of Poyle Meg (Dansili), a half-sister to the dam of the 1,000 Guineas winner Cachet.
Peony (Lot 901), sold by Ed Waker Racing, is a two-time winning three-year-old filly by Churchill from the extended family of Sky Lantern, another 1,000 Guineas winner. She cost her new connections 70,000gns.
The Sea The Stars filly Golden Smile (Lot 921), a half-sister to the Geoffrey Freer Stakes (G3) winner Hamada, and Tajalat (Showcasing, Lot 923), who is out of Ta Ammol (Halling), a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Sajjhaa, were both offered by Godolphin. Both are lightly raced maidens and cost 45,000gns and 35,000gns. (13:59)
Lot 911: Mohammed Ghazali spends 50,000gns on the juvenile colt Noo Point from Archie Watson and sold by The Castlebridge Consignment.
The colt is from the successful first crop of Blue Point and won his maiden in the middle of June at Chepstow over 6f. He has since finished sixth in a 6f Listed race at La Teste De Buch, and then second and third over 7f in a novice and a nursery at Epsom and then Catterick. (13:38)
Lot 882: Day 3's first six-figure lot is Democracy Dilemma, bid on by Alastair Donald of Sackville Donald, the gelding by Cotai Glory bought for 105,000gns.
Trainer Robert Cowell is going to train the horse for Jim and Fitri Hay, who were busy purchasers at the yearling sale and added this horse to the string as a proven type to run this winter in Dubai.
"He is a solid horse, seems very consistent, seems to act on any type of ground, and he was one of our standouts for the sale," said Cowell. "Jim and Fitri Hay are the lucky owners and the lads were very keen on him, so we are very pleased to get him. He is only a three-year-old so we hope there will be some onward improvement for him next year."
The five-time-winning gelding, who won over 5f at Chester at the end of September off a rating of 92 and is now rated 98, was sold by David Evans' Ty-Derlwyn Farm. He has won over £83,000 in prize-money earnings. (12:08)
Lot 819: The Horse Watchers go from consignors to purchasers... after selling Painters Palette yesterday for 165,000gns to Najd Stud, the team buys Different Tone, a three-year-old by Iffraaj and out of Justice Belle (Montjeu) from Ed Walker Racing for 42,000gns.
The gelding has bred and owned by Robert Ng and won on the All-Weather at Lingfield off a BHA mark of 65 in August and was third last time out at Ffos Las over 1m4f on soft. (10:51)
Day 2
Day 2 statistics: (+/-) compared to last year
Catalogued: 397
Offered: 303
Sold: 266
Total: 11,933,015gns (-4%)
Median: 22,000gns (-12%)
Average: 44,861gns (-12%)
% Sold: 88%
200,000gns+ (cumulative): 14
Leading consignors (cumulative, by aggregate): 1. Imperium Sales, 2. Somerville Lodge Ltd. (W. Haggas), 3. The Castlebridge Consignment
Leading purchasers (cumulative, by aggregate): 1. Blandford Bloodstock, 2. McKeever Bloodstock / Waterhouse / Bott, 3. Chris Waller Racing
Leading sires (cumulative, by aggregate): 1. Lope de Vega, 2. No Nay Never, 3. Sea The Stars
Today's top five prices
1. Lot 767: Balance Play (IRE) 2020 Ch.G. BY Lope de Vega (IRE) EX Bezique (GB) >> Imperium Sales >> McKeever Bloodstock / Waterhouse / Bott >> 575,000gms
2. Lot 769: He's A Monster (IRE) 2020 Br.G. BY No Nay Never (USA) EX Al Joza (GB) >> Imperium Sales Blandford Bloodstock >> 450,000gns
3. Lot 720: Amleto (IRE) 2020 Br.G. >> Sea The Stars (IRE) EX Holy Moon (IRE) >> Somerville Lodge Ltd. (W. Haggas), Agent >> Ciaron Maher Bloodstock >> 360,000gns
4. Lot 721: Florida (IRE) 2020 B.G. >> No Nay Never (USA) EX Balankiya (IRE) >> Somerville Lodge Ltd. (W. Haggas), Agent >> Chris Waller Racing >> 300,000gns
4. Lot 770: Just Bring It (IRE) 2020 Ch.G. >> Harry Angel (IRE) EX Just Joan (IRE) >> Imperium Sales >> Blandford Bloodstock >> 300,000gns
5. Lot 768: Bear On The Loose (IRE) 2020 B.G. >> Footstepsinthesand (GB) EX Ihtiraam (IRE) >> Imperium Sales >> McKeever Bloodstock / Waterhouse / Bott >> 280,000gns (21:42)
So far Imperium Sales... has sold ten horses for a turnover of 2,040,000gns, an average price of 204,000gns, a median of 135,000gns and a top price of 575,000gns.
There are anothee three horses from the draft due through the ring (Lot 1350, 1351, 1352). (21:28)
Alex Elliott, who was selling his first draft at Tattersalls under the Imperium Sales, was a little emotional after the draft went through the ring.
"I am absolutely over the moon, I am very proud of the horses and very proud of the job that the team has done. I am a bit overwhelmed really on this first time doing it.
"I said to Lucky [Ryan, assistant] a few months ago that we are going to do this, and she went 'Ok!' She has not batted an eyelid right through from the yearling sales, she has has put a team together of phenomenal horse people and done a great job. I can't explain what a wonderful job they have all done.
"We are buying a lot of yearlings, I hope it is something we are going to continue to do. We have sold some serious horses tonight and I hope they go on to do better than they did us – and they have done us a great service.
"I am very sad to see them go, and we are actually going to stay in Balance Play because we loved him and there is lots to come from him. We have a lot of faith in him.
"I am a bit overcome by how well everything has been received, I am very grateful to the owners went through with the idea, and I just want to say thank you to everyone – the buyers, to the viewers, to my clients, to the trainers as the horse turned up looking immaculate. It is everything we dreamed of and more – we came here with big expectations and for the all the horse to jump through the hoops.... I was expecting X and Y to be wrong and it was not at all!
"We have a lot of horses liked Balance Play at home, Ralph has trained him masterfully, he is a late May foal, he has a staying pedigree and Ralph has brought through slowly. He ran over 7f, then ran him on fast ground on Derby Day – he was favourite. He has handled every ground, he could be anything.
"Sad to see him go, but it is the nature of the beast with this game. Hopefully, we have got a bit back.
"I have wanted to do this for a few years and this felt like the right moment, the product was there and you have to have the right product. We were very confident that we had some serious horses."
"Trying to sell horse privately - you have to build a profile. We sold a horse pre-Ascot it is hard on the trainer, hard on the staff... even though we are becoming a nursery you can't just expect them to do all the hard work and then just say "Right that's us!'
"We set out with these horses when we bought them as yearlings that if they don't become what we need which is Group horses, that the end of their three-year-old career they would be [sold].
"I am after horses like King Of Steel, but they don't really exist, they are like hens' teeth." (21:25)
Lot 769: He's A Monster, from the same Imperium Sales draft, this time the property of Lone Star Investments, was bought by Blandford Bloodstock for 450,000gns.
“They’ll both go to Qatar,” said Brown. “We focussed on buying real quality and hopefully we’ve done that. Everyone on the team was very keen on both of these horses. He’s A Monster was recommended highly by Archie [Watson]. He looks progressive and a particularly good looking horse. He could end up running on either Turf or Dirt in Qatar.
“It’s a tremendous effort by Alex Elliott on his first venture selling. They were superbly presented." (21:03)
Johnny McKeever said: "It is about 15 years we have been working with Gai, quite a long time! We are getting to know the system quite well. We are bidding against the likes of Wathnan and that is making it more expensive for us ,and we have bene outbid by the likes of Guy Mulcaster on two others tonight."
Despite the high prize-money in Australia, McKeever said there is still a ceiling on purchase price: "You still to sell them down when you get them back, so you have to be aware, but sometimes it is easier to sell a high profile one than a low profile horse. Luckily, the prize-money is enough to warrant blowing the budget a little now and again, although both of these were inside budget."
Of trade: "I think the top end is as strong as always. You kind of know on these ones who the opposition is going to be."
He smiled: "We do have to pick them– Gai does not like it if you send a bad-looking horse!" (21:01)
Lot 768: Bear On The Loose, by Footstepsinthesand, sold by Imperium Sales for KB Thoroughbreds, is also bought by McKeever Bloodstock / Waterhouse / Bott. The team went to 280,000gns for the three-year-old gelding.
Miller said: "A lovely horse we have purchased in partnership with My Racehorse. Again nice and lightly raced, plenty of improvement, he is a beautiful type, we really liked him on type and he came highly rated on form from Rob Waterhouse. He was around the mark we were looking at price wise."
Waterhouse and My Racehorse have teamed up before with Just Fine, winner of the Group 1 Metropolitan.
"Hopefully, we can do the same!" she smiled.
Of the immediate plans for both horses, Miller said: "We will get them down to Australia probably give them both a good break, then look to the autumn and then the spring next year."
"There is so much interest in Australia for these types of horses as they are racing for so much money. We have had incredible success with European horses, and in particular from this sale, it is very happy hunting ground for us." (20:54)
Lot 767: Balance Play, by Lope De Vega, sold by Imperium Sales for Valmont, sells for 575,000gns and is bought by McKeever Bloodstock / Waterhouse / Bott, Will Bourne the underbidder, the two parties standing on the back stairs with the eventual winning team on the right stair.
Claudia Miller, racing manager for Gai Waterhouse, said: "Balance Play is our highest-rated horse of the sale, we were under strict instructions not to leave without him! he is a lovely three-year-old, lightly raced, very consistent, effective on all going. He just is the exact profile of the horse we look for at this sale. We are very excited to get him."
The bidding was kicked off by the team at 100,000gns and Bourne gave like for much of the auction.
Of the final price, Miller said: "It was strong, we knew it was going to be be strong, but he was a horse we were not leaving without. He could be anything for us, he is easily a stakes horse, there is a lot of improvement in him form-wise, physically as well – these Europeans seem to explode when they get down to the sunshine and the warmer weather. We are expecting more to come."
Of ownership plans for Balance Play she said: "We have some commitment already, a couple of opportunities to get involved, but he is more or less sold." (20:47)
Lot 751 and Lot 752: "They are both for Fawzi Nass and team," said Oliver St Lawrence after Finest Leader (Churchill) at 140,000gns and then Hydration (Oasis Dream) at 210,000gns were both knocked down to Fawzi Nass. "Both vetted well and are to go to Bahrain."
Hydration is a three-time 6f winner and also a winner over 7f, while Finest Leader has won three times over 1m2f.
Both horses were bought from the Barton Stud's Beckhampton House Stables draft.
St Lawrence added: "I was not allowed to bid – Fawzi decided that I was unlucky yesterday!" (20:05)
Lot 721 and Lot 725: Guy Mulcaster is no stranger to buying from the Haggas yard – over the years he has purchased a number of horses at the Autumn Horses In Training Sale from Somerville Lodge on behalf of Chris Waller Racing, and tonight the agent goes to 300,000gns for Florida (No Nay Never) and 230,000gns for Unlimited (Saxon Warrior).
"Both horses were highly recommended by the Haggas stable and we were happy to go with their judgement," said Mulcaster. "We like the horse's profiles and we liked the race replays. Fingers crossed!
"I had Chris on the phone when I bought Florida, and he was pretty happy to keep going and we managed to get him at that money. In the big scheme of things the money in Australia is for the milers and 1800m horses. We have a few more to take look at tonight and tomorrow, then its on the plan and home!"
Florida has run seven times, won twice and is BHA rated 89. He has won over 7f and a mile.
He was owned until today by Michael Buckley, who purchased the son of No Nay Never here at October Book 2 in 2021 for 180,000gns. (19:08)
Lot 720: Amleto, a Sea The Stars full-brother to the dual Group 1 winner Sea Of Class and four further black-type winners, is bought by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for 360,000gns. He was in training with William Haggas owned by Sunderland Holdings, who purchased the gelding at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale 2021 for 240,000gns
Will Bourne, Maher's head of bloodstock, said: "He is the one we really targeted and we were very keen to pick him up. He is a really nice horse, and profile is very much for Australia, the sire line is proven down there with the Group 1 Australian Cup winner Fifty Stars and Just Fine, winner of the Group 1 Metropolitan.
"He is just a lovely lightly raced horse and a perfect fit for Australia. He has plenty of miles left on the clock and can't wait to get him down there."
Eddie O'Leary was underbidder. (18:47)
Lot 701: the always popular Sir Mark Prescott draft attracts plenty of attention and three of the string sell for six-figure sums, headed by the 140,000gns given by Boomer Bloodstock for Ottoman Prince (Zoffany), who won over a mile at the beginning of October.
Craig Rounsefell explained the reasons behind the purchase of the three-year-old.
We went down to see this horse at Sir Mark Prescott's, and that is an experience in itself!" laughed Rounsefell. "This is a beautiful athletic horse, on the videos he shows a great turn of foot, he likes the firm ground. He has been bought for California and he has all the attributes to do well there.
"Phil D'Amato will train, and the owner is Anthony Fanticola, who is a long term client. He bought Obviously here who went on to win a Breeders' Cup for him [2016, Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint] and this year he has Motorious, who we bought here last year and runs in next weekend's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. He is a lucky owner." (18:37)

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