Tattersalls’ Autumn Horses In Training Sale concluded
in Newmarket Thursday evening with the three-year-old gelding THE GREY BERRY
(Observatory), who topped the closing day with a 340,000 guineas final bid.
Purchased by agent Aiden Murphy as a jumping prospect, Lot No. 1351 had been secured
by his trainer Tim Walford privately for just 9,250gns 12 months ago.
“He’s for
an existing owner with Philip Hobbs,” said Murphy after outbidding agent Anthony
Stroud, who had been shopping for the Dubai Carnival at the sale. “We’ve been
looking all week and this was the first one that we really wanted to go for,
he’s a good-looking horse that vetted well and could improve further.”
Part-owner Walford was delighted with the sale.
“Today was the sale of the
century!” Walford said. “It’s a pleasure to sell one when you know there is
absolutely nothing wrong with him — he’s got loads of potential, which a lot of
the others haven’t got. I’m a trainer, but also a dealer and you have to sell to
make a profit sometimes.”
Phillip Hobbs, who secured the closing session’s sale
topper, also bought three-year-old HIBIKI (Montjeu [Ire]) for 120,000gns
as a hurdling prospect.
Lot No. 1528, two-year-old SPORTING ART (Doneraile Court), is
heading back to the United States after New York agent Steve Young, accompanied by
British adviser Jamie McCalmont, saw off California trainer Jim Cassidy when the
colt made 220,000gns.
“He’s a lightly-raced two-year-old that has shown he has
talent on more than one surface and there’s enough dirt in his pedigree to
gamble he can make it on that service. I don’t know who will train him,” said
Young, who was acting for owners Jon and Sarah Kelly.
At the conclusion of Thursday’s session, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony
expressed satisfaction with trade at this year’s sale despite a decrease in
turnover to 23,293,200gns, down three percent from 2006. Average dipped by 10
percent to 24,519gns, while the 11,000gns median fell by 15 percent.
“The Autumn
Horses in Training Sale has made remarkable progress in recent years, and after
the huge rises last year, it would have been no great surprise if this year’s
renewal had fallen a little short,” Mahony said. “The turnover, however, has all
but matched last year’s wide margin record of almost 24 million guineas.
“The key
to the sale’s continuing success is the extraordinary diversity of the buyers,
and this week has been no exception with buyers from every continent in the
world all making significant contributions. The National Hunt fraternity has
also played a huge role this week and the sale’s reputation as arguably the best
source of a topclass hurdler is as strong as ever.
“The growing profile of the
Dubai International Racing Carnival is another factor which has added a new
dimension to the top of the market and we look forward to seeing plenty of the
higher profile lots from this week, including the 520,000 guineas sale topper
Yellowstone (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]), making their presence felt in Dubai next year.
“In total, we have
had 44 lots break the six-figure barrier this week and while prize money levels
in Britain remain a concern, it is encouraging for owners to know that there is
still very much a vibrant international demand for quality horses in training.”
Book 4 of the October Yearling Sale takes place at Tattersalls Friday.