Wildcard Pilote d'Essai Tops Second Day of Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale
Australian buyers continued to dominate on the second day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, snapping up the top two lots. A total of 247 lots were sold for 5,552,300 guineas at an average of 22,479 guineas and a median of 13,500 guineas. The clearance rate for the day was 88%.
Astute Bloodstock’s Louis Le Metayer proved the strongest in a three-way battle to secure the wildcard entry PILOTE D’ESSAI. The son of OASIS DREAM has won three times over a mile at Maisons-Laffitte, Chantilly and Saint-Cloud and was a close-up fourth last time in a 1m1f Listed race at Maisons-Laffitte. Le Metayer secured the Andre Fabre-trained three-year-old at the expense of underbidder Matt Coleman and Qatari trainer Jassim Ghazali.
"His form is good and he has won on good ground. We have followed him for a long time - I think he is unexposed and looks as though he has more to give," said Le Metayer. "He has run well on good ground and so should be suited to Australian conditions.
"We went to see him in his track work - he is a great physical. He has been bought for a Melbourne-based syndicate, the trainer has not yet been decided."
Chris Waller was one of the first Australian trainers to buy at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale back in 2006 and with Kiwi agent Guy Mulcaster acting on his behalf he secured the three-year-old MCCREERY for 200,000 guineas. Jassim Ghazali was again the runner-up as Mulcaster landed the son of BIG BAD BOB.
"We really wanted him," said Mulcaster. "He is a beautiful horse, his form is good and progressive. He looks as though he will keep on improving. He has been running so far over a mile; we have lots of mile options in Australia.
"All is good in Australia - Chris won the Cox Plate last weekend and we've plenty of runners coming up."
MCCREERY, a winner of two races from only four starts, is rated 108p with ‘Timeform’ and was consigned by Roger Charlton’s Beckhampton House Stables.
The Horses in Training Sale is always popular with the National Hunt fraternity and the MAKFI three-year-old MASTER OF IRONY caught the attention of two such buyers in Harold Kirk and Eddie O’Leary. Consigned by agent Jamie Railton on behalf of Qatar Racing, the two-time winner from only four starts is rated 96 by ‘Timeform’ and was knocked down to Kirk on behalf of trainer Willie Mullins for 130,000 guineas.
"This horse is good-looking and progressive and out of Sadler's Wells mare," said Kirk.
Early in the evening Jeremy Brummitt secured the three-year-old SHOWCASING gelding SACRIFICIAL for 130,000 guineas. Another consigned by Jamie Railton on behalf of Qatar Racing, the Ger Lyons trained three-year-old is rated 118 by ‘Timeform’.
"We were underbidder on Flaming Spear from the same draft," said Brummitt. "I thought Qatar brought two cracking horses to this sale. Concrete plans for this horse are not yet in place."
The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale continues at 9.30am on Wednesday, October 28.