Lot 356: "I am a big fan of the Scat Daddy line and of Land Force," said Alex Elliott, the 60,000gns buyer of this Land Force colt. "This is a lovely horse and he is bred to be fast, he has a huge pedigree.

"He is the best colt I have seen today by Land Force, he could go to any sale next year and is likely to go to Ireland in the interim," continued Elliott.

The February-born colt is out of the unraced Delevigne (Redoute's Choice), a half-sister to Regal Parade (Pivotal), winner of the Haydock Sprint Cup (G1), to Entifaadha (Dnasili), winner of the Acomb Stakes (G3), and to the Group-placed Motivator gelding Hot Prospect and the Listed-placed Mount Helicon (Montjeu).

Delevigne has had one runner – Blackbird Power (Dark Angel), who has run once to date. She was covered by Blue Point this spring.

The colt was bred by Highclere Stud & HMH Management and sold by Highclere Stud, which stands Land Force, the Group 2 Richmond Stakes-winning son of No Nay Never. (15:02)

Lot 355: "This is for a new pinhooking venture for Tony Elliott's Rogues Gallery," reported Billy Jackson-Stops after spending 70,000gns on the colt by Zoustar.

"He is a good-looking sort, a good physical and we liked him. Hopefully there will be good upside with Zoustar, and this colt is likely to be prepped for next year sale in Newmarket," added Jackson-Stops, who signed as JS Bloodstock / RGS.

Sold by Highclere Sud, the colt is out of the 100-rated Listed winner Making Eyes (Dansili). She is the dam of one winner from two runners – Ascension, the winner of five races. (14:53)

Lot 297: first-crop sire Soldier's Call (Showcasing) is well represented by this chestnut colt from Belmont Stud – the January-born fetches 37,000gns bought by Bobby O'Ryan.

"This is a lovely horse," said O'Ryan. "He is for a client and is for resale. I've liked what I have seen of the sire's stock and there are some nice ones to come through the ring this week."

Soldier's Call stands at Ballyhane Stud, and last year stood at a fee of €7,500 from €10,000 in year one. The son of Showcasing won the Group 2 Flying Childers as a juvenile and was placed in the King's Stand Stakes (G1) and the Nunthorpe Stakes (G1). He was a champion two-year-old colt in France in 2018 having won the Prix d'Arenberg (G3), and was owned in training by Clipper Logistics. He covered 159 mares this year.

Pat O'Rourke and daughter Pamela of Belmont Stud were delighted with the sale, the pair having bought the mare On The Lurch (Mount Nelson) in 2015.

"We bought the mare here for just 11,000gns," said the pair in unison.

O'Rourke Jnr continued: "Her first foal by Holy Roman Emperor made 25,000gns, he is a good physical and he has worked out winning as a two-year-old for George Boughey. She is in-foal to Mastercraftsman, and is due early in the year.

"This is a very nice colt, a good solid type and very correct. We chose Soldier's Call because he was a nice first-season sire of last year, he is a lovely, beautiful horse by Showcasing."

O'Rourke Snr added: "He was a fast Royal Ascot two-year-old winner of the Windsor Castle Stakes, the day he won that race he hit the front a furling down and battled it out. He was speed out."

O'Rourke Jnr said: "And to be fair to Joe he always has a good first-season stallion and doesn't get it wrong with his sires."

The father and daughter team, with their commercial hats in place, were keen to stress that they are due to sell Lot 1287 on the first day of the mares' sale on Monday. Called Minister For Magic she is a three-year-old daughter of Make Believe out of a winning Cape Cross full-sister to the Geoffrey Freer Stakes (G3) winner Hamada.

"She has run once when winning at Killarney. The form is working out and she will be an ideal type for anyone looking for a racing prospect with breeding potential," said O'Rourke Snr. (13:10)

Lot 279: the first in this week by Ulysses fetches 60,000gns and is bought as a pinhook prospect by Jamie Railton, who was sat and bidding on the stairs.

"We will just have to see how Ulysses turns out, but he has certainly made a promising start," said Railton, who signed as Jamie Railton Sales Agency. "I have not been fortunate enough to have one by the sire yet, but he looks a sire with a future – he was a top 10f horse."

Of this foal, Railton said: "Let's hope this horse matures and develops and goes the right way. I just thought he was a nice attractive individual and that is what they cost."

Bred by D O'Brien, the colt, sold by Bearstone Stud, is out of Traditionelle (Indesatchel), a winner at three years over 5f.

Ulysses, a son of Galileo and a first-season stallion of 2021, is the sire of 16 winners of 18 races from 37 starters. His leading performer is the Group 3 Eyrefield Stakes runner-up Piz Badile, who is out of the Elusive Quality mare That Which is Not.

He has 19 lots due in the ring this week. (12:17)

Lot 268: foals by the Crystal Ocean, who jointly headed the World's Best Racehorse Rankings in 2019 alongside Enable and Waldgeist, caught the eye at the recent Tattersalls Ireland November NH Sale. The NH buyers really liked what they saw by the first-crop sire, who finished up the sale with the third-best average of €35,257 (30 lots sold) and a top price of €120,000.

Three lots are catalogued here this week, two colts and a filly, and the first Lot 268 is bought by Guy O'Callaghan of Grangemore Stud for 30,000gns.

"This is a great-looking foal, by a champion racehorse out of a good, proven Shamardal racemare and with a good back family, what is not to like?" responded O'Callaghan when asked why this foal stood out to him as a Flat pinhook prospect, adding: "It is a simple as that – Crystal Ocean was a top racehorse and is by a brilliant stallion in Sea The Stars."

This colt is out of Nateeja, who was rated 83 at her best and was the winner of two races. She has produced one winner from two runners – Bearberry rated 75. The pedigree stretches back to the leading family of Moonlight Cloud, Generous, Imagine and Horatio Nelson. (12:03)

Lot 234: the first foal to 50,000gns this week is this colt by Darley sire Territories and a half-brother to four winners out of the Dansili mare Desert Liaison, a daughter of the Group 3 Nell Gwyn third-placed Toffee Nosed (Selkirk).

He was bought by John Foley of Ballyvolane Stud, who has such a good yearling sale and pinhook result in the autumn courtesy of the Time Test colt out of Auerlia who was sold to Sackville Donald in the October Book 2 Sale for 400,000gns (Lot 193). Foley and friends had paid just 56,000gns for the colt at this sale last year.

Foley, who signed as GHS Bloodstock, said: "He is a lovely foal, he is for resale. We will be trying for a repeat but that will be difficult!"

Today's colt was sold by Hungerford Park Stud and is a second-best foal sale for the farm.

The pedigree has had a recent update, thanks to half-brother Wentwood. The son of Pour Moi is in Australia and since the beginning of October has won the Apiam Bendigo Cup (G3) and finished second in Coongy Cup (G3) and third in Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G3).

"I'm thrilled," said Emma Hunter of the farm. "The update came quite late after the catalogue was released so I was a bit nervous having a Wednesday lot with a fairly major update. He's been very, very busy though and he never lost his walk, which was great, so I'm chuffed to bits with him.

"He's been very straightforward and probably looked better up here than he has before, he just blossomed. He's walked his legs off; he did 47 shows yesterday, 37 the day before and another 20 this morning, and that's a lot to ask of a young horse.

"Territories is a very good-moving horse and that's one thing I'd noticed about the mare's previous stock, they had good conformation but they didn't quite have the movement. This guy definitely had Territories' good movement.

"We bought the mare at Ascot when she was in-foal to Arabian Gleam purely on the catalogue page really because she's by Dansili out of a Listed-winning Selkirk mare. When you're a small breeder you don't throw a lot of money at it and, although she had nice conformation, it was a bit of a punt."

The mare cost just £3,500 at Ascot in 2013 – she is more than paying her way as a producer in the sales ring and on the racecourse. (11:11)

December Yearling Sale statistics: (+/- compared to last year)

Lots catalogued: 200 (173)

Lots offered: 164 (142)

Lots sold: 145 (122)

Aggregate: 5,067,500gns (+27%) (only the second time the aggregate has topped five million)

Median: 27,000gns (+35%)*

Average: 34,948gns (+7%)

Lots 100,000gns+ : 7

% sold: 88% (86%)

*RECORD

Leading consignors: 1. Shadwell Estate Company, 2. The Castlebridge Consignment, 3. Oak Lodge & Springfield House Stud

Leading purchasers: 1. Sunderland Holding, 2. Stroud Coleman Bloodstock, 3. Johnston Racing

Leading sires (aggregate): 1. Invincible Spirit, 2. Sea The Stars, 3. Teofilo

Leading sires (average, 2+ sold): 1. Teofilo, 2. Invincible Spirit, 3. Sea The Stars (18:46)

Lot 198: the Teofilo filly is bought by Anthony Stroud for 135,000gns.

"She is for Alison Swinburn and is going to be trained by James Fanshawe,"said Stroud. "She is a very athletic filly, is going to need a bit of time, a very easy mover, and we like her very much."

She was bred by Hadi Al-Tajir and was sold today by Shadwell Estates.

The filly is out of the Listed-placed Dubai Fashion (Dubawi), a daughter of Oriental Fashion (Marju), winner of the Premio Ribot (G2), the dam of eight winners, including the southern-hemisphere Group 3 winner St Jean, who is also by Teofilo.

The further family stretches back to the 1981 joint two-year-old champion filly, Sheikh Hamdan's Height Of Fashion.

The Stroud-Swinburn-Fanshawe axis has been very successful team already – Stroud purchased the talented filly Audarya for Swinburn, and the Wootton Bassett filly won last year's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) and Prix Jean Romanet (G1).

She was also travelled really well in the same Breeders' Cup race this month, but was denied racing room at a vital moment to finish a running-on fifth. She has won in £1,221,159 prize-money earnings. (18:36)

Lot 192: "He goes to Jim Boyle, and is for Paul Taylor and Richard O'Dwyer. They own Lostintranslation with Colin Tizzard, but also have Going Gone (Sea The Moon) with Jim, and he made all to win at Newmarket at the late October meeting," said Peter Doyle having bought this colt by New Bay from Ballyhimikin Stud for 125,000gns. "I did not think that I would get him, he is a lovely horse."

"He comes from a very good farm," added Doyle, before recalling that his father bought two champion English sprinters from James Hanly's father.

The colt was pinhooked by James's son Jack Hanly for 26,000gns, bred by Coby Byrne & New Bay Syndicate and consigned as a foal by Mickley Stud Ltd. (18:26)

Lot 168: "He is a lovely colt," said John Tuthill of Owenstown Stud, breeder and consignor of this grey Kodiac colt.

"I bought his grand-dam Hercuba, and then bred all her progeny, and this colt's dam Aphrodite's Angel. I love the cross of Kodiac over Dark Angel. This colt had a small set back earlier in the year so missed an earlier sale date.

"The mare had a Starspangledbanner filly foal this year so she is closely related to the dam's half-sister Choose Me, a daughter of Choisir, and the mare is in-foal to Bated Breath."

Jim McCartan and Willie Browne, sat in the seats by the rostrum, have been taking a last chance to stock up the spring's breeze-up draft, and this colt was signed for under the MC Bloodstock banner.

"He is a very nice, well-bred horse," said McCartan. "We have been lucky with the sire – he is very good sire! He comes from a good farm, too." (17:45)

Lot 153: the only colt in the catalogue today by the late Cheveley Park Stud stallion Pivotal, who died last week, makes 80,00ogns and is bought by Federico Barberini.

"He is for an established client, and will be trained in England," said Barberini. "He will be broken in and then plans will be made. He is a lovely classy horse."

Of the late sire, Barberini said: "We all know how good Pivotal was, and these are the last chances to buy one by him – if you see a nice one you should try and buy."

Sold by Shadwell, the colt is out of the winner Yanabeeaa (Street Cry), the dam of two winners from five runners. The third dam is the International Stakes (G1) and Sun Chariot Stakes (G2) winner Infamy, the dam of E P Taylor Stakes (G1) third-placed Innuendo, the Group 2 winner Moon Queen, and Barafamy, the 1998 champion two-year-old in Italy.

There are two foals catalogued by him in this week's December Foal Sale – Lot 589, a colt from Cheveley Park, and Lot 1024, a filly from Drumroy Farm. (17:00)

Lot 138: Tom Whitehead, who ten days ago was busy at the Tattersalls Ireland November NH Sale buying NH foals as pinhook prospects, turns his attentions to the Flat and breeze-up plans today going to 92,000gns for this colt by Shamardal. He signed as Powerstown Stud.

"He is to come back here next spring," said Whitehead, who added: "The mare was very good, and they are not making any more by the stallion. Pedigrees such as this don't come on the market very often, and he looks a type to breeze – he is strong, looks like a Shamardal."

The colt's dam Thawaany (Tamayuz) won the Prix de Ris-Orange (G3), the Listed Prix Coronation and the finished second in the Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1).

His grand-dam is Chelsea Rose (Desert King), winner of the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) and dam of Kew Gardens, the 2018 European champion three-year-old stayer and champion older horse in Ireland in 2019. His two Group 1 victories came in the Irish St Leger and the Grand Prix de Paris, while he was also twice placed at the highest level. (16:41)

Lot 136: offered by Shadwell, this Invincible Spirit filly has a breeze-up assignment ahead of her, bought today by Mick Murphy of Longways Stables for 120,000gns.

"She looks fast, she has a pedigree, a Craven filly hopefully, my plan was to buy a colt, I needed one more colt, but she caught my eye," said Murphy, who has 26 of his own horses to breeze next spring, alongside a few for clients.

"We have 15 colts and ten fillies. I have another two colts to follow through today."

Murphy reasoned: "With her there could be be a good upside to her, but she was expensive today!"

Of this autumn's breeze-up purchasing, Murphy said: "The market has been strong across the board, Flat and NH and point-to-point, it has been an unbelievable market. It does give some confidence looking into next spring, a poor market is no good to anyone – we are buying now but selling in six months' time. You just hope the momentum keeps going to the spring."

The filly is out of the Dansili mare Talaayeb, winner of the City Of York Stakes (G3) and fourth in the 1,000 Guineas (G1). Talaayeb is a daughter of the Listed winner and the Group 2-placed Ramoush, a grand-daughter of Sarayir, dam of the 1,000 Guineas winner Ghanaati, and a great grand-daughter of Height Of Fashion. (16:33)

Lot 116: Mount Coote Stud sells the homebred Dark Angel colt out of the Galileo mare Shadad to Troy Steve for 90,000gns.

She is the dam of two winners from three runners and is a half-sister to the Group 2 winner Denaro and to the Group 3 winner Davidoff.

Steve said: "Thought he was an absolute belter of a colt, like the cross of Dark Angel over a Galileo mare, let's hope he is lucky for the owners – he is off to France to be trained by Gavin Hernon. Hopefully, we have got it right, but we loved him. He won't be that early a type but will be a two-year-old runner."

Of the new connections Steve added: "It is a new partnership but they have all been involved in the game for a little while."

Dark Angel crossed with Galileo mares has produced two black-type horses: Angel Bleu, the Group 1-winning juvenile of this year, and the Listed runner-up Wisdom Mind. (15:39)

Lot 106: the Teofilo half-brother to Tom Melbourne, a multiple Group-placed performer in Australia, is bought by Conall Meegan of Beechmore Bloodstock for 88,000gns.

“He is inevitably going to go to Australia,” Meegan confirmed. “He was a really nice, straightforward horse, quite a robust and compact model and he was a must-buy for my client, OTI Racing. He’s obviously related to a highly-rated horse in Australia and he has a pedigree that should fit the profile down there, so hopefully he will do well down there. He will probably stay in the UK for now, nothing has been discussed, but he will target Cup races in a couple of years.

"You’ll see him in Australia for his three-year-old career and as Tom Melbourne ran until he was seven, it is not a short term project for sure.” (15:25)

Lot 95: the daughter of Expert Eye is knocked down to Willie Browne, who signed as J B Bloodstock at 85,000gns for the breeze-up prospect.

Browne admits that it was love at first sight.

"She wasn't on the list, I only pulled her out in the back ring, and I was blown away when I saw her," said Browne. "She is for Jim and I, we joined up to buy her. We gave plenty for her, but she is a very good physical.

"We are hoping that she will come back for the Craven, she is a proper filly. She is the first by the sire I have had, but he was a good racehorse, she is such a good walker and she has such a good shape to her, we loved her, genuinely loved her."

Bred by Biddestone Stud Ltd, the apple of Browne's eye was sold by Barton Stud. She is from the good fillies' family of Winter Hill Stakes (G3) winner Queen's Best, the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) winner Queen's Trust, and traces back to Lucayan Princess, dam of Luso, Warrsan and Needle Gun. (15:16)

Lot 77: "The breeders are staying in for 50 per cent, the rest has been bought on spec," said Tina Rau after going to 100,000gns for the Invincible Spirit colt out of Olga Prekrasa (Kingmambo), sold by The Castlebridge Consignment for the breeders Viktor Tymoshenko and Andrey Milovanov.

"He is obviously a very late foal [June 2], very immature, but he is a very racy and athletic, and the pedigree makes sense," said Rau. "He is a lovely horse and with Zelzal as a brother it makes sense for him to go to France.

"He is going to Nicolas Clement, and he trained the half-sister Ibiza for the breeders so there is already a relationship in place."

Rau continued: "Zelzal and Zarak are the two most exciting young sires in France at the moment, so I am quite chuffed with this."

Zelzal, a son of Sea The Stars bred by Timoshenko and Milovanov, won the Prix Jean Prat (G1), the Prix Paul de Moussac (G3), was second in the Prix Bertrand du Breuil (G3), third in the Prix du Moulin and fourth in the Sussex Stakes (G1).

He stands at Al Shaqab's Haras de Bouquetot and is the first-crop sire of 10 winners, including Zelda, winner of the Listed Prix Saraca.

Ibiza (Redoute's Choice) won the Prix Chloe (G3) for Timoshenko and Milovanov. (14:25)

Lot 30: the full-brother to Sea Of Class (Sea The Stars) is bought by John Clarke on behalf of Ling Tsui, signing as Sunderland Holding, for 240,000gns.

"He is a lovely horse, we really liked him, he is a very late [June 8] foal, but Sea Of Class was a very late May foal, so we hope we can do the same again," said Clarke. "Time will tell!"

Of plans for the colt, Clarke outlined: "He will eventually go to William Haggas [trainer of Sea Of Class], but it is far too early to think of that now – he will probably go back to Ireland and be given some time to develop and we will take it from there. Ling Tsui is absolutely thrilled, she had so much success with Sea Of Class! There is a lot of the sire in him – he is an athletic horse but a baby, we will just have to wait."

Of the reasoning to come to the December Sale with the colt, who was bred by Razza Del Velino on a foal share, Clarke said: "This sale was always the plan because he was immature, he was reared in Velino, the Botti farm in Italy, and he has come here looking the part."

Sea Of Class was a European joint champion three-year-old of 2018 having won the Irish Oaks, the Yorkshire Oaks and finished second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe to Enable.

In all, dam Holy Moon (Hernando) has had five black-type winners and two black-type placed horses, in addition to Sea of Class headed by Charity Lane (Manduro) and Final Score (Dyan Thomas) both winners of the Premio Lydia Tesio (G1) and the Oaks d'Italia (G2).

Underbidders included Jane Chapple-Hyam, who was standing on the stairs. (12:38)

Lot 24: the Starspangledbanner colt sold by Allevamento Le.Gi., Italy, bred by Allevamento Le Gi Massimo Parri, is bought by trainer David Menuisier's Shinco Racing for 70,000gns.

The colt is a half-brother to the Group 2 Premio Gran Criterium placed Cima Emergency (Canford Cliffs) and a grandson of Prmier prize (selkirk), the Upavon Stakes (L) winner and placed third in the Sandown Mile (GG2), the Select Stakes (G3) and the Winter Hill Stakes (G3). She is dam of Cocktail Queen, a multiple Group placed runner and winner of the Group 2 Grand Prix de Deauville and the Group 3 Prix Gontaut-Biron. (12:30)

Lot 22: the full-sister to Shalaa, the champion French two-year-old of 2015, a dual Group 1-winning juvenile, was a vendor buy back at the October Book 1 Sale, but the filly, consigned by Castlefarm Stud, found a new home today – Mark McStay of Avenue Bloodstock going to 150,000gns in order to secure her on behalf of trainer Hugo Palmer.

"She is a beautiful filly, probably should have bought her when she was in Book 1," reported McStay. "Hugo [Palmer] trains her sibling Nova Legend by Galileo and he thinks a lot of her, so we were keen to follow her through.

"She comes from a great nursery, she has a beautiful pedigree, she is by Invincible Spirit who is one of the best sires in Europe and she is a full-sister to a very very good horse in Shalaa. She has been purchased on spec, so shares or all of her will be available and she is for sale! If anyone out there wants to get in touch, will be very gratefully received!"

McStay added: "She stood out here today and with that pedigree and the way she looks the trainer was salivating when he saw her yesterday. I really liked her too and was kicking myself that I had not bought her earlier. She had made our list then, but for whatever reason did not pull the trigger.

"When we saw her out the back today she looked a real superstar, was very professional and on residual value alone she is a free swing of the bat for anyone who wants to buy her."

She was bred and sold by Castlefarm, also breeder of Shalaa, and dam, the Grade 3 placed Ghurra (War Chant), was bought by BBA Ireland at the December Mares Sale for 320,000gns. Not only has she succeeded on the racecourse with her progeny, but in the sale ring, too – her 2019 filly by Dubawi named Peace Arch fetched 700,000gns, while Nova Legend was a 550,000gns. (12:28)

Lot 15: the interest from the southern-hemisphere in the European-bred horses, such a mark of this autumn's bloodstock trade, continues – this colt by Muhaarar is bought by agent Richard Ryan for export to Australia.

"He is going to Flemington for Nick Ryan, a small trainer and a boutique yard," said Ryan. "Nick has an huge strike rate and is was looking for an exceptional colt from this sale. In my opinion this is the best article here –athletic, clean, and with a great step to him. The mother has done it before. He is probably as good an article out of the mare having seen some of the others. I am very pleased to get him, H=he is a very fine specimen."

Ryan added: "Muhaarar has taken a bit of time to get going but he looks like he is established here now. The Invincible Spirit male line works hugely well in Australia, so there is some confidence on the male side as well as on the female side; the pedigree ticks a lot of boxes."

Adding why his client is interested particularly in buying a yearling in Europe and shipping to Australia, Ryan continued: "Our pedigrees and the better of our European stock continues to prove dominant down there, this horse will get a mile I am sure and there still isn't a huge pot in Australia for this type of horse.

"He will be fine there and 75,000gns isn't a lot of money in Australia, it is bizarre to say it, but it is still great value."

Bred by Denis and Joan Brosnan's Epona Bloodstock, the colt was sold by the family's Croom House Stud. He is a half-brother to Barbill, a son of Zebedee who won the Prix Yacowlef (L) and was placed third in the Cornwallis Stakes (G3) alongside five more placed efforts at Listed class.

He is out of the Montjeu mare Fiuise, and she had a colt foal by Ten Sovereigns last spring.

Nick Ryan was a champion apprentice in Australia in 2004/5, and after a stint working with Ciaron Maher, has been training since 2014. Initially based at Caulfield, he relocated to Flemington this spring. his best horse so far is Dice Roll, a son of Showcasing, runner-up in the 7f Neds Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (G1) in September. (12:02)

Autumn HIT Sale statistics: +/- compared to 2020

Lots catalogued: 1,588

Lots offered: 1,095

Lots sold: 1,003

Aggregate: 31,471,300gns (+45%)

Median: 16,000gns (+78%)

Average: 31,377gns (+40%)

Lots 100,000gns+ (cumulative): 63

Lots 200,000gns + (cumulative): 22

% sold: 92% (88%)

Leading consignors (cumulative, by agg): 1. Shadwell Estate Company Ltd, 2. The Castlebridge Consignment, 3. Barton Sales

Leading purchasers (cumulative, by agg): 1. Najd Stud / Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock, 2. BBA Ireland, 3. Blandford Bloodstock

Leading sire (cumulative, by agg): 1. Dubawi, 2. Oasis Dream, 3. Dark Angel

Top five lots

1. Lot 738: Grocer Jack (GER) 2017 b,c. >> Ronald Rauscher (Agent) >> Najd Stud / Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock >> 700,000gns

2. Lot 577: Hannibal Barca (IRE) 2019 b,c. >> Manton Lodge Stables (B. Meehan) >> BBA Ireland >> 500,000gns

3. Lot 1114: Boltaway (GB) 2018 ch,c. >> Juddmonte Farms >> Najd Stud / Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock >> 400,000gns

4. Lot 778: Dancing King (IRE) 2018 b,g. >> Kingsley Park >> Blandford Bloodstock >> 380,000gns

5. Lot 721: Makram (IRE) 2017 b,g. >> Barton Sales >> Blandford Bloodstock / Lindsay Park >> 340,000gns ()

At the conclusion of the 2021 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented:

“An extraordinary renewal of a unique sale. There is no sale in the world quite like the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale and there has never been one quite like the sale that has just taken place.

“Records for turnover, average and median are always notable landmarks for any sale, but when the record margins are so large it suggests that maybe new factors have come into play and to an extent that may have been the case this week. There is no doubt that the major consignment from the late Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Shadwell Estates has introduced a new dynamic. A consignment of that size and quality does not go unnoticed and the buyers have seized the rare opportunity to source horses from one of the finest owner/breeder operations in the world.

“Additionally, the numerous racing carnivals that now take place during the autumn and winter months throughout the Gulf region have had a huge impact on the sale. Buyers from the Gulf have been major contributors to Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sales for many years, but new racing opportunities have brought buyers from the region in even greater numbers than before and crucially, they have been active at all levels of the market.

“Equally important has been the sustained success-driven demand throughout the sale from Australian connections and this has been despite continued difficulties surrounding travel. There will be around 40 horses heading to Australia from this week’s sale and that is in addition to the 30 or so yearlings which were purchased at the recent Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

"The Australian buyers deserve huge praise for their collective commitment using every means possible to continue buying here despite being unable to travel and we look forward to them being rewarded with more success along the lines of recent Tattersalls Australian superstars ZAAKI and RUSSIAN CAMELOT.

“The strong domestic demand we saw at our yearling sales has also been replicated and we can not only look back on a successful month at Tattersalls, but also take encouragement as we look forward to the Tattersalls December Foal and Mares Sale which, similar to this week, features outstanding consignments from Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell Estates." ()

Autumn HIT Sale, Day 4 statistics: +/- compared to 2020

Lots catalogued: 334

Lots offered: 222

Lots sold: 205

Aggregate: 2,421,800gns (+94%)

Median: 5,500gns (+38%)

Average: 11,814gns (+94%)

% sold: 92% (90%)

Top five lots

1. Lot 1447 Laatansa (FR) 2019 ch,c. >> Shadwell Estate Company Ltd. >> Najd Stud / Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock >> 250,000gns

2. Lot 1445 Janoobi (IRE) 2019 ch,c.>> Shadwell Estate Company Ltd. >> Gaelic Bloodstock >> 85,000gns

3. Lot 1446 Kitaab (GB) 2019 b,c. >> Shadwell Estate Company Ltd. >> Richard Ryan / Ian Williams >> 80,000gns

4. Lot 1284 Ebtihaaj (FR) 2019 b,c. >> Shadwell Estate Company Ltd. >> Sam Sangster Bloodstock >> 80,000gns

5. Lot 1362 Maksud (GB) 2019b,g. >> Shadwell Estate Company Ltd. >> Highflyer Bloodstock / Thurloe Thoroughbreds >> 65,000gns (17:21)

After the last of the Shadwell draft went through the ring (118 lots sold, average price of 44,394gns and a turn-over of 5,238,500gns), racing manager Angus Gold said:

"It has been a very good week in terms of the market, I think the horses have sold very well. They were incredibly well presented by the team at Shadwell,so it is a big credit to them, and all the trainers who have sent them to us in good order.

"It is obviously sad, but it had to come and it is on to the next chapter. As we have said over the last couple of months we will be smaller in number, but there will be plenty of quality on offer.

"I'd like to thank all the purchasers, and wish them all the best. There was a huge selection to chose from, obviously so many of our horses were untried and were in the catalogue due to exceptional circumstances. A lot of people wanted to get stuck in and it was reflected in the figures.

"We've had a great year on the track this season, and, of course, we are not going to have the same sort of number of results, but if we can keep to quality, cutting down to the main quality mares and breeding them as well as we can, all being well, I am sure we will have some decent horses.

"I'd like to thank everyone at Shadwell who has worked so hard, it is the first time we have ever sold anything like this number of horses, they have really jumped to the fore, done incredibly well, well done to all."

Of today's sale of Laatansa (Lot 1447), who was the top-priced horse from the draft, Gold said: "There has been huge interest in him all week, I even had three trainers from Australia on this morning asking about him. He is potentially a nice middle-distance horse for next year, he has run well on his last two starts and just did not stay the other day in the soft ground. I would have been disappointed if he had not made 200,000gns."

Gold also gave an update on Shadwell's unbeaten and two-time Group 1 winner Baaeed: "I saw him two days ago, he looks very happy. Obviously he will have a break now and we have lots to look forward to with him." (16:51)

Lot 1447: Najd Stud buys a 14th horse this week, the team waiting patiently for the penultimate Shadwell draft to come through the ring this week.

A busy sale ring greeted Laatansa, by New Bay, and the bidding action was brisk. Ronald Rauscher gave the buyer most cause for concern, but in the end this week's leading purchaser was successful at 250,000gns, a second-best price ever for the fourth session of the Autumn HIT Sale.

Saad bin Mishraf has left Park Paddocks bound for Saudi Arabia, leaving Saudi-based trainer and consultant Saud Al Qahtari in charge of bidding and taking instructions over the telephone.

"Saad called me and told me not to leave here without this horse. He is a beautiful horse and lovely physical. He is by a very promising stallion, whose progeny are booming. He has a very good family and we hope he will be a very good horse next year," said Al Qahtari.

Al Qahtari laughed: "I am the youngest consultant! We have bought 13 horses here this week, and they are of great quality. We will have a great race in Saudi Arabia at the end of February, our race will be the destination for all the very best horses from Europe and America, and our Jockey Club racing manager is doing a great job."

The colt is out of the Listed runner-up Louve Rare (Rock Of Gibraltar) and is a half-brother to a Listed placed horse and two further winners. His second dam Louvre (Irish River) was Group 3 winner and dam of Loupe Breton, winner of the Prix d'Harcourt (G2) and three times Group 1 placed.

He has finished third twice at Newmarket from three starts and is rated 83.

Najd Stud / Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock bought 14 horses for an average price of 199,357gns and a spend of 2,791,000gns. (14:58)

Lot 1397: Geri Hatrick (Dabirsim x Elite (Invincible Spirit)) from East Everleigh Stables goes to Shamrock Thoroughbreds for 32,000gns.

It is a fourth purchase this week, the only two-year-old and the only filly, for Steve Thorne's Shamrock Thoroughbred syndicate, the horses all to be trained by this autumn's Group 1-winning trainer Ado McGuinness.

Geri Hatrick has run once when second at Newbury over a mile, the Racing Post analysis wrote: "Geri Hatrick, a half-sister to three winners, the best of them being Merricourt (1m; RPR 79), proved no match for the easy winner, but she showed more than enough to suggest she'll win races. Green when initially coming under pressure, she stuck well to her task and will be sharper next time." (13:57)

Lot 1362: the unraced two-year-old son of Golden Horn named Maksud and from Shadwell is bought by Anthony Bromley for 65,000gns. Hubie de Burgh was underbidder.

"He has been bought for Thurloe Thoroughbreds and we have been trying to buy an older stayer all week and failed," said Bromley. "Angus Gold recommended this horse to both James Stafford of Thurloe and myself, and we are of the understanding that John Gosden, his trainer, likes the horse.

"He is a lovely stamp of a horse, and I like the sire particularly. I have bought a few yearlings by him, he has a very high strike-rate of runners rated over 80, I think around 50 per cent. He is a good strong sire, an underrated sire."

Bromley explained how he came to decide on the amount he was to offer for the horse.

"When I came to value this horse... I thought what what would I have given for him as a yearling a couple weeks ago? So I thought well, he is a good-looking, easy moving horse who has gone through his paces, and is ready for next year.

"He'd have been a 50 grand yearling for sure, but we know that he has done a bit, shown a bit so he has got to be worth touch more, so that is how we came up with the figure," he explained, adding: "He is a horse we have been looking for all week, but that was our last bid.

"They are going to take him back, give him a few months because he is still quite immature, then have a think about training plans."

Of the Shadwell lots, he said: "I bought an unraced two-year-old in the first 30 lots from Shadwell, but the rest of the Shadwell consignment has been very hard. These sort of sales do generate good trade, there are genuine reasons for the sale.

"It has been a well-presented draft, some nice horses and great to see such international trade going in for them. It is sad to see it, but we have not lost the colours to racing, it is not the end of an era, though it does feel like it slightly. "

And of trade this week?

"I think it is wonderful, we have just come out of record-breaking yearling sales, a lot of the English and Irish trainers have had to pay good money for their yearlings so it is good to see a good second-hand trade. It is very important to the whole industry that there is a good second-hand market. It might frustrate us as agents, but we can't really argue with that as we are spending a lot of our clients' money on yearlings. People have got to be able to sell them on.

"It is great that the global market still respects our racing so highly. The two-year-olds have sold well this week, but there were not that many good two-year-olds offered. The three-year-old and four-year-olds have been in the system, so the British system is still going, we are not losing Classic horses.I think the industry is still ok here are alright and you need to see a bit of trade." (13:13)

Lot 1344: Pearl Reef, by Havana Gold, a half-sister to the Ripon 2yo Trophy (L) runner-up and Duchess of Cambridgeshire Stakes (G2) fourth Lambeth Walk, is bought by trainer Simon Hodgson Racing for 40,000gns.

"My client is looking for a filly for a breeding operation, that is what she is eventually be for. She will come into training with me, we will try and get a win into her, she is a really well-bred filly," said Hodgson, who was sat under the windows in the sale ring and on the telephone through the bidding.

The two-year-old filly's second dam is Roo, dam of the black-type runners Gallagher, Quick Wit and Roodeye, and grand-dam of the Sussex Stakes (G1) winner Mohaather and the US Grade 2 winner Prize Exhibit.

It is the further family of Accidental Agent, winner of the Queen Anne Stakes (G1). (12:10)

Lot 1286: Al Wujud, an unraced two-year-old by Acclamation previously in training with Charlie Hills and from the Shadwell draft, is bought for 45,000gns by owner John Stocker.

"I could not go racing due to COVID so I took a break for a couple of years, but I am keen to get going again and I hope to buy a couple here," said Stocker.

The horse will be trained by Joseph Parr, who was with Stocker on the acorn, and he added: "He is a big strong colt, he has come recommended and we will crack on with him over the winter."

Al Wujud is out of the Sleeping Indian mare Lydia Becker, a half-sister to Richard Pankhurst, winner of the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes and Chesham Stakes (L), and Crazy Horse, winner of the Horris Hill Stakes (G3). (10:44)

Lot 1284: Ebtihaaj (Night Of Thunder), from the Shadwell draft, is bought by Sam Sangster for 80,000gns. He is horse known to Sangster as the horse has been in training with Brian Meehan, and he is going back to Meehan's Manton yard.

"He is for existing owners of Brian's, we have liked the horse all along, Brian suggested the horse to them and they were keen to buy," said Sangster. "He is a Night Of Thunder, we have a little bit of an interesting angle for next year – Brian is hopefully going to shuttle a few horses over to France, we are going to take yard over there. This horse has the premiums, we bought four yearlings in France last week and we have got another four in the yard already, so we are going to send ten horses out there. We are just trying to piece together how it is all going to work."

The two-year-old colt, a son of the Listed placed mare Gold Sands (Cape Cross), has run once to date when ninth of 12 at Yarmouth in October. (10:37)

Lot 1267: "He has been bought for Mark Loughnane for a syndicate from Chester and they want to have a runner at the track next summer," said Jamie Lloyd. "I've had amazing luck buying from Brian in the past, he has been very good to us and when he puts us on to one we always listen.

"The plan is to put him away for the winter and get him ready for Chester next year. He is gelded, too, so that saves some money!"

Ciotog is a three-year-old gelding by Dandy Man. He has run three times, and has finished second the last twice – at Wolverhampton last time out and previously at Chester, the new connections can have some confidence that he handles the tight Cheshire track.

He has been given an initial rating of 75. (10:12)

Withdrawals (9.23am): 1245, 1246, 1248, 1251, 1253, 1255, 1256, 1257, 1258, 1260, 1264, 1268, 1269, 1271, 1272, 1275, 1277, 1279, 1287, 1289, 1290, 1295, 1297, 1298, 1300, 1302, 1309, 1313, 1323, 1325, 1327, 1342, 1348, 1350, 1352, 1355, 1368, 1369, 1370, 1371, 1372, 1373, 1374, 1376, 1377, 1381, 1382, 1387, 1389, 1391, 1392, 1400, 1402, 1403, 1404, 1405, 1409, 1414, 1417, 1420, 1427, 1428, 1432, 1434, 1442, 1443, 1449, 1450, 1454, 1461, 1463, 1464, 1465, 1472, 1474, 1481, 1482, 1484, 1485, 1489, 1492, 1493, 1494, 1498, 1499, 1505, 1506, 1520, 1521, 1525, 1526, 1529, 1534, 1535, 1536, 1538, 1540, 1542, 1543, 1549, 1550, 1552, 1556, 1559, 1560, 1563, 1565, 1568, 1575, 1576, 1577 (09:23)

Autumn HIT Sale, Day 3 statistics: +/- compared to 2020

Lots catalogued: 439

Lots offered: 299

Lots sold: 279

Aggregate: 10,661,000gns (+9%)

(Whole sale turnover so far = 29,049,500gns, a record for the Autumn HIT Sale)

Median: 21,000gns (+31%)

Average: 38,211gns (+10%)

Lots 100,000gns+ (cumulative): 62

Lots 200,000gns + (cumulative): 21

% sold: 93% (82%)

Leading consignors (cumulative, by agg): 1. Shadwell Estate Company Ltd, 2. The Castlebridge Consignment, 3. Barton Sale

Leading purchasers (cumulative, by agg): 1. Najd Stud / Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock, 2. BBA Ireland, 3. Blandford Bloodstock

Leading sire (cumulative, by agg): 1. Dubawi, 2. Oasis Dream, 3. Dark Angel

Top five lots

1. Lot 1114 Boltaway (GB) 2018 ch,c. >> Juddmonte Farms >> Najd Stud / Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock >> 400,000gns

2. Lot 1113 Old Flame (GB) 2018 b,c. >> Juddmonte Farms >> Snowden Racing / Will Johnson Bloodstock >> 250,000gns

3. Lot 1142 Fundamental (GB) 2018 gr/ro, c. >> The Castlebridge Consignment >> Najd Stud / Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock >> 240,000gns

4. Lot 1186A Youth Spirit (IRE) 2018 b,c. >> Park House Stables (A. Balding) >> McKeever Bloodstock / Waterhouse Bott >> 230,000gns

5. Lot 952 King of Clubs (GB) 2018 b,c. >> Summerdown Stables (H. Morrison) >> McKeever Bloodstock / Waterhouse Bott >> 230,000gns (21:52)

Lot 1188: Stuart Williams's Diomed Stables sells Motorious (Muhaarar) for 220,000gns for Boomer Bloodstock,

"He's a horse that is going to California to trainer Philip D'Amato for Tony Fanticola, who was one of the owners of Obviously. He was purchased at this sale and we had a lot of success with," said Craig Rounsefell of Boomer Bloodstock.

"This horse reminded us of Obviously – he has a great turn of foot, he is lightly raced and he looks like he is going to really enjoy the firm Turf in California, he has all his conditions to race out there so hopefully he will be a high class miler for us."

Obviously (Choisir) was bought by Jamie Lloyd & Boomer Bloodstock for 130,000gns here in 2011. Trained by D'Amato, Obviously went on to win three Grade1s in the US, including the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. He won a further six Grade 2 and Grade 3 races, and was placed six times in graded stakes races, including in the Woodbine Mile (G1) and the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Motorious has won twice from seven starts, his wins coming on the All-Weather at Kempton. His has also finished second twice on Turf at Leicester and Beverley, both times the going was reported to be good to firm. He finished down the field the twice he encountered a slower surface. (21:14)