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Australian purchasers went to a record-breaking 1,300,000gns to secure the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Group 1-placed son of Frankel.
Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris third Delius looks destined for big things down under after becoming the most expensive horse ever sold at the Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale yesterday. The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained son of Frankel, who has won three of his six outings to date and was last seen finishing eighth behind Bluestocking in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, was knocked down from Coolmore to Hubie De Burgh and a number of other Australian purchasers to join Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
De Burgh teamed up with owner Sir Owen Glenn of Go Bloodstock, Johnny McKeever and Claudia Fitzgerald to ensure he could secure what he described as a 'potential Melbourne Cup horse.'
As the bidding surpassed the seven-figure mark it was left between an online bidder and the Hubie De Burgh team, with the latter's final bid of 1,300,000gns eventually enough to secure the exciting three-year-old. Aljazzi, whose yearling filly by Frankel topped the recent renewal of Book 1 when Amo Racing went to a staggering 4,400,000gns, was the previous record-holder at the Tattersalls' Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale when selling for 1,000,000gns in 2018.
"He's been on our radar for quite a long time," De Burgh told Tattersalls after signing for the seven-figure docket. "We tried to buy him a couple of times, but we couldn't so finally today was the day."
"We knew he was going to be expensive, but Gai (Waterhouse) loved him, and putting the team together meant we were able to have that bit more financial ammunition than if you were on your own."
Australian investment accounted for six of the top ten lots from the second session, with the Ralph Beckett-trained pair Hutchence and Mr Monaco both knocked down for six-figure sums.
Guy Mulcaster was forced to 460,000gns for the progressive 97-rated Hutchence, with the agent expecting more improvement from the son of Frankel when he heads to master Australian trainer Chris Waller. The Valmont-owned three-year-old arrived at the sale having won three of his last four outings, including a two-mile handicap in impressive style at Ascot last-time-out.
"He came highly recommended from the Ralph Beckett stable and we liked the horse," said Mulcaster. "We thought he had good form and he's probably done it all on one preparation so far, so we thought there was still a little bit of juice left in the lemon. We'll take him home and poke along and see how we go."
Just moments after it was confirmed Hutchence would head to Australia, his stablemate Will Bourne went to 410,000gns to ensure his stablemate Mr Monaco on behalf of Ciaron Maher. The three-year-old son of Territories backed up a comfortable success in a ten-furlong handicap at Sandown with a narrow runner-up effort in a 0-95 at Pontefract last time.
"We've cross-referenced with Louis le Metayer of Astute Bloodstock," said Bourne. "It gives you great confidence because he bought Harlem, the Australian Cup winner, here a few years ago. A few good judges picked him out and we really liked him too and Ciaron's thrilled to get the chance to train him."
