Measuring Time Sells For 310,000 Guineas At Tattersalls

Quality continued to be in great demand at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale with Australian interests and those looking towards the Dubai Carnival dominating proceedings. The top price for the day was 310,000 guineas for the Group placed MEASURING TIME. A total of 230 lots were sold on the third day for a total of 5,465,500 guineas at an average of 23,763 guineas and a median of 9,250 guineas and a clearance rate of 87%.

The Group placed MEASURING TIME was knocked down to agent Anthony Stroud for 310,000 guineas and is another destined for the Dubai Racing Carnival. Consigned from Richard Hannon’s East Everleigh Stables on behalf of his breeder Woodcote Stud, the son of DUBAI DESTINATION had previously failed to reach his reserve as a yearling.

"It was the right covering at the time for his mare Inchberry as her half-sister had then produced the three-time winner and 90-rated Inchwood by Dubai Destination, but the commercial market had gone against the sire when we came to sell," said Barry Reilly of Woodcote Stud. "We had a reserve of 30,000gns on him as that just about covered costs.

"But you breed to produce a racehorse and hopefully the commercial market comes after. We had a few private offers for Measuring Time as a juvenile, but with the advice of our superb trainer we held until today. You can't write these things!"

"The horse was busy in the yard this week and all the right people had been to see him - it's nice when the judges say they like your horse. We had hoped for 100,000gns here."

New Zealand bloodstock consultant Paul Moroney was the underbidder whilst SackvilleDonald’s Alastair Donald also made a bold play to secure the three-year-old colt rated 111 by ‘Timeform’.

Australasian buyers have made a significant impact on the sale so far and Victorian trainer Robert Smerdon, who was making his first visit to Tattersalls, struck twice in two lots on a pair of colts from the Juddmonte Farms draft. Bidding through agent Stephen Hillen, Smerdon secured the SINGSPIEL colt VERDANT for 260,000 guineas and the ARCH colt ARCH FIRE for 180,000 guineas. Rated 107 and 101 respectively by ‘Timeform’, the Sir Michael Stoute trained pair were the highlight of the Juddmonte draft which saw a total of 40 lots sold for 1,346,500 guineas.

"I have trained an odd horse from Europe," added Smerdon, "but this is our first venture over here. We got in touch with Steve [Hillen] through Johnny Murtagh, who is a good friend of Australian trainer John Sadler.

"We were hoping to buy, but it wasn't the be-and-end-all to buy here - we just thought the exercise would be good to do to make contacts and find out the lay of the land and Steve's been great, most helpful. We are, of course, like all the Australians here, looking for Cup horses," continued Smerdon, who trains 70 horses at Caulfield.

"These were the two we really liked," added Hillen. "They are the only two we bid on - the Singspiel in particular, they get better with age and act on quick ground. They are both proper horses."

The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale continues at 9.30am on Thursday, October 27 with 288 lots catalogued to complete the sale.