Fasig-Tipton, Tattersalls Kick Off Fall Sales

A Smoke Glacken filly produced from the Deputy Minister mare Star Deputy was purchased by J&T Racing as the top-priced offering at Monday's opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale. Consigned by Sue Vacek, the filly is a half-sister to grade III winner License Fee.

FTK reported 258 yearlings were sold for a gross of $3,280,800, an average price of $12,522. During the corresponding session one year ago, 207 horses averaged $16,038 from a gross of $3,319,900. The sale concludes today at the sales pavilion in Lexington, Ky.

Meanwhile in England, the Tattersalls Autumn horses in training sale began on a strong note as both average and median prices rose.

The session's top price of 125,000 guineas was paid by agent Tom Goff of the BBA, acting on behalf of Hong Kong trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam, for a 2-year-old Twining colt. Named Earl Grey, the colt consigned by Newmarket trainer William Jarvis' Phantom House Stable had finished fourth in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot (Eng-III) before running sixth in the £400,000 Tattersalls Houghton Sales Stakes. Among U.S. trainers at the sale who expressed interest in the colt were East Coast based Bob Connors and Hollywood Park-based Wally Dollase, who was accompanied by bloodstock agent Johnny McKeever.

North American buyers were also active on the second-highest price horse Monday, with McKeever, again bidding on behalf of Dollase, purchasing the 2-year-old colt Imperial Measure for 85,000 guineas. Canadian trainer Roger Attfield was underbidder on the Inchinor colt.

A 2-year-old Barathea filly named Dress Code was bought by Gordian Troeller, acting on behalf of Hollywood Park trainer Jim Cassidy, for 66,000 guineas. The underbidder was Edward Freeman, buying with Attfield.

Tattersalls reported the average price rose 10% on the corresponding session last year to 14,665 guineas. The median price was up by 25% to 8,000 guineas.