Asiaaf Tops Tattersalls Autumn Sale Opener

Travel restrictions may have meant that Tattersalls lacked some of the international hubbub that usually accompanies the Autumn Horses in Training Sale, but there was still plenty of action—and some punchy prices—in the Park Paddocks ring on Oct. 26.

Heading the market was the lightly raced Asiaaf (Lot 323), who went the way of Ted Durcan after the agent struck a winning bid of 165,000 guineas from his position by the parade ring.

The 3-year-old New Approach filly has put together a promising profile under the care of Marcus Tregoning, winning a Goodwood novice stakes and registering a peak Racing Post Rating of 95 when runner-up to subsequent group 3 scorer Believe In Love at the same course on her penultimate outing.

"She's a lovely filly, a lovely model, and has excellent form," said Durcan. "She'll be a lovely filly in the spring and summer next year on decent ground; she'll have loads of options trip-wise too. She's a big, scopey mare and we think she'll improve plenty."

Durcan said training plans remain fluid for the filly, whose dam is a Shamardal sister to Hong Kong and Singapore group 1 hero Dunboyne Express, though the agent added he expects big improvement from her wherever she goes. 

"I don't know which trainer she'll head to yet but she'll stay in England," he said. "She was my pick of the sale, especially in terms of the fillies. She's got a big future. Marcus is a marvellous horseman and brings his fillies along nice and slowly, which really helps them, so it's nice to get one from him. 

"I've been watching her all summer and my thinking was that her only poor run was on softer ground. I think there's a load of upside to her once she's back on a sound surface."

The homebred Asiaaf was one of 25 lots sold by Shadwell on Monday, with the draft generating receipts totalling 560,100 guineas.

Megan on the Mark

With the National Hunt season about to hit top gear, jumps trainers and agents were among those searching for future talent at Park Paddocks. Among those to pick up an eyecatching recruit was Paul Nicholls as his daughter Megan struck a winning bid of 135,000 guineas for the progressive middle-distance performer Wise Glory (Lot 263).

The 3-year-old son of Muhaarar ran seven times for Simon and Ed Crisford and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, winning at Leicester and Newmarket and recording a career-high RPR of 91 when runner-up to Inchicore last time out.

"He'll be going back to Dad's with the idea being that he'll go juvenile hurdling," said Megan Nicholls after signing the six-figure docket. "He's a lovely big horse and the more time we can give him the better as he's got a proper frame to fill into. He's got the right kind of profile as he stays a mile and a half and he's acted on soft ground so he's one we can look forward to."

Nicholls continued: "He ran only once as a 2-year-old and the Crisfords looked after him well so hopefully there'll be plenty more to come from him. He's already been gelded, which is a big plus, and he's had a couple of runs this season. We won't rush him but hopefully come the new year he'll be running over hurdles."

Nicholls has ridden three winners for the Crisford team in her role as a flat jockey, but admitted Wise Glory was not among the horses she had partnered for the Newmarket yard. She said: "I've had a connection with the Crisford team before but I've not actually sat on this horse. He was always one who caught the eye in the mornings though."

Nicholls also expanded on her sales ring aspirations, saying: "Working the sales is something I'm massively interested in. Dad is encouraging me and I've got experience with the likes of Tom Malone, Alex Elliott, and Stephen Hillen during the yearling sales, and I've learned plenty doing that. Hopefully it'll lead to a bit of success."

Game, Set, and Match to Ghazali

Heading further afield than Ditcheat is the smart juvenile Nastase (Lot 302), who was knocked down to Will Douglass of Charlie Gordon-Watson Bloodstock on behalf of leading Qatari trainer Gassim Mohammad Ghazali at 120,000 guineas.

The cleverly named 2-year-old—who is by Sixties Icon and out of Rough Courte, and shares his moniker with former world tennis champion Ilie Nastase—has won two of his eight starts for Mick Channon.

His record includes victory in the listed Coral.co.uk Rockingham Stakes at York, while he was last seen finishing a staying-on fourth behind Mujbar in the Horris Hill Stakes (G3) (run as the Molson Coors Beverage Company) on Saturday. 

"Last year we bought a very good horse from Mick Channon called Sir Arthur Dayne—he won the Al Biddah Mile in Doha," said Douglass.

"Nastase looks a very consistent, honest, straightforward horse. He's as sound as a pound and we really liked him. He ran a nice race in the Horris Hill; he just keeps doing it and hopefully there's more to come. We're trying to concentrate on quality."

Ghazali is a familiar face at Tattersalls, and spent 456,500 guineas on 13 lots at last year's Autumn Horses in Training Sale, as well as parting with 1,316,000 guineas for 18 lots to top the buyers' chart at last year's July Sale. However, with the coronavirus pandemic having curbed travel, Douglass said the trainer was resigned to following the action online.

"Gassim is watching online from Qatar, although he didn't like bidding online during the August Sale," reported the agent.

Narvick International Lands Numen

The six-figure barrier was broken for the first time when Emmanuel de Seroux of Narvick International went to 110,000 guineas for Numen (Lot 223), who was offered by Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle Stables.

The 3-year-old son of Galileo ran to a smart level in four starts for O'Brien, winning a Leopardstown maiden and finishing 4 1/4 lengths second to Delphi in the listed Nijinsky Stakes on his third outing.

"He's not over-raced and we hope he has a future," said de Seroux. "I don't know where, my client has not decided, but it will be on the flat—possibly here, possibly North America. We'll give him a little time and hope he can come back strongly. He'd have cost 10 times more as a yearling; he's a very good mover and has all the options."

The colt was bred by Flaxman Stables Ireland and ran in the colors of the Niarchos family, who co-own the chestnut with the Coolmore partners. Numen is the eighth foal out of Divine Proportions, the top-class daughter of Kingmambo who was crowned champion 2- and 3-year-old filly courtesy of wins in the Prix Morny Casinos Barriere (G1), Prix Marcel Boussac Royal Barriere de Deauville (G1), Gainsborough Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas, G1), Prix de Diane Hermes (French Oaks, G1), and Prix d'Astarte (G1).

In turn, Divine Proportions is out of the listed-winning Myth to Reality, making her a closely related sister to Whipper, himself successful in the Prix Morny, Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard-Jacques le Marois (G1), and Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1).

Dubai Option for Ostilio

The high-class Ostilio (Lot 254) is set for a campaign in Dubai after Taylor's Bloodstock, the banner under which owner Andy Taylor races, went to 90,000 guineas to secure the 5-year-old entire.

The son of New Approach, whose siblings include Darley Prix Jean Romanet (G1) scorer Ajman Princess and John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes (G3) winner Cape Byron, won six races for Simon and Ed Crisford, most notably the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein (G2). 

He was also successful on his last two outings, making all to score by 2 1/2 lengths in the listed Racing TV E.B.F. Stallions Guisborough Stakes on his most recent start.

"He's been bought for Mr. Taylor to go out to Dubai," confirmed the owner's representative, Ian Mason. "He's had horses like Final Venture, Manshood, and Line of Reason before, and this horse has got the right profile for the big races out in Dubai.

"We'll get him out there and get a bit of sun on his back and see what we can do. We've followed him for a while so hopefully all goes to plan. He'll be trained by Paul Midgley."

Meah Lloyd Make Their Mark

The 90,000 guineas mark was hit on two further occasions, with Meah/Lloyd Bloodstock signing for the talented juveniles Jimmy Sparks (Lot 144) and Coulthard (Lot 276).

Jimmy Sparks, who recorded an RPR of 86 when landing his second race on his latest outing for Brian Meehan, is among the lots now destined for a career in Qatar.

"He goes to Qatar and to trainer Stefano Ibido—we bought Dominus for him here last year from Brian (Meehan) and he's also by Zoffany," said Jamie Lloyd, who was joined by business partner David Meah.

"Dominus won impressively on Qatar's international day (HH The Amir Festival) last year and bolted up again last Thursday. He looks a really progressive type and this horse looks to have the same sort of profile."

Coulthard remains a maiden but showed strong form in five starts for Michael O'Callaghan, running fifth to Darley Dewhurst (G1) hero St Mark's Basilica on debut before finishing third behind New Treasure and Teresa Mendoza in the Heider Family Stables Round Tower Stakes (G3).

The son of first-season sire Coulsty, who was picked up for £27,000 (US$34,400) at the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale, will continue his racing days with trainer Philip D'Amato in California.

The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale continues on Tuesday at 9.30 a.m. local time.