Wildcards Light Up Day 3 Of Tattersalls Autumn Hit Sale

SEOLAN, a winner of her only two starts including the Listed Silken Glider Stakes and one of three recent ‘wildcard’ additions to the catalogue was one of the highlights on the third day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale along with the three-year-old colt SAIGON with the pair realizing 320,000 and 340,000 guineas respectively. The third day saw a total of 275 lots sold for 7,300,800 guineas, taking the three-day total to 19,909,200 guineas and ahead of the total turnover in 2011. The average of 26,548 guineas and a median of 13,000 guineas, represented rises of 12% and 41% on the corresponding session in 2011. As has been the case all week, the clearance rate was outstanding with 92% of the offered lots being sold.

There were a total of three ‘wildcard’ entries for this year’s renewal of the Horses in Training Sale and the first of the trio was the Listed winning three-year-old gelding GOLDONI who was consigned from Andrew Balding’s Park House Stables. Blandford Bloodstock’s Stuart Boman made much of the running along with National Hunt trainer Donald McCain with the former successful with a bid of 210,000 guineas.

"He's for David Hayes," said Boman. "His Listed win means that he is qualified for the Melbourne Cup and hopefully he'll go onto to be a Cup horse for David.

"He had the speed to win over 7f as a two-year-old and has got a mile and a half at three. He is not ground dependent either."

GOLDONI had been purchased as a yearling at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 16,000 guineas by Andrew Balding on behalf of Mick and Janice Mariscotti.

The second ‘wildcard’ lot was the four-year-old gelding NEW HAMPSHIRE which was knocked down to Saad Bin Mishraf for 120,000 guineas, but it was the final lot of the three late additions that was to light up the ring. Consigned from Paddy Prendergast’s Melitta Lodge Stables, SEOLAN - the two-year-old daughter of ALHAARTH - was unbeaten on her only two starts including at Listed level most recently. Interest in the filly was an international affair and included Greek agent Anani Antoniadis, Danish trainer Bent Olsen and bloodstock consultant Johnny Johnstone. But the trio were usurped by Californian trainer Jim Cassidy, who along with agent Gordion Troeller and owner Deron Pearson, secured the filly for 320,000 guineas.

"She was our pick of the fillies at this sale," smiled a delighted Troeller.

"But what really sold her to us was when we watched the video of her Listed win. She was always going to win, but when another filly came up to her quarters, you could see SEOLAN almost say 'No way!' and she just went away to win. She is very game.

"We might look to run her in the Miesque Stakes at the end of November; we had chatted about whether any of our purchases could run off the plane, and she would be the one.

"However, with Thanksgiving it is difficult to get the shipping plans sorted, so we will see if it will work in."

SEOLAN was originally bought as a yearling at Tattersalls Ireland last November for just €2,200 by BBA Ireland. She ran and won her maiden for trainer Paul Deegan and his wife, before transferring to Paddy Predergast for owner Richard Barnes.

The draft from Juddmonte Farms is always one of the highlights of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale and with recent graduates including the Group 1 winners PROHIBIT and STAND TO GAIN it was no surprise that the trend continued. The consignment of 54 lots, all offered without reserve, returned a total of 1,413,300 guineas. The highlight of the group was the CAPE CROSS five-year-old JET AWAY who was knocked down to Stuart Boman for 200,000 guineas.

"He is for a long-established Irish-based client, but is for Australia. He is one for the Cup and his form means that he is definitely qualified - it makes a lot of sense.

"He is lightly raced for a six-year-old, likes fast ground and should be a lot of fun for some years. He also has a stallion's pedigree."

It was late in the evening when the top priced lot for the day was achieved for the three-year-old colt SAIGON. The son of ROYAL APPLAUSE was offered from James Toller’s Eve Lodge Stables and knocked down to Anthony Stroud for 340,000 guineas.

"He is going to Dubai, and has the right profile," said Stroud. "He has the right profile and is a very nice horse. James Toller has done very well with him."

The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale continues on Thursday, November 1 at 9.30am.