Classy Stayer Waterville Tops Tatts Autumn HIT Day One

Classy stayer Waterville supplied the high point of day one of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale Oct. 24 when the son of Camelot  was sold to Australian bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster for 410,000gns (US$486,357).

The 3-year-old ran seven times for Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore partners, with his two victories including a last-gasp triumph in the Friends Of The Curragh Irish Cesarewitch handicap. Waterville had all 29 rivals in front at one stage in the contest but showed an eye-catching change of gear to overcome heavy traffic and land the premier handicap under an inspired Wayne Lordan ride.

He heads to the Chris Waller stable having achieved a peak Racing Post Rating (RPR) of 111.

"We saw him at Aidan's in June and liked him then and obviously his form has gone on since," said Mulcaster, "I spoke to Chris this morning and he was pretty keen to get the horse so fingers crossed it works out for us."

The colt is the 12th foal out of Razza Del Velino's blue hen producer Holy Moon, whose brood have been so successful only the first dam's runner appear on the catalogue page. The listed-winning daughter of Hernando  has bred 12 winners from as many runners, seven of whom have gained black type.

The mare's best offspring is the ill-fated Sea of Class, who won the Irish and Yorkshire Oaks (both G1) before going down by just a short neck to Enable in the 2018 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1).

Holy Moon has produced two other group 1 winners in Premio Lydia Tesio (G1) scorers Charity Line  and Final Score . Camelot's ten group 1-winning offspring include top-level winners in Australia in Labrokes Cox Plate (G1) hero Sir Dragonet and the northern hemisphere-bred Russian Camelot, who claimed the Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (G1) and the Tab South Australian Derby (G1).

"He's a well bred horse who's been well looked after, he hasn't had many runs but he's got a high profile off a limited number of starts so he looks obvious one for us," added Mulcaster. "Camelot has done well in Australia and we've got some clients who've already shown an interest in the horse so I'm delighted to get him."

Waterville was making his second appearance at public auction having been signed for by Coolmore's MV Magnier at €280,000 ($310,194) at the Goffs November Foal Sale in 2019.

Mulcaster and Waller also went to 130,000gns ($154,211) for Postwick, the winner for Harry Eustace who was sold through Barton Sales.

Another for Australia

The second-top lot is also bound for Australia after Will Bourne, bloodstock manager to the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable, went to 400,000gns ($474,495) for wildcard entry Chairman, who was offered by The Castlebridge Consignment on behalf of Freddie and Martyn Meade.

The 3-year-old son of Almanzor  won two of his seven starts for previous owners Aquis Farm and Manton Park and produced a career-best performance on ratings to finish second to La Yakel at Ascot last month, an effort given an RPR of 103.

"He's a really impressive physical," said Bourne. "He's a very athletic horse who doesn't carry too much condition and what I and Ciaron have observed is the ones that have worked for him down there aren't too heavy. You don't have to work those types too much and I think he's a horse that should suit. Obviously he's been racing in those really good handicaps but I'll leave placing him to Ciaron and David!"

Bourne continued: "Prize-money is so good in Australia, especially for those distance races, and they appear, on paper at least, to be below par compared to over here, so I'm looking forward to getting him into Ciaron and David's stable."

A 75,000gns  ($102,891) yearling purchase by Dermot Farrington, Chairman is the second foal out of Nimbin, a daughter of Champs Elysees  whose other winner is the listed-placed Sa'ad.

By the close of proceedings Ciaron Maher Bloodstock was the session's leading spender after also going to 130,000gns for Charterhouse , a four-time winner for John Joseph Murphy and Chantal Regalado Gonzalez.

Red Baron's Back for More

The team behind Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal are regulars at the Autumn Horses in Training Sale and they added to this year's haul with the 260,000gns ($308,422) acquisition of Bellstreet Bridie, who was offered by Michael Bell's Fitzroy House.

"She'll go over a bit of ground in California and that division is getting a little light so we thought a younger filly should do well for the year," said the operation's Tim Cohen. "We'll probably give her a break after that and bring her back at four."

The 3-year-old won three of her 12 starts for Bell, with a success at Southwell sandwiched between two victories at Yarmouth. Her latest effort, when third at Newmarket, was her best on ratings as she recorded an RPR of 85.

The daughter of Sir Percy , whose page goes back to group 1 winners Divine Proportions and Whipper, was a 10,000gns ($13,549) Book 3 yearling buy by Richard Frisby Bloodstock.

Trade was brisk throughout the session and the day finished with a clearance rate of 88% as 261 of 297 offered lots found a buyer. In turn those transactions brought turnover of 8,566,100gns ($10,161,429), a 20% year-on-year increase. The average price compared to the corresponding session in 2021 was also up 21% at 32,820gns ($38,932), while the median held firm from 12 months ago at 16,000gns ($18,980).

The Autumn Horses in Training Sale continues on Tuesday, with day starting at 9:30 a.m. local time.