Sixty-three lots achieved a six-figure price at this year's Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale. However, with those transactions taking place between Day 1 and 3, the fourth and final session Oct. 29 was topped by French Artist at 95,000 guineas (US$133,000, 1 guinea=US$1.40).
The 2-year-old son of Farhh was sent off at odds of 200-1 when making his debut for Ollie Sangster and owner Mohammed Jaber, just over a fortnight before coming under the hammer, but showed ability amid inexperience to finish fifth, beaten just less than 5 lengths.
He will continue his career in Australia, having been sourced by Sam Haggas of Hurworth Bloodstock on behalf of trainer Kris Lees and agent Justin Bahen.
"I thought this horse ran a very good race on debut and he's just a bit of a blank canvas," Haggas said. "He's been bought and priced more on his potential than on what he's actually achieved so far. He's going to stay farther than a mile; he's run over an extended mile, and I think he'll stay farther and improve as he goes up in trip.
"He'll get into Australia at a nice low level, so he can work his way up through the ranks and hopefully pay his way as he progresses. He's also a very late foal, born on May 28, and so, on profile, pedigree, and looking at him, I'm hopeful there's still a lot of improvement left."
Haggas added: "I've known Justin Bahen for a long time, and I've met Kris on a few trips to Australia and got to know him a bit. We've done a little bit of business in the past, so it's great to get one for them. I wish them all the best of luck."
French Artist's previous visit to the sales came just over 12 months ago, when he was picked up by Sangster at last year's Arqana October Yearling Sale for €55,000.
Najd Stud and Archdale Bloodstock were the leading spenders across the four days, with eight recruits purchased for a combined 1.82 million guineas. The average price among the haul came in at 227,500 guineas.
The Castlebridge Consignment was the highest-grossing Autumn Horses in Training vendor for the fifth successive year. The operation sold 147 lots for an aggregate of 5,109,500 guineas and an average price of 34,760 guineas.
At the conclusion of the fourth session, a total of 1,018 horses had changed hands for 33,199,500 guineas (US$46,479,300). The average price was 32,612 guineas (US$45,657) and the median was 15,000 guineas (US$21,000).
In his end-of-sale statement, Tattersalls managing director Matthew Prior said: "The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale has once again lived up to its reputation as the largest and most international sale of its kind in the world. Turnover has exceeded 30,000,000 guineas for the sixth consecutive year, and with buyers from more than 30 countries competing throughout the week, the depth and diversity of international demand has been the defining feature of another strong renewal of this sale."
