Dubai International Racing Carnival prospects dominated Tuesday's second session of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale in Newmarket.
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Sue Magnier’s 3-year-old Irish-bred colt Yellowstone, by Rock Of Gibraltar, came within 10,000 guineas of the European male horse-in-training record when he was purchased for 520,000gns (US$1,019,012). Conditioner Aidan O’Brien had previously sent the colt out to win Goodwood’s Gordon Stakes (Eng-III) and finish second in York’s Ladbrokes Great Voltigeur Stakes (Eng-II). The colt was bought by Lambourn trainer Stan Moore, acting for Dubai-based patron Fitri Hay. Moore fought off agent Gordian Troeller, who was taking instructions from Californian trainer Bob Hess.
Three-year-old gelding Coeur De Lionne, by Invincible Spirit, was also bought as a Dubai Carnival prospect when selling for 350,000gns ($685,873) to agent David Metcalfe with Anthony Stroud the underbidder. Also heading to Dubai’s Carnival is Ballymacoll Stud’s smart handicapper Greek Well (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), for whom David Loder paid 220,000gns ($431,121).
The Dubai Carnival is held every Thursday for 11 weeks beginning Jan. 20 and offers a total of $31 million in prize money. The carnival concludes March 29 with the Dubai World Cup.