The opening day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale was headlined by strong international trade, with the top four lots destined for Hong Kong, Australia, America and Dubai.
Arctic Tsar Headed to Hong Kong
ARCTIC TSAR was bought by the trio of Will Douglass, David Eustace and Billy Jackson-Stops’ JS Bloodstock. The group had to go to 390,000 guineas to secure the son of KODIAC, who was sold by Imperium Sales.
Owned by Valmont, the two-year-old colt was trained by Clive Cox and was in a rich vein of form, having won each of his three starts prior to being sold. He is now Timeform rated 93p.
Designated speaker Will Douglass said: “Clive has been a good source of horses for us. We bought a nice horse off him a couple of years ago called Riding Together, and he’s done well in Hong Kong for David Eustace.
“This horse has won three on the spin and just looks very nice and straightforward”, Douglass continued. “He should physically suit racing and training in Hong Kong, which is key.”
ARCTIC TSAR cost €90,000 as a yearling when purchased by Alex Elliott from Ballygallon Stud. He is out of the placed MEDICEAN mare KESARINA, who is a half-sister to the multiple Australian Group 1 winner ZAAKI, who was purchased at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale in 2020 for 150,000 guineas by Blandford Bloodstock and his trainer Annabel Neasham.
Astute Bloodstock Swoop on Pierre Royal for Australia
The 2026 Cambridgeshire winner PIERRE ROYAL made 375,000 guineas when purchased by Louis Le Metayer’s Astute Bloodstock. The son of KINGMAN was formerly in training in Ireland with Adrian McGuinness.
“We’ve had a lot of luck buying horses at this sale”, explained Le Metayer. “Harlem won two Group 1s for us, and two years ago we bought Mr Monaco, who is now one of the favourites for the 2026 Melbourne Cup”.
MR MONACO is a dual Group 3 winner and is in training with Ciaron Maher, who will also now train PIERRE ROYAL. Le Metayer outlined the plans for PIERRE ROYAL when he reaches Australia, saying:
“We like to give them a very easy first six months so they can acclimatise. We will most likely focus on the next Southern Hemisphere spring, this time next year. He’ll probably have a first run over a mile, and then we will see how he progresses.”
He added: “I selected the horse and will be syndicating him through Astute Bloodstock. There is a lot of interest in him already.”
PIERRE ROYAL was purchased at this sale last year by his former trainer Adrian McGuinness and BBA Ireland for 48,000 guineas, having won a maiden at Gowran Park. McGuinness commented on today’s sale, saying:
“He wasn’t a dear horse when we bought him. Adam Potts picked him out, and he’s done very well for us. I don’t chase Listed or Group races with horses like him, I always go for the money. He’s won two premier handicaps, was second in one, third in one and fourth in another. Best of luck to the boys who bought him. I can see him winning plenty of races in Australia, he’ll love the fast ground.”
Reflecting further on the sale, McGuinness added: “It’s great for his owners. He has probably turned over €600,000 in one year. He would’ve been a real Royal Hunt Cup horse if I’d have kept him. I’ll have to go find another one now!”
Scythe to Continue Racing in America
Darren O’Dwyer went to 250,000 guineas to purchase SCYTHE, a two-year-old by VICTOR LUDORUM. Previously trained by Brian Meehan, he is very lightly raced having only run three times. He finished runner-up by a short head on only his second start in the Group 3 Tattersalls Prix Eclipse, before running third in his most recent outing in the Group 2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte.
“He has been bought for Bonnie and Tommy Hamilton of Silverton Hill Stables so he’s going to America,” explained O’Dwyer. “From his profile, everything looks like it should suit him over there. To try and buy a horse like that in the US would cost you way more, over $500,000. I think we have got good value.”
Expanding on SCYTHE’s appeal, he said: “He’s only two and he’s won on quick ground, so he should progress in the US. He’s not an overly big horse, but he’s all there in proportion, and the form speaks for itself.”
Blandford Bloodstock Strike for Fixation
Blandford Bloodstock’s Stuart Boman landed the winning 230,000 guineas bid to secure FIXATION from The Castlebridge Consignment. Timeform rated 106, the son of TAMAYUZ was previously in training with Johnny Murtagh. A €30,000 Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale graduate, he won his most recent start over 1m 4f at Dundalk Racecourse. He has been a model of consistency, winning or placing on seven of his 13 starts.
“He is a thoroughly likeable horse, tough as nails,” enthused Boman. “He loves firm ground, and I just love everything about him. He shows up every week, loves his job and is a big, scopey horse. He will probably head to the Dubai Carnival as there is a great series of races for this sort of horse, with plenty of options over 1m 2f to 1m 4f.”
Boman has previously sourced multiple Group 1 winner ZAAKI from this sale and, more recently, the Australian Group 3 winner FORMAL DISPLAY for Archibald Racing.
Day 2 of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale continues at 9.30am on Tuesday, 27th October.
