Quality continued to be in great demand at the Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale on Wednesday with Australasian interests and those looking towards the Dubai Carnival dominating proceedings.

The top price for the day was 310,000 guineas for the Group placed Measuring Time (Dubai Destination).

Knocked down to agent Anthony Stroud, he was consigned from Richard Hannon’s stables on behalf of Woodcote Stud and is destined for Dubai.  New Zealand agent Paul Moroney was the under-bidder.

“The horse was busy in the yard this week and all the right people had been to see him,” Woodcote studmaster Barry Reilly said.  “We had hoped for 100,000gns.”

Australasian buyers have made a significant impact on the sale so far and Victorian trainer Robert Smerdon bought a pair of colts from the Juddmonte Farms draft.

Smerdon secured the Singspiel colt Verdant for 260,000 guineas and the Arch colt Arch Fire for 180,000 guineas.  The Sir Michael Stoute trained pair were the highlight of the Juddmonte draft which saw a total of 40 lots sold for 1.34 million guineas.

“This is our first venture over here,” Smerdon said.  “It wasn’t the be-and-end-all to buy here – we just thought it would be good to make contacts and find out the lay of the land.  Like all the Australians, we’re here looking for Cup horses.

A total of 230 lots were sold on Day 3 for a total of 5.46 million guineas at a clearance rate of 87%.  The average of 23,763 guineas was up 58 guineas from 2010.

The Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale continues with a final session on Thursday.