'We could look like geniuses in a year’s time!' - Coolmore's Delius breaks Autumn Horses in Training Sale record at 1,300,000gns

Those checking results from Tattersalls’ Autumn Horses in Training Sale could be forgiven for thinking the event was taking place in New South Wales rather than Newmarket, such was the extent of Australian involvement on Tuesday. 

Antipodean investment accounted for six of the top ten lots from the second session, a list headed by the record-breaking Delius at 1,300,000gns. Agents Guy Mulcaster and Alastair Donald cut out the earlier running but once matters rumbled into seven-figure territory it was between an online bidder and a huddle to the right of the rostrum comprising Johnny McKeever, Claudia Fitzgerald, bloodstock manager to the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable, and Hubie de Burgh. 

After a long hold the online player nudged the price to 1,250,000gns. But the 50,000gns increase was swiftly matched in the ring, with De Burgh’s raise enough to bring the gavel down on the most expensive lot ever sold at the Autumn Horses in Training Sale. An enthusiastic round of applause broke out before the colt had exited the ring.

The previous record-holder was the 1,000,000gns Aljazzi, whose yearling filly by Frankel topped the recent renewal of Book 1 when Amo Racing bid a jaw-dropping 4,400,000gns for Newsells Park Stud's youngster.

The three-year-old Delius was trained for the Coolmore partners by Jean-Claude Rouget, who saddled the son of Frankel to three victories culminating in the Group 3 Prix du Lys. He was then third to Sosie in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris and second to the same rival in the Group 2 Prix Niel. He was last seen finishing in mid division in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe won by Bluestocking. 

“This is a joint venture between Gai Waterhouse and her team and Sir Owen Glenn of Go Bloodstock,” said De Burgh after signing the seven-figure docket. “He’s had a lot of great horses, including Lady Of Camelot, who Gai trained to win last season’s Golden Slipper. He wanted a Cup horse for next year, and obviously Gai did as well. 

Delius during his record-breaking sale at Park PaddocksCredit: Alisha Meeder

“What can I say? He’s a son of Frankel who’s only raced six times but he’s already run to a high rating, winning over a mile and two and a mile and a half. He’s got the perfect profile for Australia. The only bad run of his life was the Arc, which was on ground he hated. It was a lot of money, but unfortunately that’s what they’re costing. We could look like geniuses in a year’s time, or we might not!”

Delius was a late entry into the Newmarket sale, and De Burgh explained Tuesday evening’s bidding marathon was not his first attempt at trying to buy the talented youngster. 

“I’ve been trying to buy this horse since after his first start and we couldn’t, then we couldn’t after his second start either,” he said. “We really wanted the horse but Jean-Claude wasn’t very well and MV Magnier didn’t want to take the horse away, it was only after the Arc when Jean-Claude was happy to let the horse go. It was hard to buy the horse on our own because it’s a lot of money so we’re joint venturing with Gai, and that gave us an opportunity to compete against the likes of Chris Waller, Ciaron Maher and all the others. He’s been on the radar a long time though so it’s nice to finally get him.” 

Delius was bred by David and Trish Brown of Furnace Mill Stud who sold the colt to Magnier for 675,000gns at the December Foal Sale in 2021. His dam, Whatami, has bred five winners and three stakes scorers. His siblings include his Wolferton Stakes-winning brother Juan Elcano and the Group 3-winning Nkosikazi.

The page has continued to develop this year as his dam is a sister to Whazzat, who in turn is the second dam of recent Royal Lodge Stakes scorer Wimbledon Hawkeye.

Haggas takes one for the home team

The second-top lot Caviar Heights will be staying in Newmarket, although the high-class three-year-old could well have Australian targets on his agenda nonetheless. Johnny McKeever was again involved in the business end of the bidding, but on this occasion it was Sam Haggas of Hurworth Bloodstock who won out at 520,000gns. 

“He’s staying in Newmarket and going to my parents,” said Haggas, son of William and Maureen. “He’s for some existing owners of theirs who have been great supporters of my parents and I as owners and as friends. It’s a great result and I’m delighted to get him.” 

Caviar Heights makes 520,000gns at Tattersalls on TuesdayCredit: Alisha Meeder

On his aims for the 104-rated colt, Haggas said: “I hope he could develop into the type of horse that can run in Australia. Dad has had a lot of luck and success taking horses down to Sydney for their autumn carnival and I hope he can develop into a horse who can race down there. That would be the dream.” 

Andrew Balding bought Caviar Heights for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum at 300,000gns at Book 2 in 2022. The horse won one of his four starts for the stable before his owner switched the colt to Karl Burke. His form reached a new level during the early stages of this season, most notably when winning the Listed Newmarket Stakes by four lengths. A couple of lesser efforts have followed, but Haggas said the substance to Caviar Heights’ form meant he was optimistic that he could regain his upward trajectory.  

“He’s been one of the highest horses on my radar since his runs in the spring,” continued Haggas. “He was third in the Feilden Stakes behind Jayarebe, who’s obviously going to the Breeders’ Cup Turf, and Ambiente Friendly was a place behind and he went on to the Lingfield Derby Trial and then placed in two Derbys. He put up a massive performance when he won the Newmarket Stakes, I thought that was so impressive, especially on the clock. 

“He beat a very good yardstick called Sayedaty Sadaty, who then upheld the form by running to a similar level in the Derby. I think that’s a good formline and I’m hopeful Caviar Heights can get back to that sort of level. If he can, then they should have a lot of fun with him.” 

Caviar Heights is by Sea The Stars, a sire who has done the Haggas stable numerous good turns down the years. 

“I’d say Dad is very lucky to have had the association he’s had with Sea The Stars,” added Haggas. “He adores the stallion and loves training his stock and has had some phenomenal days with his progeny; I’m thinking of horses like Sea Of Class and Baaeed. This horse has a bit of a way to go to get to that level, but I know he’s delighted to have a horse like this coming into his stable.” 

Imperium impact

A frantic end to the session was kickstarted when Guy Mulcaster went to 460,000gns for the upwardly mobile Hutchence. Valmont’s three-year-old has come a long way in a short space of time, winning three of his last four starts, and Mulcaster is anticipating that master trainer Chris Waller can coax further progress from the son of Frankel. 

“He came highly recommended from the Ralph Beckett stable and we liked the horse,” said Mulcaster. “He’s probably done it all on one preparation so far, so we thought there was still a little bit of juice left in the lemon. We’ll take him home and poke along and see how we go.

Hutchence in the ring on Tuesday before selling for 460,000gnsCredit: Alisha Meeder

“We’re not in any mad rush with a horse that’s done it all in such a short space of time. I think he’ll keep furnishing and when he does we’ll be really happy with what we’ve got. I thought that was the sort of price we’d have to spend because some of the lesser-performed horses have been making pretty good money this week. It’s been hard to buy. This sale has been good to us but you’ve got to keep digging and finding the next one.” 

Hutchence, a 310,000gns Book 1 purchase by Alex Elliott, landed handicaps at Salisbury, Newbury and Ascot. The latter of those successes came over two miles and was allotted an RPR of 98. He is out of the Listed-winning High Chaparral mare Baisse, who has already bred a Group 1 winner in Australia in Godolphin’s Kennedy Mile scorer Best Of Days. 

The very next lot into the ring was Mr Monaco, who was knocked down to Ciaron Maher’s head of bloodstock Will Bourne, sitting beside Jamie Spencer, at 410,000gns. 

The three-year-old son of Territories has shown sustained improvement for the Beckett stable, winning a Leicester novice stakes and a ten-furlong Sandown handicap. He was last seen running to a personal best RPR of 104 for finishing second, beaten just a nose by Loyal Touch, in a 0-95 at Pontefract. 

Mr Monaco: the son of Territories was another of the punchily-priced lots at Park PaddocksCredit: Alisha Meeder

“We’ve cross referenced with Louis le Metayer of Astute Bloodstock,” said Bourne. “It’s always reassuring when a guy like him also wants to buy because he bought Harlem, the Australian Cup winner, here a few years ago. He wanted to team up to buy this horse, he picked him out and we really liked him too, and Ciaron’s thrilled to get the chance to train him. 

"He’s shown very consistent form and Louis loved his physique, as well as his ability as a three-year-old racing against the older horses.” 

Mr Monaco showed a rather more punchy return on investment for his owners The Obank Partnership, who also offer the highly touted Square D'Alboni as Lot 1,129G on Wednesday. Elliott selected the youngster on their behalf at just £35,000 at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, where he was offered by breeder Bearstone Stud. 

Both Hutchence and Mr Monaco were offered as part of Elliott’s Imperium Sales draft that ended the session with nine lots sold for receipts totalling 1,576,000gns. The consignment also included the 240,000gns Black Run, bought by Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock with Annabel Neasham Racing, and King Of Bears, who George Scott and Billy Jackson Stops secured at 200,000gns. 

Alex Elliott keeps tabs on one of the Imperium Sales draft at Tattersalls on TuesdayCredit: Alisha Meeder

“They are four super horses,” said Elliott. “Mr Monaco was above where I thought he would be, but when I saw Claudia [Fitzgerald] lock up with Will Bourne, I could see the horse making a good price. It’s a great price for Hutchence, who I think is a very good horse. He’s just getting it together because he was a late foal and a late developer. He was very immature but he has slowly got it all together. Ralph was very sweet on him and I think he could be a Cup horse next year.” 

The Imperium operation made a major impact with its debut draft at last year’s Autumn Horses in Training Sale, topping the market with the 575,000gns Balance Play and leading the consignors’ chart by average price with a sum of 171,308gns. 

Elliott added: “There was a lot of pressure after last year as I wanted to back those results up. The team did it and horses did it, and again I was very proud to stand there and see the horses sell well for the clients. It will keep the clients happy as there are a lot of yearlings to pay for!”

Dwyer snaps up Atlantic Coast 

Australian trainer Henry Dwyer has already launched one successful raid on British shores this season, and pulled off another on Tuesday when plundering the second session of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale. 

Dwyer sent Asfoora from his Ballarat base to Royal Ascot, where the daughter of Flying Artie registered a famous success in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes. The classy Atlantic Coast will make the reverse journey having been secured with the help of Hurworth Bloodstock at 340,000gns. 

Offered by Baroda Stud, Al Shira'aa Racing’s homebred won three times from nine starts for Joseph O’Brien, with his two-year-old season capped by victory in the Group 3 Killavullan Stakes. The most recent of those three successes came this month over seven furlongs in the Listed Prix Matchem at Saint-Cloud, an effort that earned the son of Kodiac a career-high Racing Post Rating (RPR) of 104. 

Henry Dwyer: "Hopefully he’ll give us a bit of fun"Credit: Laura Green

“He’s a lovely horse and obviously he’s already stakes level,” said Dwyer. “We’ve come here looking for horses that are going to get over a mile and a half, getting on for two miles. But he was such a lovely horse and with his current form over a mile and seven furlongs, I think that probably stretches out to nearly a mile and a quarter in Australia. He’s a lovely physical; he’s got a great head on him and Kodiacs have done quite well in Australia. 

“Obviously Joseph has trained him really well, and for a horse who’s had a bit of racing and has travelled a bit, he looks in such good order. He’s got a beautiful nature, especially for a colt, so I’m pleased to have him to take back to Australia. Hopefully he’ll give us a bit of fun.” 

Although Dwyer trained Asfoora out of Newmarket earlier in the year, this is his first venture to the Autumn Horses in Training Sale. “We sent out an expression of interest form to our owners before we came over and we had some good feedback, so we have a few owners ready to go with a horse like this,” he said. “Hopefully some more will jump on, so don’t be afraid to get on the website and buy a share!” 

Mullins moves for Too Bossy For Us

The progressive stayer Too Bossy For Us could also race down under in the not too distant future, albeit the three-year-old son of Golden Horn was sold to connections much closer to home. Agent Harold Kirk signed the 330,000gns ticket on behalf of champion trainer Willie Mullins. 

Too Bossy For Us, a €52,000 yearling purchase by Jeremy Brummitt, won one of eight starts for Kevin Philippart De Foy and Quantum Leap Racing, and showed even better form in defeat. He reached the frame in class two handicaps at Haydock over one mile and six furlongs on two of his last three starts. The latest of those, when fourth to Master Builder, saw the colt achieve a peak RPR of 95. 

Trade went long into the evening at Park Paddocks on TuesdayCredit: Alisha Meeder

“I didn’t think I’d have to stretch that far, but I knew he was going to be very, very popular,” said Kirk. “I think he was vetted about seven times and I knew Australia would be very strong on him because he’s a beautiful horse. He’s very progressive and looks as if he’s going to stay a good trip. He can only go one way and I haven’t seen a nicer horse in a long, long time. He’s by Golden Horn, who’s very sexy, even to be a jumping horse. His stats on the Flat are excellent too. 

“This is the first one by the sire I’ve bought, but he’s out of a High Chaparral mare, so he’s nearly guaranteed to stay longer distances. We’ve bought him to be a Royal Ascot or Melbourne Cup horse. He’ll probably go jumping first though. He’ll be gelded and have a rest now because he’s a long-term project. He’s a super model of a horse. I couldn’t fault him, he vetted cleanly, everything was right.” 

The Mullins stable could be doubly represented in this year’s Melbourne Cup, with Vauban and Absurde both single-figure odds for the race that stops a nation. 

Ward weighs in 

Wesley Ward was not in attendance at Park Paddocks, but Ollie Sangster was on bidding duties as the leading trainer secured Coolmore’s high-class three-year-old Mountain Bear for 330,000gns. The Whisperview Trading-bred son of No Nay Never leaves Ballydoyle having won two of his 14 starts, including last year’s Listed Star Appeal Stakes. 

Mountain Bear has already shown a liking for racing in the US having finished runner-up in last season’s Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and third in the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes on his latest outing earlier in the month. 

The high-class Mountain Bear is heading to America Credit: Alisha Meeder

“He’s been bought for Wesley,” said Sangster. “The horse ran well last time at Keeneland and Wesley is looking for a nice miler who can perform at the top level. There should be a good chance the horse can pull back that price in prize-money.” 

Tuesday’s market stats followed the trend set in motion on day one. Turnover increased by 16 per cent year-on-year to 13,890,000gns. The average was also up by 16 per cent 52,220gns, while the median improved by seven points to 23,500gns. The clearance rate was a rock-solid 93 per cent as 266 lots sold from 286 offered.

The Autumn Horses in Training Sale continues on Wednesday at 9.30am. 

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