Autumn Horses In Training Sale concludes with record turnover

The five-day Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale concluded in Newmarket on Friday, with intense international demand having fueled record levels of turnover.

The five sessions, which saw 246 more lots catalogued than in 2016, generated turnover of 27,282,200gns – a nine per cent year-on-year increase. The average sales price of 25,617gns was down three per cent, while a median of 11,000gns was down 2,500gns on the figure registered in 2016. All told, 1,065 lots changed hands for a clearance rate of 85 per cent.

"The one word which best describes the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale is 'unique'," said Tattersalls' chairman Edmond Mahony. "The sale is unique in that there is nothing quite like it anywhere else in the world in terms of size and diversity and it is also unique for the extraordinary number of overseas buyers it attracts every year.

"This year's catalogue was the largest ever, with almost 250 more lots catalogued than last year, and the sale has still managed to achieve a clearance rate of 85 per cent as well as record turnover for the third time in the past four years. The obvious highlight of the sale was the 700,000gns record top price for the outstanding Group 2-winning Galileo filly Elizabeth Browning, and in addition we have had a record 51 six-figure lots, all of which demonstrates the sustained demand for quality horses.

"While the top-priced lots grab the headlines, the real feature of the Autumn Horses In Training Sale is the international participation which is evident at all levels of this market. The top 20 lots have been shared amongst buyers from Britain, Ireland, Australia, China, Dubai, Hong Kong, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the US, and in total buyers from more than 30 different countries have all played their part in this week's record breaking sale."

Low-key

The highlight of a muted session on Friday was undoubtedly the draft offered by Robyn Brisland, with the two-year-old filly Beckton bringing a winning bid of 50,000gns from Will Douglass on behalf of leading Qatari trainer Gassim Mohammad Ghazali.

"I saw the filly this morning and liked her," said Douglass. "I got straight on the phone to Gassim, who is now on a plane. She's a maiden but has good form and there is good prize-money in Qatar for maidens. We've bought 13 this week, many of them maidens."

The filly, who had been picked up for a mere 800gns as a yearling, ran twice for Brisland and finished runner-up on both outings. The first-crop daughter of Gazeley Stud sire Finjaan is out of the Nashwan mare Stormy Weather, which makes her a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Chigun.

Another notable purchase from the same draft came when Nick Bradley bought Line House for 27,000gns. The two-year-old son of Kheleyf showed improved form when making all in a 7f Newcastle novice auction stakes since the catalogue's release.

Brisland's Sackville House Stables sold 13 lots across the five days for a total of 261,300gns.

Value acquisition

Less than 24 hours after landing the Durham National with the Dr Richard Newland-trained Audacious Plan, the Value Racing Club made an addition to their string when securing Broughtons Admiral from Henry Spiller from 18,000gns.

The three-year-old son of Born To Sea, a 60,000gns Book 2 yearling, ran nine times for Spiller, reaching the places on five occasions, including when third in a Chelmsford handicap over two miles on his latest outing.

"We liked this horse and he's still a maiden," said Value Racing Club founder Jamie Couldwell. "I think he wants a trip - and his past connections ran him over two miles last time. We've bought him as a fun, dual-purpose type. He's going into training with Alastair Ralph in Shropshire and will be for a new syndicate."

The final session brought an aggregate spend of 424,900gns, an average of 4,569gns and a median of 3,000gns. A total of 93 lots sold for a clearance rate of 78 per cent.

The session was followed by Book 4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, which saw 26 of 38 offered lots change hands for a clearance rate of 68 per cent. Turnover stood at 96,900gns - down 32 per cent from a 44 per cent smaller catalogue in 2016. The average was up 13 per cent to 3,727gns and median was up 30 per cent to 3,250gns.

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