Sale Topper on Day 1 of Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale Heads Down Under

The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale got off to a positive start on the opening day with a wide representation of International buyers.  Seven lots topped six-figures and the top lot made 240,000 guineas. A total of 228 lots were sold for 5,105,000 guineas, at an average of 22,390 guineas and a median of 12,000 guineas.

The top lot on the first day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale was secured by a single bid when Grant Pritchard-Gordon started and ended the bidding for the three-year-old colt, PROSPECTOR, at 240,000 guineas.

The son of GALILEO, catalogued as Lot 289, is a half-brother to MASTERCRAFTSMAN and a winner of two races from three starts for trainer Aidan O’Brien. 

Grant Pritchard-Gordon of Badgers Bloodstock said:

"He has been bought for an Australian client and it is a successful tactic that they have used and were keen to use again. Prospector is beautifully bred and is a half-brother to a much under-rated stallion in Mastercraftsman.

"He has a good profile and will improve with time. He is unlikely to run in Europe again and will ship when ready."

RED GALILEO from Ed Dunlop Racing’s draft was the second highest lot of the day when selling to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for 155,000 guineas, fending off competition from eventual underbidders Guy Mulcaster and Jassim Ghazali.  

The son of DUBAWI, who is rated 102, is a black-type performer and was a notable fifth to AUSTRALIA in the Epsom Derby.  The gelding, who is out of the GALILEO mare IVORY GALA, was the first bought by Anthony Stroud at the sale for the Dubai Carnival.

Anthony Stroud said of his purchase:

"He is a good horse and one with a rating good enough for Dubai. He is by an outstanding stallion in Dubawi and has the right profile for the Carnival."

The third highest priced lot of the day was FLAMING SPEAR who sold to Stephen Hillen, standing with trainer Kevin Ryan, for 125,000 guineas.  Ryan knows the three-year-old son of LOPE DE VEGA well, having trained him for his entire career and was obviously keen to keep him when buying from original owners Qatar Racing & Essafinaat.

Stephen Hillen, who fended off competition from underbidder Jeremy Brummitt as well as David Simcock said:

"Flaming Spear has been unlucky and things just have not gone the horse's way. He needs a bit of dig in the ground, but, when he was due to run, it kept staying fast - he often ended up a non-runner.

"He'll go home, be gelded and he'll be back on track next year."

Stephen Hillen was also responsible for buying the fourth highest lot of the day, CLASSIC VILLAGER, from Chris Wall's Induna Stables for 110,000 guineas.  The three-year-old gelding, owned by Mr Fung Lok Li, has won three times and is rated 90.

"He's one I really wanted to buy today," said Hillen "His form is really progressive and from his videos it looks as though he travels well in his races, which I love to see. 

"The Authorizeds seem to get better with age and hopefully this horse will become a good Saturday horse. He has been bought for Brian and Rosie Hargie and buying a horse in training means you have more chance to recoup your money."

Brian and Rosie were with Hillen, and Brian said:

"We won't have bought a potential Classic winner, but we know more of what we are getting and it lessens the risk."