The Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale got off to a spectacular start with nine lots selling for 100,000 guineas or more on Monday.
Turnover for Day 1 was 5.87 million guineas and the average was up 37% to a record 23,589 guineas. The clearance rate panned out at a remarkable 89%.
Top price was 280,000 guineas for Firebeam (Cadeaux Genereux). Consigned by Highclere Racing, the Group placed colt was knocked down to agent Anthony Stroud who outbid Queensland based Boomer Bloodstock. “He’s been bought for the Dubai Carnival,” said Stroud. “He has the right profile to go there and you need a seriously good horse now.”
Gai Waterhouse was next best when she bought Ballydoyle consigned colt Offer. Agent Johnny McKeever silenced the sale ring when he opened the bidding for the Montjeu colt at 200,000 guineas and the tactic certainly worked with no one willing to up the ante.
“This was the one horse that we did not want to leave behind,” Waterhouse’s assistant Bruce Slade said. “He will be gelded and go from here to New Zealand. Chris Waller advised us last year that New Zealand is less of a shock temperature-wise than going straight to Australia.”
Waterhouse purchased five lots last year including recent G1 Metropolitan winner Glencadam Gold at 135,000 guineas.
Boomer Bloodstock agent Craig Rounsefell missed out on the session-topper but did make the winning bid on Need You Now (Kheleyf). The last start Newbury juvenile stakes winner was a 160,000 guineas purchase from Peter Chapple-Hyam.
Chris Waller bought Salford Art (Sir Percy) from Egerton House Stables for 110,000 guineas. She won at Windsor last year and was credited with fourths in the G1 Shadwell Fillies Mile, G2 Ribblesdale Stakes and G3 Musidora Stakes.
Paul Moroney paid 60,000 guineas for Kelvingrove (Hurricane Run) from the Warren Place consignment of Sir Henry Cecil. He was placed on debut at Newmarket earlier this month.
The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale continues on Tuesday.
Currency converter: 1,000 guineas = AUD 1,629
OFFER
Son of Montjeu bought by Gai Waterhouse at Tatts Autumn Sale