The Group 2 winning filly ALJAZZI sold for a record-breaking 1,000,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, breaking the previous record of 700,000 guineas sale of ELIZABETH BROWNING at this sale last year. Trade continued in robust fashion on the third day of the sale with an impressive clearance rate of 91%.
Newsells Lands Aljazzi for 1,000,000 Guineas.
The Marco Botti-trained ALJAZZI looked the standout lot in the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale and the Group 2 winning daughter of SHAMARDAL did not disappoint when knocked down to Newsells Park Stud's Julian Dollar for 1,000,000 guineas. The Royal Ascot Duke of Cambridge Stakes winner was consigned from Botti's Prestige Place and was secured by Dollar despite a late bid by Lordship Stud's Trevor Harris.
Dollar said: "She is a lovely, talented filly. She is for Newsells and we are looking for high-end performing fillies. She has speed and could perform at the highest level over 7f.
"She will be retired now, she has done her racing. She has an outcross pedigree – she is by the exciting young broodmare sire Shamardal – and we will have to think about a stallion, but there are many options.
"I have to thank the boss for being so brave with the bidding."
Tony Nerses of Blue Diamond Stud and representing ALJAZZI's owner-breeders Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar said; "She was my beauty queen! It is sad to see her go - to have bred a filly of her calibre from a second generation purchased pedigree is quite something.
"We offered her in this sale so that she would be stand out, I am happy with the price. I am delighted that she has been bought by Newsells, she couldn't have gone to a better farm. I wish them all the best of luck with her.
"She will be difficult to replace, but we will have to find another like her now!"
Aljazzi was also a special filly for her former trainer Marco Botti as she gave him and the Prestige Place yard a first Royal Ascot winner.
"She has been a great filly for us and is an honest straightforward filly," remarked Botti. "I have to thank the owners for keeping her in training this year - it paid off for them and us. She will tick all the boxes as a broodmare – she had talent, has a pedigree and is a good model."
With a wink in his eye, Botti added: "I'd love to train her progeny!"
Waterhouse & Bott Strike for Knight Errant at 250,000 Guineas
The William Jarvis-trained KNIGHT ERRANT, a winner on three of his four most recent starts, is headed to Australia to be trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott after being knocked down to McKeever Bloodstock's Susie McKeever, sat with Claudia Miller, the Sales and Communications Manager for the co-trainers.
The three-year-old son of SO YOU THINK was purchased by Jarvis for just 6,000 guineas at Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. He has won four times this year, most recently at Sandown where he defeated WHITLOCK who realised 200,000 guineas when he went through this ring on Monday. He was offered with a Timeform rating of 100.
McKeever said: "Gai has been such a supporter of this sale and we have usually managed to buy one or two here for her and they have gone on well.
"We bought The Offer here and he went on to win the Group 1 Sydney Cup."
Claudia Miller, representing Waterhouse, added;
"We loved this horse – he is big and scopey. We have been underbidders on a few and this is probably more than we thought we'd spend but that is the state of the market."
Conor Murphy Secures Argentello for 210,000 Guineas
US-based trainer Conor Murphy, signing as Riverside Bloodstock, secured the John Gosden-trained ARGENTELLO for 210,000 guineas. The three-year-old son of INTELLO has won four of his last six starts and was offered with a Timeform rating of 106.
"You are not going to improve one sold by the best trainer in the world," smiled Murphy, who is based in Kentucky, adding, "but if the horse can retain his level of form, then he should give us some fun.
"He is adaptable ground-wise and has options through from a mile to 1m2f. He'll have a break now and we will bring him back in the spring."
As good luck stories go they do not come much better than Murphy's. The former assistant to Nicky Henderson had a £50 bet on five horses three months before the Cheltenham Festival. After they all won, his return was £1.2 million, enough for him to set up training in the US where he has been for the last six years. The last winner of the quintet was Riverside Theatre, whose name led to Riverside Bloodstock.
Williams Secures Breath Caught for 200,000 Guineas
The Ralph Beckett-trained BREATH CAUGHT was the highlight of the always anticipated Juddmonte draft when selling to agent Alex Elliott on behalf of trainer Ian Williams for 200,000 guineas.
Elliott commented;
"Ian is on a plane at the moment to Australia - heading down to see Magic Circle in Melbourne. He saw this horse here and he was his selection and pick of the sale - we all know what a good buyer Ian is here. I'd say Ian will put the horse away now and bring him back in the spring."
Williams purchased MAGIC CIRCLE from the Kimpton Down Stables handler at this sale last year for just 70,000 guineas before winning the Chester Cup and the Group 3 Henry II Stakes at his only two starts this year. Williams, who is hoping to become the first British trainer to win the Melbourne Cup will also be hoping that history repeats itself with BREATH CAUGHT. The son of BATED BREATH was offered with a Timeform rating of 102.
The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale continues at 9.30am on Thursday, November 1 with the fourth and final session.
