Excessive worldwide demand fueled a robust opening session of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Coaching Sale in Newmarket Oct. 25, with curiosity from across the globe leading to a slew of huge costs.
Coolmore’s elegant Horoscope was the most sought after offering, with the son of No Nay Never knocked down to Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland at 325,000 guineas (US$670,912).
The 3-year-old made 12 starts for Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore partners, having been plucked from Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale by Charlie Gordon-Watson Bloodstock at 300,000 guineas ($384,906).
Horoscope in the ring
The highlight of his career to date came when winning the listed M.D. O’ Shea & Sons Vincent O’Brien Ruby Stakes, while he achieved a peak rating of 110 for his third in the Clipper Logistics Boomerang Mile Solonaway Stakes (G2) on his penultimate outing. Like many of the horses sold during the opening session, Horoscope is set to continue his racing days in the Middle East.
“He is been purchased for a Center Japanese shopper,” mentioned Donohoe. “With a score of 110 he is in a position to compete in all these top-level occasions in all of the Emirati nations. He’ll go on the short floor on the market, he is versatile, he is a handsome horse and has the pedigree to be a stallion additional down the highway.”
Horoscope is out of Inca Wooden, a Timber Nation sibling to 4 black-type performers, together with group 1-placed runners Furner’s Inexperienced and Woman Lupus, whereas one other half sister, Palace, is the dam of Innisfree and High Definition .
Earlier in the session Donohoe also went to 200,000gns for I Am Magic , a winning son of Magician who was last seen finishing third to Glounthaune in the Oct. 16 Richmond Homes Killavullan Stakes (G3) for Michael O’Callaghan.
“He’s been bought for a client from the Middle East and the immediate plan is he’ll go to the Saudi Derby,” said Donohoe, who relegated Barry Lynch to the role of frustrated underbidder.
“He should get into the race off that rating and there’s a future for him as a 3-year-old after that. I thought he was a very good physical, he’s got plenty of size, vetted well and he looks like a horse who’ll be better next year. We liked his last run and he’s got some good form in the book.”
I Am Magic is out of the winning Acclamation mare Miss Frangipane, making him a half brother to two black-type performers, namely Secret Sharp, a listed scorer in Italy, and Mordimi, a listed-placed son of Morpheus.
Monday’s transaction continued I Am Magic’s upward trajectory in the sales ring, as he first fetched 14,000 guineas ($19,485) from Aguiar Bloodstock at the Ascot Yearling Sale, before O’Callaghan bought the colt for 95,000 guineas ($139,080) at the Guineas Breeze-Up Sale.
“I saw him breeze and I’ve seen him run a few times back in Ireland, I was at Leopardstown when he ran last week so I’ve been following him,” said Donohoe. “Michael recommended him and he’s sold a few good ones in the past.”
Horoscope headed a market that generated aggregate sales of 7,126,000 guineas ($14,711,698), a punchy 72% year-on-year increase.
There was a similarly hefty gain made by the median, which was up 78% to 16,000 guineas ($33,040), while the average rose by 60% to 27,095 guineas ($55,956). The clearance rate was 88% as 263 of 299 offered lots found a buyer.
Shadwell Draft Takes Center Stage
The sizeable draft from Shadwell is one of the major draws at this year’s Autumn Horses in Training Sale, and the leading light from the operation’s offering on Monday was the progressive Majalh, who was knocked down to Jassim Al Ghazali at 155,000 guineas ($320,061).
Majalh in the ring
Although the Qatari trainer is a regular at this sale, COVID-19 related travel restrictions have kept him away from Newmarket on this occasion, so he struck the successful bid online.
Majalh, a 2-year-old son of Siyouni , was last seen running out a bloodless winner of a four-runner Brighton novice stakes, having also shown promise behind subsequent Emirates Autumn Stakes (G3) winner Coroebus on his penultimate outing for William Haggas.
“He’s a very good-looking horse who gave a clean vetting and was very well prepared by Shadwell,” said Al Ghazali’s bloodstock agent Will Douglass. “He won nicely at Brighton and we’ve had a bit of luck buying horses from William Haggas. On pedigree there’s a bit more to come and hopefully he can progress.”
Douglass added: “Some Qataris have managed to get here and Jassim was very keen to fly over for the sale, but restrictions caused by Covid made it difficult.”
Majalh is the first foal out of Musaanada, a winning Sea The Stars half sister to the listed scorer Greatwood. Further back it is the family of Classic winners Fame And Glory and Legatissimo. Shadwell sold 31 lots on Monday for receipts totaling 1,332,500 guineas ($2,750,919).
Raadobarg Moves to Murtagh
Raadobarg in the ring
Among those staying closer to home is the smart performer Raadobarg, who departs Roger Varian and is set to join the team at Johnny Murtagh’s after Hamish Macauley landed the son of Night of Thunder at 150,000 guineas ($309,769).
The 3-year-old rattled off a hat-trick earlier in the year, with successes recorded at Leicester, Thirsk and Haydock. He hit a peak Racing Post Rating (RPR) of 104 when third to Royal Fleet in a class two handicap at Doncaster on his penultimate outing.
“I’m delighted to get such a high-class horse,” said Murtagh. “His form looks solid and hopefully he can improve from three to four.”
The half brother to July Stakes winner Classic Blade, a £200,000 Goffs UK Premier Sale buy by Alex Elliott, was offered by Aguiar Bloodstock.
Boman Back for More
Montather in the ring
Stuart Boman was responsible for sourcing this year’s Autumn Horses in Training Sale poster boy Zaaki , who has won a brace of group 1s since switching to the Australian stable of Annabel Neasham.
The Blandford Bloodstock agent was back in action on Monday and went to 140,000 ($289,048) guineas for the Shadwell-consigned Montather, who will join the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace operation. The 4-year-old son of Dubawi won three races for Roger Varian, and changed hands with a peak RPR of 104.
“He’s off to Australia,” said Boman. “I’ve bought him for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. We’ve had a bit of luck buying at this sale over the years and they wanted to come back and buy a nice horse.
“I spoke to Roger Varian, who handled the horse beautifully, and I think he’s a very talented individual who will like the faster pace in Australia because he’s been a bit keen in races. He handles fast ground and he’s a lovely horse to look at, so we’re delighted to get him.”
Montather is out of the listed-placed Lanansaak, a daughter of Zamindar from the family of Hamdan Al Maktoum’s One Thousand Guineas (G1) heroine Shadayid.
The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale continues Oct. 26 at 9:30am.
