Ballymacoll Lot Tops Tatts HIT Day 2

The second day of selling at Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale began at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, with the 269 lots offered ultimately grossing 7,668,300gns, a 4% rise in aggregate compared to last year. Eighteen lots made upwards of 100,000gns, six better than 2016, and as always, competition for the horse with the right 3-year-old profile was strong. The average was 33,139gns (+4.6%) and the median was 18,000gns (-5.3%). The clearance rate dropped from 89% to 85.9%

Six lots were offered from the Ballymacoll Dispersal, who are renowned for their quality bloodstock. Among them was 3-year-old gelding, Pivoine (Ire) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) (lot 691), who was trained by Sir Michael Stoute. The bidding reached 340,000gns, and underbidder Guy Mulcaster had to step away, leaving this attractive horse, consigned by Freemason Lodge Stables, to be knocked down to agent Alastair Donald of SackvilleDonald.

“He will stay in training in England, for a client,” said Donald. “He's a lovely horse and we've followed him for a while. I think that there's a lot more to come from him. He has run some good times, and he has shown a nice turn of foot.”

Pivoine came to Park Paddocks having won his last two starts, and has a Timeform rating of 102+. He is out of the Montjeu (Ire) mare Fleur de Cactus (Ire), from the family of G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Islington (Ire) (Sadler's Wells).

Somerville Lodge Lots Popular on Tuesday…

Active earlier on the day, SackvilleDonald was the name on the ticket for Battered (GB) (Foxwedge {Aus}) (lot 665) consigned through Somerville Lodge. Purchased for 200,000gns, Battered is out of a winning daughter of listed SW Star Tulip (GB) (Night Shift) from the extended family of MGSW Scarlet Runner (GB) (Night Shift).

This 3-year-old gelding is Dubai Carnival-bound, as Donald explained, “He has the rating to get into the right races in Dubai. He is a progressive, tough horse, and he ran his last two races in good times.”

William Haggas also sold Learn By Heart (GB) (lot 671), a listed-placed son of Frankel (GB), for 160,000gns to Scandinavian trainer Bent Olsen. This beautifully bred colt is just 2-years-old, and is out of Group 2 winner Memory (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).

“The plan is to go to Denmark,” said Olsen. “The owner has Brownie, who I also train, and is probably the best horse in Scandinavia. We wanted a young horse to run in the big races there. And everyone wants a Frankel.”

Clarehaven Lots a Major Theme…

Donald had also struck earlier for Eldritch (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) (lot 631), sitting alongside owner Tim Cohen, who signs under Red Baron's Barn & Rancho Temescal. They had to spend 200,000gns to secure this dual-winning 3-year-old. Eldritch, whose second dam is French MGSW & G1SP Blue Note (Fr) (Habitat) was trained by John Gosden, and consigned by his Clarehaven Stables.

Cohen commented, “He was a good mover. He was one of the better horses in the sale still with the right conditions left to run in allowance races in California.”

Several horses from the Clarehaven draft made high prices, beginning with Lot 625, the wonderfully consistent GM Hopkins (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The fall of the hammer drew cries of delight from his purchasers when they secured him for 95,000gns. He was bought by the Bahraini trainer Jaber Ramadhan, standing with his nephews and cousins, who has recently been granted a license to train in Dubai.

“I like this horse a lot, and he will go to Dubai,” said Ramadhan, who has a string of 18 in Bahrain in the colours of his younger brother. “I have been following him closely, and he is a very consistent horse. He has never been to Dubai but I think it will suit him. It will be my first season training in Dubai and I will have six horses there.”

The 6-year-old GM Hopkins, who carries an official rating of 104, recently finished second by just a neck at Ascot in the Balmoral H. on QIPCO British Champions Day and is out of the MSP Varsity (GB) (Lomitas {GB}).

Nathaniel Offspring Make Headlines Tuesday…

Next into the ring, Face The Facts (Ire) (lot 632) saw Harold Kirk spring back into action, on behalf of Willie Mullins, who signed for the horse at 100,000gns. This Nathaniel (Ire) gelding, of whose progeny John Gosden must be a fan, as he also trains G1 Prix de l'Arce de Triomphe heroine Enable (GB), is a half-brother to Galileo (Ire) listed victresses Oh Beautiful (GB) and Freedom's Light (GB). The winning dam Aricia (Ire) (Nashwan) is a half-sister to MGSW & G1SP Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), herself the dam of MG1SW Halfway to Heaven (Ire) (Ire), MGSW Tickled Pink (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and GSW Theann (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}).

“He should hopefully make up into a nice staying and jumping type,” said Mullins. “We've been lucky from John Gosden in the past, with Thomas Hobson, and he recommend this one.”

Anthony Stroud is a prolific buyer at this sale, sourcing horses for Dubai, and that is where another son of Nathaniel, Eynhallow (GB) (lot 715), is headed after being knocked down for 300,000gns. The gelded son of Listed Warwickshire Oaks heroine Ronaldsay (GB) (Kirkwall {GB}) is a half-brother to G3 Jersey S. hero Gale Force Ten (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who ran second in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and third in the G1 Middle Park S. The 3-year-old has barely put a foot wrong in his racing career, and is currently rated 91, performing with credit on good-firm and soft ground.

Eynhallow was consigned by Beckhampton House Stables, where trainer Roger Charlton is based, and Stroud remarked, “He's got good form, was bred by Mrs. McCreery, and has been very well managed by his trainer. He has the right profile for Dubai.”

Stroud also bought Lot 633, Jupiter Light (GB) (Lonhro {Aus}), for 220,000gns from John Gosden, who is also bound for Dubai. Jupiter Light finished second to The Statesman (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}), who sold Monday for 310,000gns, before winning last time out a fortnight ago at Nottingham.

“He was recommended by the trainer, and he vetted well,” said Stroud. “He's heading to the Carnival.”

Australia Beckons for Real Gent…

Kendargent (Fr) was in the spotlight once again at this sale when his son Real Gent (GB) (lot 582), a 2-year-old colt trained by Kevin Ryan and consigned by his Hambleton Lodge Stables, was sold for 130,000gns. He is destined for Australia, and was bought by Paul Moroney. This attractive grey colt will be trained by his brother Michael for their Ballymore Down Under Syndicate.

Moroney, delighted with his purchase, explained “He's going to Australia to be trained by my brother. It's unusual for us to buy a 2-year-old, but after looking at all the horses on my list, I thought that he was the best physical. He's got a great attitude and walk, and he has lots of power. He's six months behind his peers in Australia, but we've bought him as a potential group horse down there at the back end of his 3-year-old and 4-year-old season. I thought that we bought him really well, I'm happy with that price.”

This colt has only had two runs to date, and won over a mile at Haydock on his second start, one month ago. He comes from a smart Aga Khan family, bred to stay and improve, being out of the Rainbow Quest mare Ebatana (Ire). The second dam is none other than champion 3-year-old filly Ebadiyla (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), a dual Group 1 winner, who saluted in the G1 Irish Oaks.

Al-Mousa Selects Duo For Saudi Arabia…

Heading to Saudi Arabia is City Of Joy (GB) (Elusive City) (lot 694), from the draft of Sir Michael Stoute. Out of a full-sister to Group 3 winner Sadler's Flag (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), City of Joy was acquired for 200,000gns by owner Abdulaziz Al-Mousa, and will travel east with the King's Cup as the main target.

“He has a good rating, and he is a good-looking horse,” said Al-Mousa of the 94-rated sophomore gelding. “He has also run well on the all-weather, which will suit him for racing in Saudi Arabia.”

The form lines of this sale continue, as this 3-year-old gelding finished fourth last time out to the aforementioned The Statesman. Al-Mousa also signed for another offering from Freemason Lodge Stables, Swiftsure (Ire) (lot 706), a 3-year-old gelding by Dubawi (Ire). The son of G3 Prix Penelope scorer La Sylphide (Swi) (Barathea {Ire}) cost 180,000gns, and has run four times this year, winning at Yarmouth in his latest appearance.