TRAINER Adrian Keatley sold his promising two-year-old colt Tyrrhenian Thunder for 600,000gns on Wednesday.
Winner of a maiden at Ayr and second in a Pontefract listed race from two starts, the son of Night Of Thunder was bought by Australian trainer Ciaron Maher, acting through agent Will Bourne.
The deal represented a great result personally for Keatley who had teamed up with investor Dan Hussey to buy the horse for €300,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze Up Sale, with a view to selling him on. At Fairyhouse the colt was consigned by Joey Logan who himself had paid Newsells Park Stud 165,000gns for the colt at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
"We really put our necks on the line when we bought him," said Keatley. "He’s the type of horse we wanted to buy to get the ball rolling. I’ve every reason to believe he's a proper Group 1 horse. I’ve been lucky enough to have them before, and he looks like one at home."
Expanding on the evolving direction of his training business, he said: "This is my model going forward. We're going to buy young horses, produce them, race them on the track, and then bring them here in the autumn to sell as either two or three-year-olds."
Ciaron Maher Racing’s Will Bourne said: "He’s very lightly raced but ran a huge figure the other day. It’s not everything, but it’s definitely a big part of it. He’s by Night Of Thunder, so we’re hoping he can progress over a mile once he gets down to Australia.”
Of the price they paid to secure the horse, he commented: "I guess you have to pay when there’s low miles on the clock. Ciaron was on the phone, he’s amazingly across every single horse here, as well as all his own at home. He really liked this horse’s form.”
Staying put
Dermot Farrington secured the wildcard entry Alfred Wallace for 450,000gns. Sold by Ed Walker, he will be returning to Kingsdown Stables for his three-year-old campaign next year.
"He has been bought for Fitri and Jim Hay," said Farrington after bidding. "He is one of the best-bred horses in the catalogue, by a brilliant stallion and has shown top-class form throughout the summer. He will go back to Ed Walker."
By Dubawi, the two-year-old colt is out of the Frankel mare Snow Lantern, who won the Group 1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes. Alfred Wallace finished fourth in the Group 1 Criterium International last weekend and also won the Group 3 Solario Stakes and the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes this season.
Middle East
BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohoe went to 425,000gns to secure Blue Courvoisier. Trained by Clive Cox, the three-year-old son of Sea The Stars won three races for owners Alan Spence and Ify Madueke, including two £100,000 handicaps, and was most recently second in the Listed Prix le Fabuleux at Chantilly.
Donohoe said: "This horse's career has been well orchestrated by Clive, who is a genius. He really does right by his horses. He was great to buy from, very forthcoming with information and he highly recommended this horse. His last run was very impressive, and he hit the line well. He's got plenty of speed, but he does seem to stay as well, as his pedigree would suggest."
Of the horse’s new ownership, he outlined: "He's bought for the same client as Yordan, who I bought yesterday. He's going to the Middle East too and will be targeted at those mile to 10 furlong races. We bought a very good horse here last year called Gran Descans from Juddmonte, and he won on Saudi Cup weekend last year."
Day four of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale continues at 9.30am on Thursday.