The Andrew Tinkler owned pair of Tell Dad and Well Sharp were two of the three lots to sell for 200,000 guineas or more on the second day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale with Fallen Idol the third and the equal top price for the day at 250,000 guineas.
A total of 249 lots were sold for 6,260,200 guineas, at an average of 25,141 guineas and a median of 12,000 guineas whilst the clearance rate clocked in at an impressive 87%.
Anthony Stroud secured the four-year-old colt Fallen Idol when seeing off the efforts of New Zealander Guy Mulcaster at 250,000 guineas.
"He's for the [Dubai] Carnival," said Stroud, "but his trainer has yet to be decided."
Owned and bred by Philippa Cooper's Normandie Stud, the Pivotal colt Fallen Idol is the winner of four races, once at Listed level, finished fourth in the Group 3 Lancaster Stakes, is rated 114 by ‘Timeform’ and is out of the half-sister to the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes winner, Fly To The Stars.
Equaling the top price for the day was the Andrew Tinkler owner Well Sharp who was consigned to the sale from Michael Dods’ Denton Hall Stables.
The three-year-old colt by Selkirk was third behind Brown Panther in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot during the summer and was offered with a ‘Timeform’ rating of 101.
The National Hunt sector were particularly active in their attempts to secure Well Sharp with Harold Kirk and trainer Alan King both making bold bids, but falling short of the 250,000 guineas offered by NH trainer Jonjo O’Neill.
"He is obviously for JP," said O'Neill. "He's a lovely stamp of a horse, a nice athletic type."
Last weekend’s Group 3 Horris Hill winner Tell Dad was the horse many tipped to lead proceedings on the second day, and whilst he fell narrowly short of the top price, he still provided a great result for owner Andrew Tinkler when knocked down to Sarah Lakin for 240,000 guineas.
"He is bought for a client's syndicate who previously owned the leading stayer Choy Ichiban in Hong Kong," explained Lakin, who runs Whites Farm Stud with her husband Tony.
"Unfortunately that horse went wrong so she has been given a replacement permit by the Hong Kong Jockey Club to get a new horse. That horse has to be of comparable calibre - the Hong Kong handicapper Nigel Gray told me that Tell Dad was the only horse here that I could buy! I came here just to buy him.
"I hope to be able to give him a month break before he goes into quarantine, but I need to discuss that with my client," added Lakin, who started buying horses for Hong Kong 25 years ago and who bought two yearlings at October 2.
"The horse that we are replacing was also, just by coincidence, by Intikhab."
Bought at October 1 last year for 72,000 guineas by agent Dwayne Woods, Tell Dad has been a great money-spinner for his Tinkler. He has amassed £247,000 in prizemoney this year assisted greatly by his win in the £200,000 Tattersalls Millions Median Auction Trophy and second in the £500,000 Tattersalls Millions 2YO Trophy.
The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale continues from 9.30am on Wednesday, October 26.
