'Mo' Colt King of the Hill at Tattersalls

Middle-Eastern interest proved telling again at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale as prices rose beyond the 400,000gns mark for the first time in two days of trade.

Monday's 335,000gns top lot Archetype (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire} had been bought on behalf of Saudi Arabian connections and that price was exceeded in substantial fashion once Corrosive (Uncle Mo) entered the ring in the early evening as lot 709

Auctioneers always have to work earnestly to drum up interest in many of the more prosaic offerings here but the price quickly jumped up exponentially to reach 450,000gns to Saudi-based agent Ibrahim Rachid on behalf of owner Abdulrahman Fahad M Albawardi.

In his career with Hugo Palmer the colt had reached a perfectly reasonable rating of 95 to date but the prized credentials of not only the US pedigree but wins on quick ground at Ascot and on the all-weather at Chelmsford undoubtedly fuelled the demand.

The flamboyant Rachid explained that the 3-year-old colt would be trained in Saudi Arabia, where there are major events at the start of next year.

“He is a good-moving horse and he vetted well,” he said. “He was bought for the King's Cup and the Crown Prince's Cup but he could also go for the Dubai Carnival.”

The result was quite a windfall for Corrosive's previous owner, the Turkish industrialist Ibrahim Araci. His bloodstock manager Rob Speers had secured him from last year's Craven Breeze-up for 150,000gns.

“He came from Con Marnane and he's had a decent career, but he had some truly global appeal and we had interest from America and many other places,” Speers said.

Meanwhile Ted Voute, who signed for Archetype for HRH Prince Faisal Bin Khaled, was in action again for the same visiting party when claiming lot 586, Mjjack (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) for 240,000gns. A durable sort for Karl Burke, the grey signed off with third in the Balmoral H. on British Champions Day.

“They have more races in the Saudi Arabian programme for those seven-furlong to a mile type horses now and hopefully he'll have a good career there,” said Voute.

At the conclusion of Day 2, 238 lots sold from 270 offered (88%) and grossed 8,250,100gns. The median ticked down three points to 17,500gns, but the average rose by 4% to 34,664gns.

Nass Retreads Familiar Path

Fawzi Nass used last year's sale to source what proved to be a thoroughly successful Dubai World Cup Carnival campaign and the Bahraini businessman and trainer delivered another statement of intent by securing Euginio (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who had looked one of the star attractions. His recent Stakes victory was worth its weight in gold as he reached the sum of 400,000gns. Listed as lot 486, the winner of the G3 Darley S. at Newmarket just over a fortnight ago will join Nass's Dubai satellite yard after his agent Oliver St Lawrence resisted a determined challenge from Anthony Stroud.

St Lawrence and Nass have teamed up to fine effect in the past, most notably with the purchase of Krypton Factor (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) eight years ago. He remained the stable's flagship horse until the most recent Carnival through an enduring career which included a win in the G1 Golden Shaheen S.

Nass looks to have found a replacement for the popular old stager in the shape of Jordan Sport (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), bought for 90,000gns at last year's sale and already a Carnival winner as part of a streamlined team. El Chapo (GB) (Lethal Force {Ire}) also contributed to the stable's five victories in the UAE season by taking one of the 2000 Guineas Trials.

“We were looking for a horse of his calibre for quite some time and he's going to have a task to accomplish hopefully back in the Middle East, in Dubai and possibly Bahrain as well,” Nass said. “We'll concentrate on the Carnival and hopefully get to World Cup night.”

St Lawrence added, “He's a good, strong horse who goes on good to firm ground. We were very keen to get him and I'm sure he'll do very well out there.”

Euginio was second at Royal Ascot in the green colours of Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar and also obliged in a conditions event at Doncaster. There had been some eyebrows raised at his presence in the sale for the Kuwaiti owner-breeders, who run Blue Diamond Stud near Newmarket, but their representative Tony Nerses explained that there was no need for concern.

“I'm delighted–they got a good price as he's a very genuine, very good horse,” he said. “I bought him for 155,000gns at Book 1 and it just shows that everything's for sale at the right price. It's not a dispersal, we are just shedding the excess. We had a lot of horses, so it's a case of culling down and getting back to sensible numbers.”

Al Homaizi and Al Sagar were also offering a couple of regally-bred fillies and the one to attract plenty of attention was their homebred lot 574 Lady Rasha (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Unraced and consigned by Roger Charlton's Beckhampton House Stables, she is a half-sister to the G2 Gimcrack S. winner Ajaya (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). John Butler signed the docket for 320,000gns but it later emerged that she had been bought under the Blue Diamond banner.

The filly is likely to return to Charlton's care and might well be one to note for next season. Similar rules applied to her half-brother Extra Elusive (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) (lot 703), who hit 300,000gns after recording three from five so far.

“He has bags of ability and hopefully he'll realise his potential and be a proper black-type horse,” Nerses said.

Stroud Bounces Back

Anthony Stroud had been underbidder on a handful including Corrosive but any disappointment was eased by the acquisition of Lucius Tiberius (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) (lot 731) for 320,000gns. Much the most popular of the Aidan O'Brien draft, he had ironically finished fourth behind Euginio at Newmarket when signing off for Ballydoyle.

“He was bought for one of my clients and is going for the Dubai Carnival,” Stroud said. “The programme should suit him well.”

He could not reveal much more about two other Stroud Coleman Bloodstock purchases which came in quick succession from William Haggas' Somerville Lodge consignment. Mubtasim (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}) (lot 651) was picked up for 140,000gns and Completion (Ire) (Arch) (lot 658) cost 120,000gns.

Dilemma for Noel Meade

In days gone by this fixture would have been chock-full of National Hunt figures looking for middle-distance Flat horses with the scope to go jumping. Whilst a few were still on the ground, the Australian and Middle-Eastern buyers and even the domestic all-weather programme has made it ever harder to get hold of such specimens, so it made a pleasant change to see the well-liked multiple Irish champion jumps Noel Meade successfully bid 110,000gns for lot 607.

Davy's Dilemma (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}) was a decent handicapper at two miles on the level for Michael Dods, who did well with his consignment from Denton Hall Stables with lot 606 Mister Belvedere (GB) (Archipenko) also hitting six figures.

“I spoke to Michael and he said he wasn't going to give him away,” said Meade. “He's for an existing owner and will make a novice hurdler as he's been gelded, he's strong and ready to go. I'm looking forward to getting going with him.”

Reverend Jacobs (GB) will break relatively new ground for his sire Nathaniel (Ire) in switching codes. Lot 655, another offering from the Haggas stable and a three-time winner for owner Bernard Kantor, also left the ring for exactly 100,000gns to Anthony Bromley's Highflyer Bloodstock.

“He's going to go jumping with Alan King,” Bromley said. “The 3-year-olds aren't easy to buy and he's one of Nathaniel's first crop–we haven't had one before. He came highly recommended.”

Hurdling could also emerge as an option for the ex Charlie Hills Porth Swtan (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) (lot 525), who will form part of former trainer Garry Moss's ambitious new venture in a yard near Jedburgh in Scotland. He was bought for 100,000gns by Jeremy Glover on behalf of owner Hal McGhie.

“He'll have a break and will be a dual-purpose type,” said Moss.

The final piece of theatre during the evening from came with lot 757 Feel Glorious (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), who had caused a 125-1 upset for Surrey trainer George Baker at Glorious Goodwood and had a valuable update when second in the Listed Grosser Soldier Hollow Preis S. in Germany on Sunday. Picked up for 52,000gns at Book 2, she changed hands for 130,000gns with successful bidder Stephen Hillen announcing that she would be heading for Christophe Clement's stable in America.

The third of four days of this sale commences at 9:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday.