Red Baron reload with Horses In Training session-topper

After the six-figure frenzy witnessed during the first three days of the Tattersalls Autumn Horse In Training Sale, with 51 lots having fetched 100,000gns or more, proceedings at Park Paddocks took on a decidedly more low-key feel during Thursday's session.

Despite the dip in activity the session saw the sale reach a record level of turnover, with the aggregate after four days of trade standing at 26,857,300gns for 972 lots sold. The four-day average stood at 27,630gns while the median was 13,000gns, with the former figure rising four per cent from the comparative point in 2016, while the latter dipped by four per cent.

The day four stats returned turnover of 1,788,500gns - a year-on-year increase of seven per cent, an average of 8,435gns - down seven per cent - and a median of 5,500gns - down 21 per cent. A total of 212 lots changed hands for a clearance rate of 88 per cent.

The highest price came earlier in the session, when Al Donald secured the useful juvenile River Boyne from Gordon Elliott's Cullentra House Stables on behalf of Californian operation Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal for 70,000gns.

The son of Dandy Man had picked up an important update before coming under the hammer, having finished runner-up to Beatbox Rhythm in a Newcastle conditions event since the catalogue's publication.

"He's been bought for the Red Baron stable," said Donald. "They saw him while they were here earlier in the week. He was second in a hot conditions race last time so may be a maiden but he's a highly rated one. He can go to California and run in a $50,000 maiden straight away and should be quite hard to beat."

The colt, the seventh foal of the Mark Of Esteem mare Clytha, was among the first batch of juveniles to be trained by Elliott, and was bought by the trainer and Aidan O'Ryan for €65,000 at the Goffs Sportsman Sale.

The purchase took Red Baron's expenditure across the four days of selling to 537,000gns for six lots.

Evening abroad

Another bound for foreign shores is Evening Hill, after Daham Bin Tawalah went to 62,000gns to take the son of Harbour Watch with him back to Saudi Arabia.

"He is in-form and should suit Saudi Arabia," said a delighted in Tawalah, whose Autumn Horses In Training Sale haul included five lots for a spend of 250,000gns.

The three-year-old colt won three races for the Heffer syndicate and trainer Richard Hughes, including his last two outings which came after the catalogue had gone to press. He was last seen landing a mile handicap at Lingfield, for which he earned a Racing Post Rating of 84.

The other lot to break the 50,000gns barrier in the ring was Les Arceaux, who went the way of Mags O'Toole for 60,000gns. The son of Arcano won three times for Johnny Murtagh including on his latest outing in a Fairyhouse handicap over 1m4f.

Meanwhile, Ronald Postlethwaite parted with 50,000gns for Orsino in a private deal. The three-year-old son of Galileo was bred by the boutique French nursery Ecurie Des Monceaux, and was bought by Andrew Balding - for whom he won a Salisbury handicap - for 75,000gns at the 2015 December Yearling Sale.

Classic aspirations

The two-year-old filly Celestin's may still be a maiden after three starts, but lofty targets await after her sale to leading Spanish trainer Guillermo Arizkorreta for 43,000gns.

The daughter of Cacique, who was bred and raced by Wood Hall Stud and trained by William Haggas, is out of the Desert Prince mare Veenwouden and descends from the 1988 Park Hill Stakes winner Casey.

"She has been bought for the Spanish Classics next spring" said Arizkorreta, who is based in Madrid. "The fact that she is a maiden is helpful - hopefully we can get her maiden win and then move forwards. She has been running over a mile, but she should stay the Oaks trip."

Williams eyes French raid

Staying closer to home for the time being is War Brigade, after Ian Williams went to 40,000gns for the son of Manduro, who was offered by Jamie Railton on behalf of Qatar Racing.

"He will be a dual purpose type," said William's assistant Richard Ryan. "We like him because he's qualified for French owners' premiums, and Ian likes the occasional foray to France."

Bred by Chasemore Farm, the three-year-old colt, a €140,000 Arqana October Yearling buy by David Redvers, is out of the unraced Adjudicate, a Dansili sister to Australian Group 2 winner Permit.

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