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I spent most of the day at Newmarket yesterday and was in the auditorium to watch the Prescott horses go under the hammer. They make quite a splash as they arrive in the preliminary paddock after dark, with every horse from his draft – there were 17 of them – immaculately turned out with a rider fitted with a high visibility jacket. The riders all sat erect like guardsmen, the spacing between each horse was meticulously maintained.
The riders remained on the horses as they were walked around the sale ring, with each horse handed over to the travelling head girl, who paraded all 17 of them in front of the buyers.
As the time approached, the ring filled with familiar faces from the NH world – Alan King and Nicky Henderson in conversation with Anthony Bromley and David Minto just to the left of the auctioneer, Charlie Mann (plus cap), Donald McCain, Lucy Wadham, Philip Hobbs and Jonjo were all on the steps to the left of the entrance gate. Howard Johnson was hidden from view sitting on a staircase at the back opposite the rostrum, whilst Jim Old and Wally Sturt sat in the back row to the right of the auctioneer.
The top lot of the batch, Royal Diamond sped up to 300,000gns, then settled into a duel between Howard Johnson and, to general amazement, Michael Dods, with the latter taking the ‘prize’ at 400,000gns. The new owner apparently wants to win the big staying handicaps on the flat, but I have my doubts as to whether a horse that has already won five races for SMP is going to have enough improvement left to achieve that. It’s certainly a big, high pressure job for his new trainer, who as someone pointed out, probably wouldn’t have got 400,000 in total if he’d brought every horse in his yard to the sale!
My favourite was Lot 740, a 2-y-old called Architrave, a smashing looking gelding who will surely prove much better than his current mark of 72 when able to race over longer trips next summer.
Those who have examined the sale reports with a magnifying glass may have spotted that I finally got my name on the board at around 8:35, buying one of the last lots of the day, a 2-y-old gelding called Cordiality from the James Fanshawe yard, the hoped for replacement for now retired Salute.
AP
Yes, good luck Alan. Look forward to seeing some photos of the new recruit.
I was very impressed with Ascendant when he ran recently at Musselburgh. He looked a horse who has all the attributes required for hurdling. I note he went for 160,000 gns to the Johnson yard.
Cordial greetings Alan and I enjoyed reading that, thank you, and best of luck with your new horse
Just out of curiosity, what made you pick this one in particular, apart from the price I mean, as it hadn’t shown much in just 2 runs. The sire Kingsalsa is not one I recall, was he French trained do you know?
Kingsalsa was indeed trained in France – he was a Group winner and G1 placed in the French Guineas of 1999 and the Prix Du Moulin.
Best of luck with your purchase Alan
I can’t believe Dod’s and his owner went to £400,000, I would have thought £150,000 would be plenty, time will tell. I’ve been watching this afternoon on the net and I thought Drumfire was cheap enough at £50,000, assuming he’s well, would either do a job in listed/group 3 company, especially abroad, and has the scope to go jumping.
Not sure if anyone mentioned it last week, but I couldn’t believe Wake Board went for £2,000 at Doncaster. I know he’s looked a bit of an enigma, but he would rack up claiming/selling hurdles over 2m for fun, and even if you lost him first time, still a profit to be made.
I’m saving up, a couple more years and I’ll get one.Kingsalsa was indeed trained in France – he was a Group winner and G1 placed in the French Guineas of 1999 and the Prix Du Moulin.
..oh, thank you
UM,
The objective was to find a 2-y-old bred to stay 10F+ that might win on the flat next year and then run in juvenile hurdles – the latter category of race having been very weak this summer and thus a tempting target.
Cordiality fits the criteria, he’s also big (over 16h)and his trainer assured us that he wouldn’t have run at all as a 2-y-old but that the owners had insisted he be raced before the sale. When he grows up to match his frame, I’m hoping he’ll improve accordingly. For all his size, he’s a fluent mover and well balanced. None of this will prevent him proving useless if he lacks ability, but I’ll at least have a few months of anticipation either way.
I had three others on my short list, but the first (Readymade, Sir Michael Stoute) is plainly mad and had to be pushed into the sales ring backwards by his trainer and three other handlers after trying to mow down one poor soul who had the temerity to ask to see him trotted up and down, the second was Architrave mentioned above and the third was Fantastic Pick who is rather small and lacking in scope, but he still made 25,000gns.
AP
I see Readymade has gone to Christian von der Recke for 16,000, he seems to get a win or two out of these odd ones, and I’m not sure if he has a satellite operation over here now, someone may put me right on that, but he has at least shown some promise in decent maidens so I shall be keeping my eye on that one.
We shall look forward to seeing Cordiality run Alan, no doubt you will keep us all informed. For the money you paid, I hope in due course he proves at least good enough to run at Fakenham where I am a member, so I can give full vocal support
All the best with your acquisition Alan.
Will he be trained by Pat Murphy?
When do you envisage starting out with Cordiality?
Lingfield,
Yes, he’s with Pat and our plan is to give him his third run in a maiden next month and then put him away for the winter.
AP
Thanks Alan,
That run will give him a h’cap mark and hopefully he will strengthen up when put away
Anyone any thoughts on other sales during the week on other days?
Lingfield,
Yes, he’s with Pat and our plan is to give him his third run in a maiden next month and then put him away for the winter.
AP
A nod’s as good as a wink!
I thought the price paid for Fanjura was a little expensive.
She got hammered in her only two Group class outings!
Anyone care to shed some light?
The new owner of Royal Diamond is Eddie Stobart Ltd boss Andrew Tinkler, owner of Barney McGrew among others.
Michael Dods added two more purchases for the same owner to his stable – Mr Tinkler clearly intends to have a runner in every big handicap next year.
Mike – Fanjura is a gelding, not a ‘she’ – to be fair, his last two defeats were at the hands of the Champion Stakes winner and runner-up. But I agree the price looks over the top and I happen to know his previous owner would agree, as we’d discussed what he might make before he opted to sell rather than keep him in training here.
AP
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