Convergence Tops Third Day of Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale

The third day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale saw two lots make 400,000 guineas or more and a total of 10 topping six figures. The Juddmonte draft was, as ever, amongst the highlights with a total of 53 horses selling for an aggregate of 1,768,500 guineas.  Overall on Day 3,  317 lots  sold for 8,343,650 guineas at an average of 26,321 guineas and a median of 15,000 guineas. The clearance rate for the day was 88%.

CONVERGENCE was the top lot on Day 3 of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale when knocked down to Middleham-based trainer Karl Burke, acting on behalf of his Qatari-based owner Hassan Al Abdulmalik and Qatari-based trainer Debbie Mountain, for 420,000 guineas.

Catalogued as Lot 1086, the three-year-old colt by CAPE CROSS, won the Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown in June over seven furlongs adding to a brace of Listed wins at the same distance whilst in training with Ger Lyons.  The son of the NAYEF mare, ZAHOO, has earned over £100,000 in prize money and boasts a rating of 110.

Burke held off competition from Hong Kong trainer Sean Woods, as well as, Gassim Ghazali and said of the purchase:

"He is a lovely horse and he goes to Qatar. Hassan asked me to look at the horse and buy him on his behalf."

Burke himself has enjoyed a fabulous summer wearing his trainer's hat - his flagbearer Odeliz won the Prix Jean Romanet (G1) in August and then the Premio Lydia Tesio (G1) in Italy at the weekend.

"She is getting back from Italy now," said Burke. "She'll be heading here for the Breeding Stock Sale on December 2." (Lot 2017 in the Tattersalls December Mares Sale)

A few lots earlier the David Lanigan trained REMBRANDT VAN RIJN sold to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for 400,000 guineas, the second highest lot of the day.  The well-related son of PEINTRE CELEBRE, bred by Bjorn Nielsen, is a four-time winner with a rating of 105.

Anthony Stroud of Stroud Coleman Bloodstock commented:

"He is going to Dubai and is a horse we have followed all year. He has the right profile, a good rating, vetted well and David Lanigan has done a good job with him."

David Lanigan’s Kingdown Stables consignment was also responsible for the fourth highest of the day, TREVISANI, who sold to the Platinum Syndicate for 150,000 guineas.  Owned and bred by Bjorn Nielsen, the lightly raced son of DUBAWI is out of the Group 3 winning KING OF KINGS mare GEMINIANI.

The third highest lot of the day was the two-year-old filly, FLYING EMPRESS, who made 175,000 guineas when selling to Gassim Ghazali.  The daughter of HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR won twice and was fourth in this year’s Group 2 Rockfel Stakes for trainer Ralph Beckett and owner Qatar Racing. 

Ghazali said of his 95 rated purchase:

"She is a good looking filly and has been bought principally to run in the Qatar Oaks.”

 Will Douglass, who was assisting Ghazali, said:

"She is about the best performing filly in the catalogue, a fourth placing in the Rockfel is a good effort."