Victrix Ludorum Tops Opening Day of Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale

The Richard Hannon-trained VICTRIX LUDORUM topped the opening session of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale at 220,000 guineas. A total of 257 lots were sold for 5,509,300 guineas, at an average of 21,437 guineas and a median of 10,000 guineas.

Consigned from East Everleigh Stables on behalf of Mrs Julie Wood, VICTRIX LUDORUM became the subject of bidding war between David Redvers and first Peter Doyle and then son Ross, the father and son duo bidding independently of each other.

However, the might of both Doyles could not fend off Redvers in full flow, who was sat on the stairs and on the telephone, with the Englishman winning the battle for the filly at 220,000gns.

"She has a very current family and was a serious two-year-old herself," reported Redvers. "She has been bought as a broodmare prospect and will be covered in the spring. We have not yet thought about a stallion."

The daughter of INVINCIBLE SPIRIT and the SUNDAY SILENCE mare MATIKANEHAMATIDORI won the £300,000 Tattersalls Fillies' Millions Trophy as a two-year-old, was Listed placed and picked up £238,695 in total earnings. Her third dam is DOFF THE DERBY, dam of GENEROUS, IMAGINE and WEDDING BOUQUET, the grand-dam of the brilliant multiple Group 1 winner MOONLIGHT CLOUD. VICTRIX LUDORUM is from a Japanese branch of the pedigree and was bought at Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale for 75,000 guineas.

Earlier in the day Anthony Stroud went to 200,000 guineas to secure the four-year-old CLON BRULEE. Third last time in a Listed race at Ayr, the colt by Modigliani is rated 99, having won over 1m2f at Doncaster in September off a mark of 93.

"He's for the Dubai Carnival," said Stroud, standing with David Loder, after purchasing the son of MODIGLIANI.

"They need to be improving types for Dubai if not already over a mark of 100," added Loder, in reference to the fact that CLON BRULEE was rated 67 when he started in handicaps last summer, rising steadily through the ranks this season.

CLON BRULEE was consigned by David Barron’s Maunby House Stables on behalf of Ms Colette Twomey.

Late in the evening Steve Gollings secured the three-year-old DEFICIT, consigned from Fitzroy House Stables for 140,000 guineas. Gollings, who bought ZAMOYSKI at this year's July Sale for US-based Irvin Naylor for 105,000gns, bought DEFICIT for the same owner.

"He has been bought to be shipped to the US to become, hopefully, a high-class jumper there for Irvin," explained Gollings. "That was also the original plan for ZAMOYSKI, but he has ended up staying with me - he runs in a Listed juvenile hurdle at Wetherby on Friday. It is his first run over hurdles; we were hoping to get a run before the race, but it hasn't happened. We think he is a nice horse, McCoy rides."

Underbidder today was dual-purpose trainer John Quinn, who has enjoyed such a good run in recent years with his juvenile hurdlers, winning the Triumph Hurdle in 2012 with Countrywide Flame.

Trainer Edward de Giles and owner Tom Gould were in a celebratory mood after their four-year-old BREAK RANK was knocked down to Saudi Arabian trainer Naif Al-Atawi on behalf of Prince Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al-Kabeer for 115,000 guineas. The pair had purchased the son of BROKEN VOW form the draft of Juddmonte Farms for just 34,000 guineas at the 2012 Tattersalls July Sale.

The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale continues at 9am on Tuesday, October 29.