BY the time you read this, Zaaki may well have won the Cox Plate, giving next week’s Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale a very timely boost.

A multiple Group 3-winning miler for Sir Michael Stoute, Zaaki was sold at this sale last year for 150,000gns. Since joining Australian trainer Anabel Neasham, Zaaki has won five races including two Group 1 contests and two at Group 2 level.

The Australian buyers are sure to be out in force again next week in Newmarket but there will also be plenty of Irish owners and trainers hunting for bargains too.

There are over 1,500 horses catalogued in what is the world’s biggest sale of its kind, ranging in age from two to age, and by far the biggest consignment comes from Shadwell. Even after withdrawals, the Shadwell draft is close to 140 and this includes some Irish-trained horses.

Coolmore has almost 50 horses entered, and plenty of them have already won for Aidan O’Brien. Bill Dwan’s The Castlebridge Consignment has gathered over 70 horses from all quarters for next week’s sale and three who catch the eye are high-class sprinter Speak In Colours, last Saturday’s Balmoral Handicap third Magical Morning and the dual-purpose Brazos.

Baroda Stud is fast becoming one of the biggest consignors in the business and it is responsible for almost 50 entries. Jim Bolger (14 entries), Andy Oliver (10), Michael O’Callaghan (eight), Moyglare Stud (three) and Dermot Weld (two) are other significant Irish-based vendors, along with Joseph O’Brien, Tony Martin and Sheila Lavery.

Zaaki’s former trainer Sir Michael Stoute has 10 horses engaged, the pick of them being listed-winning stayer Alignak. Of the 27 entries from the Andrew Balding yard, late entry Youth Spirit stands out. The three-year-old son of Camelot won the Chester Vase in May and ran well in the Gordon Stakes, Great Voltigeur Stakes and St Leger subsequently.

Another of the 11 late entries announced this week is the Joseph O’Brien-trained Master Of Reality. The six-year-old is best known for finishing second past the post in the 2019 Melbourne Cup, and he is also a Group 3 and multiple listed winner.

William Haggas is selling 20 from his yard, including smart stayer Favorite Moon who actually won a Group 3 handicap in Sydney last March while accompanying stable star Addeybb on an autumn carnival raid. Also among the Haggas draft is Queen Elizabeth’s high-class handicapper Chalk Stream.

Both Richard Hannon and Mark Johnston have around 50 horses each entered. The Johnston team includes the 109 Timeform-rated three-year-old Dancing King, winner of the Group 3 March Stakes at Goodwood.

Kevin Ryan has 37 entries, Godolphin has 14 and Juddmonte has 10. The Juddmonte batch includes very useful three-year-old colts Boltaway, Old Flame and Thaler.

One of the most eye-catching entries from the smaller yards is Chipotle from Eve Johnson Houghton’s team. This remarkable two-year-old ran nine times this year, winning the Brocklesby at Doncaster in March, the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, and the Listed Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar in October.

Another two-year-old for sale who has run nine times this year is the Con Marnane-owned Papa Don’t Preach. Trained in France, this Kodiac colt has yet to win but is listed placed and finished a close fourth in the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster.

The four-year-old multiple Group 3-winning colt Grocer Jack comes from Germany and could be one of the top lots. He has been placed second in Group 1 company and has a Timeform rating of 118. His trainer Ronald Rauscher is also selling the four-year-od listed winner Praetorius.

Sale info

Sale: Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale

Date: Monday, October 25th to Thursday, October 28th

Lots: 1,577 catalogued (190 withdrawn at time of writing)

Tel: 0044 1638 665931

Email: sales@tattersalls.com