Cloudberry Sells for 310,000 Guineas at Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale

The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale continued in robust fashion on the second day with with nine lots realising 100,000 guineas or more and a packed Park Paddocks crowd pushing the average and median significantly higher. A total of 233 lots were sold for 7,390,900 guineas at an average of 31,721 guineas and a median of 19,000 guineas. The turnover rose 33% on last year’s corresponding session whilst the average and median both rose 41%. The clearance rate was an outstanding 89%. 

Roger Charlton’s Beckhampton Stables was responsible for the top price for the second day in a row when CLOUDBERRY was knocked down to Qatari trainer Jassim Ghazali for 310,000 guineas. The son of PIVOTAL was knocked down to sale-regular Ghazali, who was stood alongside Will Douglass of Charlie Gordon-Watson Bloodstock.

"He is very progressive horse, his win on Friday was a good performance," said Douglass. "He has gone on good ground, Pivotal's get better with age and he ticks all the boxes. He came highly recommended by the former connections. We are concentrating on quality buying this year."

Charlton had purchased CLOUDBERRY from his former owners for just 15,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July Sale after his maiden victory, but a further three victories culminating in a handicap win at Newbury on Friday saw his appeal increase significantly.

Charlton, whose IMPERIAL AVIATOR sold for 270,000 guineas yesterday, had mixed emotions and said: "It is a very good sale. The horse has blossomed since and has improved a lot. His last win was good and he should continue to do well for his new owners."

Underbidder on CLOUDBERRY was John Egan, while Alastair Donald and Johnny McKeever were also involved in the early skirmishes to secure the three-year-old.

FINAL VENTURE looks a sprinter for the future having won four races this year which has seen his official rating rise from 69 to 104 for trainer Alan Swinbank. He is set to remain in North Yorkshire after trainer Paul Midgley bought the horse for owner Andrew Taylor for 260,000 guineas. 

Ian Mayson, representing the owner and trainer, admitted that the team had seen the son of EQUIANO at the races and had him in mind for a time.

"We'll take him home and he might be one to take to the Carnival," said Mayson. "Andrew Taylor has around 12 horses with Paul now - good horses such as Monsieur Joe, Line Of Reason and Ninjago - but this is the most expensive purchase."

The third of the three lots to realise 200,000 guineas or more on the second day of the Autumn Horses in Training Sale was the David O’Meara trained TREASURY NOTES who was knocked down to Anthony Stroud for 200,000 guineas. The son of LOPE DE VEGA was another who saw his official rating soar since he last went through an auction ring, having been purchased by his current owner for 30,000 guineas at this sale last year when rated 77. He was sold today with an official rating of 100.

Australian buyers always play a prominent part at the Autumn Horses in Training Sale, and another set to head ‘down under’ is the three-year-old gelding YANGTZE, having been knocked down to trainer Sam Pritchard-Gordon for 185,000 guineas.

Consigned by Sir Michael Stoute’s Freemason Lodge Stables, the son of DANSILI was knocked down to expat Pritchard-Gordon, stood alongside his brother Tom. The Philip Newton owned and bred three-year-old is officially rated 103 by ‘Timeform’. 

"I went to work in Australia about 12 years ago, worked with Gai Waterhouse and then Lee Freedman," said Pritchard-Gordon. "I set up training around five years ago and we've had a bit of success with Buxted who we bought here - he won a Listed race and ran in the Metropolitan.

"This horse will cost me around A$280,000, but if he wins a Group 3 he will get all of that back, the prize-money is so good in Australia. And there is such a lot of interest in owning horses - everyone wants to be part of a syndicate.

"The dream for all is to have a Cup horse - and so now is the time of year to capitalise on that. This horse has some substance, is an improver and by Dansili will suit."

The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale continues at 9.30am on Wednesday, October 26.