Aljazzi Lights Up Tattersalls

NEWMARKET, UK–Newsells Park Stud made a solitary but spectacular foray into the market at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale on Wednesday evening by breaking the event record with a 1-million gns swoop for top-notch broodmare prospect Aljazzi (GB) (Shamardal) (lot 1140).

The winner of this year's G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot among four stakes prizes was, as Newsells manager Julian Dollar admitted, an unusual inclusion in a sale which is largely for ready-to-run candidates for destinations around the world.

Indeed, Dollar's final bid from a distant corner of the ring to repel some interest from Lordship Stud's Trevor Harris, usurped last year's mark for a similar breeding type in Elizabeth Browning (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by 300,000gns.

Aljazzi, who was owned and bred by Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar and in training with Marco Botti, is nominated for next month's G1 Hong Kong Mile S. There is likely to be a cursory discussion as to whether it could remain an option to run in the colours of Andreas Jacobs's operation, although it would seem as if retirement beckons.

“I think she's done her racing, she's five now,” Dollar said. “Shamardal has shown that he's an exciting young broodmare sire and there are plenty of outcross options for her.”

Newsells was the leading consigner from Book 1, bringing in 11,055,000gns from 22 lots including a 1,200gns daughter of Dubawi (Ire).

“We did have a good yearling sale. You take some and end up giving it back,” Dollar smiled. “The boss was brave with the bidding and it isn't easy to buy these high-end fillies. We wouldn't usually be active at this sale and she was the only one I looked at. You might have expected her to be in the December [Mares] Sale but in a way she stood out at this one.”

Tony Nerses, representing her owners, and Botti both wished her well.

“I'm sad to see her go but I'm very happy she has gone to Newsells,” Botti said. “She was a honest, straight-forward filly and I'd like to thank the owners for keeping her in training this year. She ticks all the boxes – and I'd like to train her progeny.”

Despite an outlaying top lot, the average and median were each a tick down from the corresponding session last year; the average dipped 5% to 36,865gns, while the median was down 9% to 20,000gns. The clearance rate, however, was a strong 91%. A total of 283 horses were traded on the day for 10,432,800gns.

Murphy Lays Down The Law

Irishman Conor Murphy has made some astute gambles in his racing life so far and he sprang into action midway through the afternoon with two quick-fire purchases under his banner of Riverside Bloodstock among a total spend of 550,000gns on three.

The former stable lad for Lambourn National Hunt icon Nicky Henderson reputedly won more than £1-million in an accumulator bet on his old boss's runners at the Cheltenham Festival six years ago. It was enough to fund him setting himself up as a trainer in his own right in Louisville, Ky, with a current stable of 20.

“I came last year to buy a horse called Great Wide Open (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Ire}), and he finished second in the Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland a couple of weeks ago,” Murphy explained.

His purchases considerably outweighed the mere 45,000gns outlay on Great Wide Open. The most expensive buy at 210,000gns was lot 1040, Argentello (Ire) (Intello {Ire}), who has responded well to an extensive campaign with John Gosden which has yielded a pair of wins apiece in novices and handicaps.

“You are buying from the best so you can't expect him to improve but if he can hold his form you'd be hopeful of him doing well. He has good fast ground turf form so you'd hope he'd be one who could be running at Keeneland.”

Something about the modest 32Red H. at Kempton on October 16 must have made an impression on Murphy. The race had been won by Argentello and only a few minutes later he was signing up the runner-up, the former Ed Walker-trained Sabador (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) (lot 1055) for 150,000gns. Later on at lot 1165 Murphy added Emmaus (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), a lofty purchase for the China Horse Club at Goffs Orby in 2015, for 190,000gns

Knight To Remember For Waterhouse

Gai Waterhouse has matters of greater importance closer to hand with Thinkin' Big (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}) being prepared for an audacious double in the G1 Victoria Derby and Melbourne Cup.

So Australia's first lady of racing left duties at Tattersalls to agent Susie McKeever and her assistant Claudia Miller, who could return Down Under with good news about lot 1061.

They took a fancy to Knight Errant (Ire) (So You Think {NZ}), a four-time winner for William Jarvis who has defeated others to make good money this week, such as Jack Regan (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) and Whitlock (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}).

“He's a big, scopey horse who should do well in Australia,” said Miller. “We've been underbidders for a few this week and probably spent more than we thought but that's the state of the market.”

McKeever anticipated that Waterhouse would be delighted. “Gai is a huge supporter of this sale and we've bought one or two that have done well before for her, including The Offer (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Glencadam Gold (Ire) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}),” she said.

Williams Flying High

Another man with Melbourne on his mind is Ian Williams, who was in the skies on an aeroplane to join up with the well-fancied Magic Circle (Ire) (Makfi {GB}).

Agent Alex Elliott picked up the first of the always-popular Juddmonte (lot 1098) draft on his behalf. This was Breath Caught (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), a half-brother to the top-class G1 Juddmonte International S. hero Twice Over (GB) and a progressive middle-distance handicapper himself.

“Ian said this horse was his pick of the sale, and everyone knows what a good buyer Ian is,” said Elliott. “I'd imagine he'll have a break and come back in the spring.”

Earlier in the session at lot 874 Elliott had dug deep for an undisclosed client for The Grand Visir (GB) (Frankel (GB). The colt had been revived after wind surgery to strike in fine style on debut for John Butler at Doncaster last weekend.

“He has gone up 8lb for that win and if he can continue to find improvement, he could be a very exciting horse for next year, maybe for races like the Irish St Leger,” he said.

Zonderland Bound For Ireland

One of the most recognisable names in the sale was that of Zonderland (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) late in the day at lot 1180.

The sprightly chestnut, still an entire at five, has been a fine performer for Clive Cox and Cheveley Park Stud, picking up his biggest prize in the G3 Sovereign S. at Salisbury. He is moving to Ireland after reaching 140,000gns.

“He's going to Luke Comer,” said his representative Jim Gorman. “Hopefully he's going to race again.”

Rebel Streak (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire} (lot 1161), a gelding from one of owner-breeder Jeff Smith's speedy families and a good third in the recent G3 Dubai World Trophy S. at Newbury, is off on his travels to further afield.

Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock, who cast the final bid for 180,000gns, said: “He's going to go to Hong Kong to race for David Ferraris. It's quite hard for those 3-year-old sprinters but he came recommended by Andrew Balding and he had a good season.”

Cumani Not Winding Down Yet

Luca Cumani will be sorely missed amongst the ranks of trainers when he retires at the end of the year and puts his Bedford House Stables up for sale.

So it was hard not to feel a twinge of nostalgia as his consignment of largely colts and geldings padded around the ring in their recognisable coffee and chocolate-coloured rugs.

His dozen up for grabs realised a total of 596,500gns with lot 1076, Coolongolook (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), proving the most in-demand, being bought by agent Mags O'Toole for a prospective career as a jumper.

The Italian agreed when asked if it was a somewhat bittersweet feeling to have been in such a position on the steps, although he still has substantial involvement in the industry not only through his son Matt but from his own bloodstock interest with Fittocks Stud.

“It was my last sale as a trainer but it all went well and I'd like to thank all of my staff for turning the horses out so nicely,” he said. “Once the decision was made, it was made. It has been a big team effort and I'm lucky that my wife [Sara] has offered me a job. I'm still a breeder and will be selling some fillies and mares here in December.”

The concluding day of the sale begins at 9.30am local time on Thursday.