Australasian buyers were in the spotlight when the four-day Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale kicked off in Newmarket on Monday.  

New Zealand agent Paul Moroney appeared to have out-bid eight different buyers when he went to 475,000gns for Group 1 performer Hearts Of Fire last night.  The Pat Eddery trained colt had won the G1 Italian Gran Criterium last year and was placed behind Canford Cliffs in the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Just when Moroney seemed to have seen off all-comers, South African agent Jehan Malherbe weighed in with 500,000gns.  But Qatar trainer Ibrahim Al-Malki had the final say when he chimed in with a single bid of 550,000gns.

It was the second highest price ever paid at the Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale.  It brought back memories of the 2001 Sale when Hearts Of Fire’s sire Firebreak sold for a record 525,000gns.

“We were looking for a good horse and he was obviously the best one in the sale,” Al-Malki said.  “He might run in Dubai at the carnival before coming back to race in Europe next year.”

Australian agent Guy Mulcaster also came off second-best for the promising two year-old Surrey Star.  The Dubawi colt had won at Epsom in July before a narrow defeat in the G3 Somerville Stakes at Newmarket last month.  He eventually made 200,000gns to the bid of Californian trainer Jim Cassidy.

“I was surprised to get him so cheaply,” Cassidy said.  “He’s a lovely horse and will hopefully be ready for the G3 Generous Stakes at Hollywood Park later this year.”

Day 1 of the Tatts HIT Sale saw 224 lots sell for 4.42 million guineas at an average of 19,762 guineas.  The sale continues until Thursday.

1,000gns = AUD 1,662