Waller strikes as Australian buyers continue Tattersalls spending spree
Australasian buyers continued to show an interest in the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, with further horses being bought on day two of the four-day sale.
Chris Waller made his presence felt on Day 2, going to 210,000gns for Newmarket winner Desert Icon (Sea The Stars), while he also struck for Australia (Galileo) colt Crystal Pegasus and Born A King (Frankel), who are all headed the champion trainer’s way via bloodstock agent John Ferguson.
Lot 664 Desert Icon, purchased from the William Haggas Somerville Lodge draft, was last seen finishing third in the Foundation Stakes (Listed, 1m2f) at Goodwood and has a BHA rating of 104.
Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Crystal Pegasus is a two-time winner with a BHA rating of 91, while Born A King, lot 668 out of the Somerville Lodge consignment, fetched 120,000gns after breaking his maiden on the all-weather at Lingfield last month and is rated 84.
“Chris is after horses with good recent form and a good rating,” said Ferguson.
Moroney goes ‘one more’ for 200,000gns purchase Keats
Another horse to break 200,000gns yesterday was Keats (Galileo), who was bought by Armando Duarte on behalf of Ballymore Stables Australia and Paul Moroney, with Paul’s brother Mike set to train the three-year-old colt.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Keats, who won the Navigation Stakes (Listed, 1m) on his last start, is out of the 2002 champion three-year-old filly Airwave and was bought for 200,000gns from Ballydoyle Ireland.
With Paul Moroney absent from Newmarket due to travel restrictions, Duarte has been entrusted with the duty of purchasing horses for the racing operation.
“This horse was our pick of the sale,” said Duarte. “We think he might make up into a top miler or might stay ten furlongs. Normally we are looking for a stayer, but this horse could be a miler.
“He has been very highly recommended by Mick Flanagan, who works closely with Coolmore Australia. It was perhaps more than we wanted price-wise, but we think we have got a nice horse and one for the future.
“I tried to bid at 130,000gns, but someone beat me at 135,000gns so I said, ‘I am out!’. Mike was on the phone to Paul on the other line and said, ‘Go one more’, it worked and we got him on the one bid.”
“I know exactly what Paul likes and what he does not like so we work well together. I video every single thing which may be a fault and, if he finds something and he says, ‘Armando what about this?’, then I go back and video again and video again until we make sure we are right. That is why we work together.”
Australian Bloodstock purchase Herman Hesse
Ronald Rauscher and Australian Bloodstock have purchased three-year-old gelding Herman Hesse (Frankel) from David O’Meara Racing.
A winner at Nottingham over 1m6f on his penultimate start, Herman Hesse is out of Dansili (Danehill) mare Dream Peace, a winner of the Prix de la Nonette (Gr 2, 2000m), and has a rating of 85.
“I liked him a lot, he seems very straightforward, a strong horse,” said Rauscher. “I am surprised he was so popular as he is inbred to Danehill which sometimes puts people off.”
Highflyer Bloodstock secure two lots for Aaron Purcell
Anthony Bromley’s Highflyer Bloodstock purchased lot 499 to add to lot 264 yesterday, with both lots heading to Aaron Purcell.
Mark Of The Man (Markaz), lot 499, won twice last season over seven furlongs at Goodwood and Chepstow.
Rated 90 after a promising first season under Richard Hannon, Mark Of The Man was secured for 75,000gns from East Everleigh Stables.
“I bought Fiji [Lot 264] yesterday for Australian trainer Aaron Purcell and this horse is also for him. He is a nice type, he is rated 90 and we decided that, as it is so difficult to buy a staying type as a three-year-old, we would buy a staying two-year-old.”
Also in buying action was Darby Racing, who went to 57,000gns for lot 626, former Ballydoyle inmate New World Tapestry (War Front), while Annabel Neasham struck for Zaaki, lot 706, for 150,000gns.