Red Gulch was the star turn on the opening day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale when knocked down for 250,000 guineas on a day that saw 224 lots sold for 3,855,700 guineas, at an average of 17,213 guinas and a median of 9,250 guineas.
Late in the evening, the Kyllachy four-year-old Red Gulch provided the highlight for the day when knocked down to Anthony Stroud for 250,000 guineas after he saw off a plethora of agents including Guy Mulcaster, Alastair Donald, Jamie McCalmont and Joe Miller.
All made valiant attempts to secure the recent Listed winner but were unable to up the ante when Stroud raised the stakes to 250,000 guineas.
"Ed Walker has done a great job with this horse," said Stroud. "The horse looked magnificent. He moves well, got maximum marks from us and he suits the profile for Dubai. There is still some progression in him."
The sale provided a bittersweet moment for new trainer Ed Walker who was losing his best horse but who had provided his owner with a great windfall after purchasing him at this sale last year through Alastair Donald for a mere 40,000 guineas. He commented;
"When he won the London Mile, we thought his residual value for Dubai would be quite high and so had an idea to come here. He did not get the trip in the Cambridgeshire - I think you need a 1m2f horse for the race really - so we thought we would have one more go. I think the French success added another 50 or 60,000gns on to his value.
"He is a gorgeous horse and he is tailor made for Dubai. I just need another for next year now!" Walker joked.
Glencadam Gold (Lot 203) and Julienas (Lot 173) are both heading for new lives down under after being purchased by leading Australian trainer Gai Waterhouse through McKeever Bloodstock’s Johnny McKeever.
The trainer herself is busy in Australia overseeing her horses for the Melbourne Spring Carnival and next Tuesday's Melbourne Cup so her assistant Bruce Slade has travelled north to supervise purchasing.
Julienas was knocked down for 75,000gns, while Glencadam Gold became the first six-figure lot at this year's Autumn Horses In Training Sale when fetching 135,000gns.
"This is Gai's first venture to the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale, but European horses have done such a great job in Australia and she wishes to be part of that success too," he said. "These horses are well performed, lightly raced and the right sort for the Cup races.
"Gai has had New Zealand-bred horses before and they are produced in much the same way as European horses are. Her owners were quick to jump on board with this plan."
Glencadam Gold, a two-time winning three-year-old son of Refuse To Bend was offered with a ‘Timeform’ rating of 101 and consigned to the sale by Warren Place Stables.
Early in the evening Highflyer Bloodstock’s Anthony Bromley, stood alongside National Hunt trainer Alan King has the Sakhee three-year-old Grumeti knocked down to him for 100,000 guineas. Consigned from Michael Bell’s Fitzroy House Stables, the two-time winner was offered with a ‘Timeform’ rating of 91.
"He ticked all the boxes," said King. "He's been bought for Max McNeill, who owned Mille Chief and whose company ultima sponsors the yard. I have been following this horse anyway as he was owned by Thurloe Thoroughbreds, who have horses in the yard. I had been hoping they might send him to me to train!"
"He is a lovely looking horse," added Bromley.
"He has size, scope, is gelded and was our number one pick as a National Hunt prospect from today's catalogue. It was full to the limit of the budget, but then if you really want one then you need to go that far."
The Tattersalls Autumn Horses of Training Sale continues at 9.30am on Tuesday, October 25th
