2004 AUTUMN HORSES IN TRAINING SALE
DAY 2 PRESS STATEMENT
SWAGGER STICK TOPS SECOND DAY OF TATTERSALLS AUTUMN HORSES IN TRAINING SALE
The John Dunlop trained COZZENE colt SWAGGER STICK topped proceedings on the second day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale as National Hunt prospects dominated the upper echelons of the market. Of the 241 lots offered, 227 were sold (94%) for a total of 5,927,700 guineas, representing a rise of 3% on last year's corresponding session whilst the average was 26,113 guineas and the median was 16,000 guineas.
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Year |
Catalogued |
Offered |
Sold |
Aggregate |
Average |
Median |
2004 |
349 |
241 |
227 |
5,927,700 |
26,113 |
16,000 |
2003 |
326 |
229 |
214 |
5,753,100 |
26,884 |
16,000 |
SWAGGER STICK, a half brother to last year's Breeders' Cup Classic and Dubai World Cup winner PLEASANTLY PERFECT entered a packed sale ring late in the evening. The three time winning three year old colt by COZZENE saw initial interest from Kern Lillingston's Alastair Donald before the BBA Ireland's Patrick Cooper and County Durham trainer Howard Johnson pushed the price beyond 200,000 guineas. It was Howard Johnson who eventually conceded defeat as Cooper made the final bid of 220,000 guineas on behalf of US interests. Cooper indicated that SWAGGER STICK would head to the US and continue to race on the flat initially before eventually going jumping.
LOT 651: SWAGGER STICK
Purchased by B.B.A. Ireland for 220,000 gns
The draft from Sir Mark Prescott's Heath House Stables is invariably a highlight of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale and so it proved again with two of the next three highest priced lots for the day coming from Prescott's Newmarket base. The first of these to enter the ring was the four year old gelding NO REFUGE. The son of HERNANDO had earned a 'Timeform' rating of 110 following his win in the Listed Europa Steher-Preis at Cologne two starts back. Dual-purpose trainer Steve Gollings made much of the running to secure the four year old, but this time Howard Johnson was to prove triumphant with a bid of 180,000 guineas. Johnson indicated that the horse was purchased on behalf of Graham Wylie, for whom he had purchased subsequent Grade 2 winning hurdler Inglis Drever at this sale last year.
LOT 656: NO REFUGE
Purchased by Mr J.H. Johnson for 180,000 gns
Howard Johnson was to strike again soon after when another Heath House
offering, REGAL SETTING entered the ring. The three year old son of
KING'S THEATRE again produced a battle between Gollings and Howard
Johnson but when Gollings cried enough at 170,000 guineas, Irish based
agent Frank Berry took up the challenge to land the gelding. At the
finish it was Howard Johnson who again proved triumphant, this time
at a price of 215,000 guineas, the second highest for the day.
LOT 664: REGAL SETTING
Purchased by Mr J.H. Johnson for 215,000 gns
The consignment from Luca Cumani's Bedford House Stables in Newmarket was
another highlight on the second day of the sale with the four year
old colt STARRY LODGE the star attraction. The six time winner was
another targeted
by the omnipresent Howard Johnson along with fellow National Hunt trainer
Paul Webber, but the pair were unable to hold off the efforts of Saudi
Arabian agent Saad Al Khatani who purchased the colt on behalf of Prince
Faisal bin
Khaled for 205,000 guineas. Al Khatani indicated that the son of GRAND
LODGE would be aimed at next yer's King's Cup in Saudi Arabia.