Tattersalls chairman warns of 'far-reaching effects' from budget despite Autumn Sale ending on a high

A final session with more appeal to the bargain hunter than the serious collector still provided enough stimulus for the 2024 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale to conclude with a healthy glow to its figures.

Most of the big-hitters had departed after Wednesday, with no individuals from thereon in rivalling the spirited action that had included the most expensive horse ever sold at the event, the 1,300,000gns Delius.

Overall turnover had been on the brink of passing the impressive all-time record set two years ago as the bell rang on Friday but, while many of the final runs were knocked off, the total fell just a few short by lunchtime stumps at 35,654,200gns.

Trade registered individual improvements on the average and median, not only for the day but the sale as a whole. The final average of 34,955gns was a 13 per cent improvement on last year's 30,951gns, the second highest in history, and the median of 16,000gns was also seven per cent above 12 months ago. A clearance rate of 87 per cent was exactly the same.

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said: "As ever, this unique fixture, the largest and most popular of its type, has attracted an extraordinarily diverse collection of buyers from all corners of the world. Australian buyers have enjoyed outstanding success purchasing at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, with graduates winning 48 Group/Listed races in the last three years, and they have again played a significant role, buying in excess of 30 lots for more than 6,000,000gns.

A very busy five days at Tattersalls came to an end on FridayCredit: Alisha Meeder

"They have been joined by the typically enthusiastic group of buyers from the Gulf region, whose respective carnivals have buoyed the market in the Middle East for quality, tried horses from Britain and Ireland. We've also welcomed a large contingent of European buyers, especially from Spain and Italy, who have made a significant contribution to the sale, and it was equally encouraging to see such strong domestic demand from both the Flat and National Hunt fraternities.

"A record price for Delius and sale turnover that has only narrowly fallen short of the wide-margin record set in 2022 have provided a fitting finale to what has been a remarkable month of sales at Tattersalls."

For all that this has been a few weeks to savour for the auction house, Mahony issued wider caution relating to external developments.

“Against this backdrop of positivity we can only express concern regarding the government’s budget announced on Wednesday," he added. "The implications of it will have far-reaching effects not only on all businesses in the racing industry but more long term on breeders and trainers who could now be liable for inheritance tax on their assets. 

"The effects of these changes are surely going to have a negative impact on the whole racing and breeding sector in this country.” 

Greenall hopes Melon bears fruit

Melon's namesake set a strong standard of hurdling prowess and even a fraction of it will ensure that Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero do not regret their decision to keep their three-year-old on side.

The German-bred son of Adlerflug had made a successful handicap debut in late September at Haydock over a mile and three-quarters and was put through the ring to change an ownership, with brisk interest sending his price up to a clear session-topping 68,000gns.

The original, and at this stage still very much the best, Melon was another chestnut but a popular Newsells Park graduate who was beaten a whisker at two Cheltenham Festivals and has thrived in team chasing since his retirement from the Willie Mullins yard in 2022.

"We've put some owners together for him, we really wanted to go hurdling as he seems the right type," said Greenall.

"He's actually grown recently and had a mini-break since Haydock, so should be ready to go. Dan Astbury bought him [for 42,000gns] from the breeze-ups here, we've tried to buy a few yearlings and two-year-olds to run on the Flat first, and it seems like a system that's worked well."

Jack Jones has a couple of months left to push for his own personal best as part of a season which has provided his biggest winner through Caburn in the Weatherbys Super Sprint.

Juvenile filly I Can Imagine, who progressed in four starts with Joseph O'Brien, will be part of that plan after joining the young Newmarket trainer for 25,000gns.

Jack Jones: pushing towards a new best total for a yearCredit: Alisha Meeder

"She's been bought for Daniel Daley, who is a fairly new owner," explained Jones. "He runs his horses under the name of Lockdale Coins, an auctioneers near Ipswich, and the first horse, Gordon Norse, ran really well on his debut at Wolverhampton to finish third. This filly looks like she's ready to win and can be one to run through the winter on the all-weather."

He added: "We've had 26 winners so far [Flat and jumps] and our best is 29. We bought a few others here, so it's gone quite well."

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