FANTASY WORLD was one of three lots to realise 500,000 guineas or more on the third day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale which saw significant increases to the median, average and turnover from the equivalent session in 2024.
Fantasy World to McGrath for 600,000 Guineas
International purchasers have dominated the headlines thus far at the Autumn Horses in Training Sale but it was domestic buyers from the National Hunt sphere who came to the fore on the sale’s third day.
The highest priced lot of the session was FANTASY WORLD who was consigned by trainer Andrew Balding’s Kingsclere Training Stables on behalf of Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds. Jamie McCalmont was among those involved in the early skirmishes but bidding swiftly developed into a duel between Ryan Mahon and Jerry McGrath, with the latter offering the successful bid of 600,000 guineas for the three-year-old son of MAKE BELIEVE.
“Fantasy World has been bought to go jumping, but also with a dual purpose career in mind,” revealed McGrath. “He has been a horse on the radar and he is progressing, he ticks a lot of the boxes for us. He goes to Seven Barrows, is for an existing owner and hopefully he is lucky!
“This lad is very progressive, he has won over 1m2f, 1m4f and 1m6f, goes on the slower ground and is a real hurdling type. He looked beaten at Ascot last time and battled back well, he is an exciting horse going forward. He is gelded, but he will have a break now as he has been busy this summer.”
FANTASY WORLD was bought at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale for €70,000 by Lillingston Bloodstock for Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds. Kennet Valley’s bloodstock advisor Luke Lillingston and racing manager Sam Hoskins were in attendance and understandably delighted with the sale.
Hoskins commented: “He was always going to be the kind of horse who was going to appeal to the NH or Australian market and we were not going to do either of those things, we are a Flat syndicate and historically we offer our horses at the end of their three-year-old seasons. He fitted that bill and he will make some hurdler, and the timing is perfect having won the Listed race. I will love to see him coming down that hill at Cheltenham, he looks a real jumper and that is what he should be doing – he is made to be jumper, and we are a Flat syndicate.”
Lillingston said: “It is big credit to trainer Andrew Balding. He has developed this horse all the way through this season and he said let’s have a go at the Noel Murless.”
Hoskins added; “It was inspired placement, he was the lowest rated horse in the race but we thought he is a guaranteed stayer, he will appreciate the ground and it was going to be his last race of the season. We hoped that he would be competitive in it and that his rating would go up – in the end he won! He was very game, he has a wonderful attitude and is very sound. They will do well with him, he is a lovely horse.”
A three-time winner, FANTASY WORLD won the Listed Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot by a neck on his most recent start from NIGHTWALKER, who was bought for 320,000 guineas by Phil Cunningham and Sam Haggas’ Hurworth Bloodstock from the Juddmonte draft earlier in the session.
Mahon Strikes for Push The Limit at 580,000 Guineas
Underbidder on the day’s top lot, Ryan Mahon was not to be denied for PUSH THE LIMIT who followed FANTASY WORLD into the ring just four lots later. The National Hunt agent successfully saw off the attentions of Matt Coleman to secure the Imperium Sales consigned three-year-old for 580,000 guineas.
“They were the two horses that we very much wanted tonight,” recounted Mahon. “We missed the earlier horse so we were not going to miss this one! We loved him as a model, he is for a new owner with Dan [Skelton], hopefully he will make up into a really nice hurdler.
“The ones you really want are very difficult to get, and you have to go all out to get them. As a physical he fitted what we are after – myself and Dan have spoken about him a lot over the last couple of days. Potentially he could have a dual-purpose career, but that is for Dan to work out.”
PUSH THE LIMIT was fifth for trainer Ralph Beckett and owner Valmont in the pivotal Listed Noel Murless Stakes behind the session topper, and prior to that had won or been second in all five of his starts. The LE HAVRE colt was bought for €48,000 as a yearling by Alex Elliott and was offered with a Timeform rating of 112.
Fearnot Bound for Saudi Arabia at 500,000 Guineas
Trainer Clive Cox enjoyed an excellent result in the Tattersalls sales ring when selling the smart three-year-old FEARNOT on behalf of owner Jason Goddard. Bids flew from around the ring and online with Stuart Boman and Matt Coleman among those to make a play for the colt, but it was Najd Stud’s Saud Al Qahtani and bloodstock agent Nico Archdale who emerged triumphant at 500,000 guineas.
Unraced at two, FEARNOT has swiftly made up for lost time at three, winning or placing in six of his eight starts to date including when beaten just half a length into third in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot. The son of INVINCIBLE SPIRIT finished fourth in the Group 3 Superior Mile at Haydock on his most recent outing earning a Timeform rating of 112.
“He goes to Saudi and will be one for the King’s Cup,” revealed Archdale. “He is a lovely horse, came highly recommended by Clive Cox and has been highly progressive this season. He was our top pick of the sale.”
Clive Cox commented; “I am thrilled that he commanded such a lot of respect and appreciation, he is a lovely horse, he has done everything right, he is a real athlete, and I am thrilled he has had such an increase in price.
“This is the way the journey goes, I am pleased we have invested quite heavily in yearlings and this allows us to keep taking that approach. Like any marketplace quality is key, and that it is very clear to see.”
He added: “It is hard to say goodbye to these horses, but I am also very proud to have these horses through our hands, it keeps the enthusiasm and momentum to try and do it again. Owner Jason Goddard has been a very loyal supporter so I am really pleased for him.”
Cox purchased FEARNOT for 90,000 guineas at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale from Genesis Green Stud. His dam ALSINDI won the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes and he is an own-brother to the Graded Stakes placed filly INVINCIBLE GAL.
Juddmonte’s Gran Descans to Donohoe at 425,000 Guineas
BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohoe made his intentions plain with his opening bid of 100,000 guineas for Juddmonte’s GRAN DESCANS and outlasted all competitors to secure the three-year-old FRANKEL colt for 425,000 guineas, with bloodstock agent Harold Kirk the underbidder.
Donohoe commented; “We are very happy to get him, he came highly recommended by Juddmonte. It is a fantastic breeding operation and nursery to buy from. He is a very progressive horse, we certainly think there is more to come. He stays well and has been bought for a client in the Middle East, the same client whom I bought for yesterday.
“Interestingly pedigree-wise he is out of a Dansili mare – Dansili is going well in the Middle East and there is more Dansili about this horse than Frankel. He vetted very well and is another straightforward horse. He will go from here to George Peckham – all the horses we buy for the Middle East go to him. He does a great job, keeps them in full training and they ship from him and, hopefully, the horses will be ready to run soon off the plane.”
The lightly-raced GRAN DESCANS posted a smart update since catalogue publication with an impressive three and three quarter length win at Newcastle, his third victory in six starts, earning a Timeform rating of 105.
The Juddmonte consignment is a perennial highlight of the Autumn Horses in Training Sale and this year’s draft proved no exception with 18 lots sold for an average of 103,278 guineas and five further lots realising six figures.
The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale continues with the fourth session at 9.30am on Thursday, 30th October.
