The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale got off to a solid start on the opening day with eleven lots selling for 100,000 guineas or more and a wide cross section of buyers active. Topping proceedings during the opening session was the Coolmore consigned CARRACCI at 320,000 guineas.
Australian buyers Ciaron Maher, Annabel Neasham and Darby Racing were all active at this sale during the opening session.
Carracci Bound for Saudi Arabia After 320,000 Guineas Purchase
The Coolmore consigned CARRACCI is destined for Saudi Arabia after being purchased by Aidan ‘Mouse’ O’Ryan for 320,000 guineas, having seen off underbidder Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland.
"He has been bought for SBS Global and he goes to Saudi Arabia," said O'Ryan from his bidding position by the chute. "He is my pick of the sale, I love the sire and he speaks for himself. This horse's form is good, and we were keen to get him. He should be one for the big races in Saudi in the spring."
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, CARRACCI was a winner at two and was placed in the Group 3 2000 Guineas Trial Stakes at Leopardstown as a three-year-old this April. He was fourth on his most recent start in the Listed Diamond Stakes at Dundalk in September and is Timeform rated 102.
The son of QUALITY ROAD comes from a top pedigree being out of the Group 3 Munster Oaks third BUTTERFLIES, a GALILEO daughter of MARIAH'S STORM, the dam of GIANT'S CAUSEWAY and granddam of Classic/Group 1 winners GLENEAGLES, HAPPILY, JOAN OF ARC, MARVELLOUS, DECORATED KNIGHT and ABOVE THE CURVE.
Stroud Coleman Bloodstock and Paddy Twomey Land Firebird for 260,000 Guineas
The once-raced FIREBIRD, consigned by Barton Sales, was purchased by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock’s Matt Coleman for 260,000 guineas. The two-year-old LOPE DE VEGA filly was bred by the late Sir Robert Ogden, raced by Lady Ogden and trained by Rebecca Menzies to finish second on her sole start to date at Ayr at the beginning of October.
FIREBIRD is out of the FRANKEL mare WAR AND PEACE, a daughter of the Group 1 Matron Stakes winner EMULOUS.
"She has been bought for a client as a racing and then breeding prospect and goes to Paddy Twomey" said Coleman. "We know the filly well as I looked after the late Sir Robert and Lady Ogden's horses. The filly is a good-looking sort by Lope De Vega, has always shown plenty in training, put in a promising race on her debut and, fingers crossed, she can go on to get some blacktype next year."
Of the family, he added: "The sister Balalaika was third in the Sandringham Stakes and made 330,000 guineas here at the July Sale when joint second top price, purchased by BBA Ireland.
"All of the mare's runners have achieved high ratings, and this year's Too Darn Hot yearling made 110,000 guineas. Bluestocking, under the second dam, finished second in the Irish Oaks in July and was a neck second to Poptronic in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes on Saturday. It is a happening family."
WAR AND PEACE is due to sell in the December Mares Sale as lot 1737, while her Showcasing colt foal is catalogued as lot 900 in the December Foal Sale. Both are to be consigned by New England Stud.
Golden Move to Paul Nicholls for 215,000 Guineas
National Hunt trainers and agents always play a significant part at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale and one lot set to go jumping is the three-year-old colt GOLDEN MOVE, who was purchased by bloodstock agent Tom Malone on behalf of trainer Paul Nicholls for 215,000 guineas after he saw off fellow National Hunt agent Harold Kirk.
A winner over 1m4f on soft ground at Doncaster in July and placed on his two most recent starts, the son of GOLDEN HORN is Timeform rated 91 and was offered by Richard Fahey's Musley Bank Stables.
"He is a lovely animal. He looks like he stays, and needs all of the trip he is running over at the minute. He goes on soft ground, is by Golden Horn who is doing so well, and is the one we wanted today," said Malone. "He goes to Ditcheat and is for sale."
Inquisitively’s Owner Secures Rascal Recknell for 215,000 Guineas
Newmarket-based trainer Kevin Philippart De Foy enjoyed a first Group winner at the recent Newmarket meeting when INQUISITIVELY won the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes, and the trainer secured the two-year-old WOOTTON BASSETT colt RASCAL RECKNELL for 215,000 guineas for the same owner.
"He has been bought for Wee Sean Gan who owns Inquisitively," reported De Foy after the purchase. "The plan is the same - keep him in the UK for a bit and then send him to Hong Kong."
Consigned by Owen Burrows Racing, RASCAL RECKNELL was offered with a Timeform rating of 77p and was bought by Philippart De Foy along with Sam Wright Bloodstock. The underbidder was Jerry McGrath.
Philippart De Foy continued: "This horse is a nice big type, he looks a decent prospect. We might run him once this year but the plan is to give him as much time as he needs, he has a big frame and plenty of scope. I am surprised he ran in August, but he showed plenty of ability that day. He will hopefully run a couple of times next year and then head to Hong Kong next summer."
The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale continues at 9.30am on Tuesday, 24th October.