Figures Hold Steady At Tatts Autumn

[Wandering Eyes]

The four-day Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale drew to a close on Thursday, with figures holding steady from last year. From a catalogue about 100 horses smaller, the aggregate dipped 5% to 25,393,400gns-the third-highest ever for the sale–for 985 horses sold, good for a clearance rate of 90%. The average was up ever so slightly at 25,780gns, while the median matched last year’s number at 12,000gns. The solid trade continued right through the lower-key final session, where 94% of the 202 offerings on the day found new homes.

The top lot during Thursday’s final session was Shadwell’s Daysaq (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) (lot 1395), who was picked up by trainer Daniel Mark Loughnane for 40,000gns. The 2-year-old colt is out of Fawaayed (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}), a half-sister to the G2 Queen Mary S. winner and multiple Group 1 and Classic-placed Maqaasid (GB) (Green Desert) as well as the dam of G1 Sydney Cup winner Shraaoh (Ire) and G3 Bahrain Trophy winner Raheen House (Ire). He made two starts for trainer Owen Burrows after the publication of the catalogue on the all-weather, finishing fourth at Wolverhampton on Oct. 5 and ninth at Chelmsford three weeks later.

“His first run at Wolverhampton was very good [when fourth] but he didn’t run so well on his second start,” Loughnane said. “I don’t think the track at Chelmsford suited him. I’ve bought him for a syndicate which has horses with me. We’ll keep him going on the all-weather, but we’ll get him home and make a plan from there.”

The sale proved as globally attractive as ever, with Oliver St Lawrence emerging as leading buyer with 27 bought for 1,015,000gns, including Wednesday’s 380,000gns session topper on behalf of his longtime client, Bahrain trainer Fawzi Nass. Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony referred to the international nature of the sale in his closing statement, saying, “A record price for a colt of 625,000gns, four lots making 300,000gns or more and 14 selling for 200,000 gns and above all demonstrate the enduring appeal of this unique fixture. The top 20 lots this week sold to buyers from England, Ireland, America, Australia, Bahrain, Dubai, Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia and it is the diversity and sheer number of buyers which make the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale an unrivalled marketplace. The Autumn Horses in Training Sale is a magnet for buyers at all levels of the market and the key to the sale’s appeal is that it caters for literally every possible requirement, both Flat and National Hunt.

“Amongst the top 10 lots we had the outstanding Group 1 placed 2-year-old Summer Sands, the 4-year-old miler Salute The Soldier, the top-class stayer Mekong, a regally bred broodmare prospect Lady Corsica and Juddmonte Farms’ improving 3-year-old Sash. Nowhere else will buyers find such a rich and varied choice of quality proven horses in training and it is this feature which makes the sale an unmissable event for so many people.

“Every year we marvel at the sustained demand from throughout the Gulf region and 2019 has been no exception. Buyers from Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have yet again had a massive impact on the sale, and there is no doubt that the growing strength of racing in the region has spurred the buyers on. They have been joined by strong contingents from throughout Europe, most notably Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain, Scandinavia and the Czech Republic and from further afield Americans, Australians and buyers from Hong Kong have all contributed to a sale turnover bettered only twice and an impressive clearance rate of 90%.

“The Autumn Horses in Training Sale has enjoyed consistent success in Australia and the sale’s four high profile Group 1 winners there this year have not gone unnoticed with Australian buyers particularly active this week.

“Probably the only other European bloodstock sale that attracts overseas buyers in similar numbers is the Tattersalls December Sale and as we approach Europe’s premier foal and breeding stock sale we can take plenty of encouragement from the sustained international demand at Tattersalls over the past four days.”

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