The Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale is a popular event that attracts buyers from all over the world due to the high-quality drafts available. Australia has shown significant buying power at this sale, with 13 Group 1 races won by horses purchased here in the past decade.
One such success story is Just Fine, who was sold for 300,000gns and went on to win the Group 1 Metropolitan. The stable, led by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, is always on the lookout for the next star purchase at Tattersalls. While Gai and Rob Waterhouse won’t be attending the sale, they have a strong team in Claudia Fitzgerald and Johnny McKeever to handle the selections.
Rob Waterhouse highlighted the appeal of European horses, particularly stayers, which are harder to find in Australia. The team relies on Claudia and Johnny to identify horses that match their criteria, which include being taller and leaner than average while also being sound.
Despite the potential for bidding wars, Gai prefers to be conservative in her spending at sales. However, she is known for her audacious tactics, such as surprising auctioneers with a high opening bid to secure a desired horse. The team aims to buy more horses at a lower average price to increase their chances of success in the lucrative Australian racing scene.
The team is looking forward to running Just Fine in the upcoming Melbourne Cup, showcasing the success that can come from purchases made at Tattersalls. With over 800 horses imported from Europe each year to continue their careers in Australia, there is a constant demand for quality imports like those found at Tattersalls.
The recent record-breaking October Yearling Sale has attracted wealthy individuals to the horse racing industry, providing a positive outlook for future sales. While Gai typically buys horses without specific orders and offers them to clients later, her team at Tattersalls knows exactly what type of horses she prefers – taller, leaner, and sound.
As the sale approaches, Claudia and Johnny will be on the lookout for horses that match Gai’s criteria and have the potential for success in Australia. The team’s track record of finding quality imports at Tattersalls bodes well for their prospects at this year’s sale.
