Record Aggregate Posted At Tatts

NEWMARKET, UK–Day four of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale got off to a strong start when Red Baron's Stable & Ranch Temescal paid the day's top price 70,000gns for lot 1261, River Boyne (Ire). He is a son of Dandy Man (Ire), who stood at a career-high fee of €10,000 in 2017 in Ireland. The 2-year-old has run since the catalogue was printed, finishing second in a Class 2 conditions race on the all-weather at Newcastle last week. Alastair Donald signed on behalf of the buyers, as they are on their way back to U.S. to watch their Breeder's Cup Turf runner Itsinthepost (Fr) (American Post {GB}), and he said “He's going to California for Red Baron's Stable. The team saw him earlier in the week and liked him. He was a good second the other day, so he can run straight into a $50,000 maiden out there, and he should be hard to beat.” The colt is from the family of Group 2 winner Ventiquattrofogli (Ire). He was sold through Gordon Elliot's Cullentra Stables, for whom he ran. Elliott, who is better known as a successful jumps trainer, has made a foray into the flat this year, and runs Beckford (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar tomorrow.

There was a new record turnover of 26,857,300gns for this sale achieved on Thursday, with continued international presence shored up the top-end. The session featured more moderate racehorses, but nonetheless four lots made over 50,000gns, with competition for 3-year-old jumping prospects, and horses with appeal to the Middle East finding buyers aplenty. There were 242 horses offered, 41 more than last year, for an aggregate of 1,788,500gns. The average took a 7% decline, whilst the median fell from 7,000gns to 5,500gns. There was a slight drop in the clearance rate from 92% last year to 88%.

Les Arceaux (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}) (lot 1283) was knocked down to Mags O'Toole for 60,000gns and will be changing disciplines to continue his racing career over jumps. She said, “He's got the right profile and he'll go hurdling. He loves the soft ground. I don't know who'll train him yet.” The 3-year-old gelding was coming here off two consecutive wins. All three of his career victories have come on very soft or heavy ground, and he won easily on his most recent start by 4 1/2 lengths at Fairyhouse on the Oct. 24 for trainer and owner Johnny Murtagh. His dam, Amoureux (Deputy Minister), is a half-sister to champion 2-year-old in France, Passion For Gold (Medaglia d'Oro), now standing at stud.

Lot 1329, the Cacique (Ire) 2-year-old filly Celestin's (GB) is to head to Spain. She was purchased by the country's leading trainer, Guillermo Arizkorreta who is based in Madrid. Arizkorreta is no stranger to Newmarket, having previously done time with trainer Luca Cumani. He said “She will come to Spain to race. We were looking for a nice 2-year-old filly to run in the Classic races. She should stay, and she is still a maiden, so she also has that option open to her. The owner has some mares, so she could be kept for breeding later.” The filly is out of the stakes-placed Veenwouden (Gb) (Desert Prince {Ire}), and came from the stable of William Haggas. She has run three times, and was narrowly beaten in a mile maiden at Windsor three weeks ago.

Continuing along the international theme, Evening Hill (GB) (lot 1423), who is by Harbour Watch (GB), will head to Saudi Arabia. He was bought by owner Daham Bin Tawlah for 62,000gns, and he said, “He has good form and he will suit Saudi Arabia.” The 3-year-old colt has won twice since the catalogue was printed for former champion jockey turned trainer, Richard Hughes.

Dual-purpose trainer Ian Williams, who sold Monday's top lot, The Statesman (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}), will be training War Brigade (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) (lot 1441) with Richard Ryan signing on his behalf at 40,000gns. This lightly raced colt should be competitive on the flat and over hurdles, as he is effective on soft ground and from a smart staying family. He was sold by Jamie Railton on behalf of Qatar Racing.

A Galileo (Ire) colt, Orsino (Ire), (lot 1370) from the stable of Andrew Balding was sold privately after not making his reserve is the ring. He was bought by Ronald Postlethwaite for 50,000gns. Postlethwaite has horses in training with Yorkshire trainer Neville Bycroft. The 3-year-old is a winner, and has been placed four times. His dam, Birmanie (Aldebaran), has a perfect record having produced four winners from four runners.