Timely Group 1 boost for Citronella as Nick Bradley secures 37,000gns top lot

A busy week at Park Paddocks concluded on a quieter note, with the Kingsley Park-consigned Citronella taking top-lot honours when selling for 37,000gns to Nick Bradley on the fourth day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale.

Considering the economic impact of the ongoing coronavirus impact, Thursday's session held up well in contrast to last year with 205 lots selling for turnover of 1,246,300gns (compared to 1,356,400gns last year), an average of 6,100gns (7,140gns) and median of 4,000gns (5,000gns).

The three-year-old Citronella is out of Autumn Lily, a half-sister to Group-winning Kingmambo entire Alexandros, and the page received a sizeable boost when her Golden Horn half-brother Botanik finished a narrow second in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud.

Bradley, who indicated the daughter of New Approach would return for the 2021 December Mare Sale, said: “George Boughey very kindly videoed her for me this morning. I watched the Group 1 at the weekend and it looked a strong race - hopefully Botanik can go on next year and go a place better.

“Autumn Lily has a yearling by Invincible Spirit, a foal by Shamardal and is back in foal to Golden Horn, so there are a few chances there too. The plan will be to present Citronella next year. I’ve just got to scratch my head and think of stallions!”

Biggs hoping for tune out of Folk Song

The Trillium Place Stables-consigned Folk Song, an unraced daughter of Oasis Dream and EP Taylor Stakes heroine Folk Opera, had led the way earlier having been hammered down to Blandford Bloodstock’s Tom Biggs for 35,000gns.

Folk Song, an unraced daughter of Oasis Dream and top-level winner Folk Opera, is knocked down to Blandford Bloodstock's Tom Biggs for 35,000gnsCredit: Laura Green

Oasis Dream has enjoyed significant success as a broodmare sire this term, courtesy of Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Siskin and Cox Plate scorer Sir Dragonet, and Biggs acknowledged the filly will ultimately be a breeding prospect herself.

Biggs said: “She’s a very well-bred filly and has been bought primarily for breeding, although we’ll try to win a race with her. She’ll go back into training but we don’t know where yet, possibly France.”

Folk Opera, a daughter of Singspiel who also struck in the Prix Jean Romanet, has produced four winners from six runners to date, including Golden Horn filly Folk Dance and Lovely Memory, a daughter of Shamardal.

French fancy as Montfort swoops for Hedwig

Trainer Francois Montfort will return to France in the nick of time ahead of the country’s impending lockdown and made the most of his visit to Newmarket by snapping up the Jamie Railton-consigned Hedwig for 25,000gns.

Francois Montfort: signed the docket for the Jamie Railton-consigned HedwigCredit: Laura Green

An attractive son of Dark Angel, the juvenile was placed on his latest outing for Richard Fahey and Montford believes the best is yet to come from the colt, who is out of a half-sister to Royal Lodge Stakes scorer Royal Dornoch. Fathi Egziama acquired Royal Dornoch himself here on Tuesday for 35,000gns.

Montford said: “He’s an improving horse and his form has got better through the year, but I think he’ll be a better three-year-old as he’s quite big.”

Jackson-Stops signs for Australia-bound Empire

Lightly-raced types were to the fore in the concluding session and Desert Empire was the first of several lots on the day to reach the 22,000gns mark.

The son of Tally-Ho’s first-season sire Vadamos will continue his career in Australia, following the likes of 925,000gns sale-topper English King and the classy Emissary, who went for 350,000gns, the previous day.

Billy Jackson-Stops, on behalf of trainer Matthew Smith, had the final say for the two-year-old, a winner on his first start at Lingfield in September for Ralph Beckett.

Jackson-Stops said: “I’ve been the underbidder on a few this week. This is a nice horse and heading to Australia as a two-year-old gives him plenty of options. Hopefully he’ll make up into a nice stayer.”

Tattersalls statement

At the conclusion of the sale, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said: "The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale is a uniquely international fixture and to stage it amidst such widespread global travel restrictions was a daunting prospect, but yet again the industry has risen to the challenge.

“The sale understandably lacked some of its customary vibrancy with so many of our regular overseas buyers unable to travel, but the market has again held up remarkably well, particularly at the top end, where we have seen a record sale price for a colt of 925,000gns and double last year’s number of lots sold for more than 300,000gns.

“It is no coincidence that the most notable feature of the international influence this week has been the contribution from Australian and Saudi Arabian connections. The inaugural $30 million Saudi Cup night in February this year saw the connections of two Autumn Horses in Training purchases standing proudly in the winner's enclosure and there have been four individual Australian Group 1 winners from the sale since 2019.

"Success-driven demand is the key to so many sales at Tattersalls and it has been especially evident at all levels of this year’s Autumn Horses in Training market."

Mahony went on: “It is a similar scenario to the recent Tattersalls October Yearling Sales. Quality bloodstock remains a coveted commodity, and the status of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale as the premier sale of its type in the world is based on consistent achievement on racecourses throughout the world.

Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale results

“As ever in this turbulent year we must also express our thanks to everyone who has participated in the sale this week. The challenges we all face show few signs of abating, but yet again everyone has conducted themselves with commendable patience and determination.

“We continue to be enormously grateful for this collective spirit of cooperation and now look forward to the December Foal and Breeding Stock Sale, incorporating the Cheltenham December Sale, which will bring the 2020 Tattersalls sales season at Park Paddocks to a conclusion."

More sales news:

A perfect storm sees English King fetch 925,000gns at Tattersalls

Four-way bidding battle sees Piranesi bring 300,000gns at Tattersalls

Ted Durcan secures 165,000gns top lot at Autumn Horses in Training opener

Tattersalls and Goffs collaborate on revised point-to-point sales programme