Harlem Makes 520,000 Guineas and Tops Third Day of Autumn HIT Sale

Phenomenal trade continued on the third day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale where the international buying bench once again contributed to significant increases in all the key indicators.  The top two lots realised the highest prices at this sale for six years whilst a total of 20 lots topped six figures. The Juddmonte draft was, as ever, amongst the highlights with a total of 32 horses selling for 2,257,500 guineas including the 520,000 guineas sale-topper HARLEM.  Overall on Day 3, 286 lots sold for 9,653,300 guineas at an average of 33,753 guineas and a median of 17,000 guineas. The clearance rate for the day was a remarkable 95%.

Topping proceedings at 520,000 guineas, HARLEM became the highest priced lot sold at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale since 2010. Offered as part of the Juddmonte draft, the son of CHAMPS ELYSEES was knocked down to Alastair Donald of SackvilleDonald who was standing with Australian-based agent Louis Le Metayer of Astute Bloodstock. 

Under the guidance of French trainer Andre Fabre, the four-year-old colt won the Listed Prix Frederic de Lagrange and was placed three times in Group race company.

With a ‘Timeform’ rating of 118, Harlem heads to Australia as Donald explained:

"He is for a Hong Kong-based client, who is determined to win the Sydney Cup. It is worth A$2 million and is part of the ATC Championships series. I bought Spillway for the client and he won the Australia Cup. That horse was trained by David Hayes and he will train this horse too."

Le Metayer of Astute Bloodstock added:

"He is a beautiful horse, is lightly raced. He has good form lines which tie in with the Geelong Cup runner-up (Grey Lion), which is very strong."

The underbidder on HARLEM was Tom Malone.

The cosmopolitan theme continued when the second highest priced lot of the day PLEASELETMEWIN was bought by Qatari-based trainer Gassim Ghazali for 450,000 guineas. Bids were exchanged between a wide range of potential purchasers that included agents Charlie Gordon-Watson and Alex Elliot as well as Pennsylvania trainer Leslie Young. Elliot had purchased the bay gelding as a yearling for just 36,000 pounds but had to settle for second best on this occasion.

The two-year-old son of POWER was consigned by trainer Ralph Beckett’s Kimpton Down Stables from where he was campaigned to victory in three from seven starts which included an impressive win in the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury last time out.

PLEASELETMEWIN was sold with a ‘Timeform’ rating of 106 and an entry for the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita next weekend.

Ghazali commented:

"I am delighted.  My owner Sheail Al Kuwari wanted me to buy this horse, he did not want me to come home without him! He has seen him run and told me to buy him, without limit.

"I will speak to him tonight and we will decide on plans, particularly regarding the Breeders' Cup Juvenile entry."

Late in the evening, from the draft of Andrew Balding’s Park House Stables, REAL DOMINION realised 350,000 guineas when knocked down to Ted Voute of Voute Sales on behalf of Saudi Arabian client Prince Faisal bin Khalid.

‘Timeform’ rated 106, the son of CAPE BLANCO has been placed in 8 out of 12 starts, winning twice for owners Mick and Janice Mariscotti who bought the bay colt for just 60,000 guineas at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

ABOVE N BEYOND from Tom Dascombe’s Manor House Stables achieved the fourth highest price of the day when bought by Anthony Stroud of Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for 230,000 guineas. 

The three-year-old son of EXCEED AND EXCEL was second in the Listed Doncaster Stakes last October and won over a mile and a half at Haydock on his most recent outing earning himself a ‘Timeform’ rating of 110.

Stroud commented:

"He is for the Dubai Carnival.  We were just beginning to come up for air at that price!

"He is a nice horse and has made his money; it is difficult to find horses of a suitable rating, in the region of 98, to go to Dubai. We have bought around five so far for the Carnival."

The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale continues at 9.30am on Thursday, October 27.