Thursday, October 30, 2003
TOTE TO SPONSOR PETERBOROUGH CHASE DAY AT HUNTINGDON
As the excitement builds towards the expected reappearance of Best Mate at Huntingdon on November 22, the likely first step in his build up towards a Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup treble, the Tote revealed today that it is to sponsor all 7 races at Huntingdon on the big day. The Tote Peterborough Chase will be the highlight of a varied and competitive card, and with the news that exciting French 'chaser Jair du Cochet looks likely to take on the reigning Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, the announcement could not have come at a better time for the Tote and for Huntingdon.
Andy Clifton, the Tote's PR Director said: "We are delighted to be involved with such a wonderful and historic race. Best Mate is by some distance the most popular NH horse in recent years and the opportunity to be involved in his planned reappearance was too good to refuse. The Tote Peterborough Chase will give us all an early indication of the form that Jim Lewis's superstar is in as he works towards the Tote Gold Cup treble at Cheltenham in March."
Tina Dawson, Racecourse Manager at Huntingdon commented: "The Tote is racing's biggest sponsor and we are thrilled that they are supporting our biggest day of the year. The Tote Peterborough Chase is already shaping up to be a wonderful event and the supporting card will provide more exciting and competitive racing for our customers and for Channel 4 and attheraces viewers alike."
NEW RECORDS SET AT TATTERSALLS AUTUMN HORSES IN TRAINING
SALE
The Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale reached new heights on the third day as 212 horses were sold for 4,630,000 guineas, taking the three day total to 12,708,300 guineas, surpassing last year's record aggregate of 12,046,500 guineas with another full day and 324 catalogued lots still to come. The average on the third day of 21,840 guineas represented a rise of 24% on last year's corresponding session whilst the median rose 11% to 12,250 guineas.
The consignment from Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms is invariably a highlight of the Horses in Training Sale and this year's draft proved no exception as the 40 lots offered were sold for 1,477,000 guineas, filling three of the top four lots sold during the day. The highlight of the group proved to be the three year old colt ASTRONOMIC who was purchased by Durham based National Hunt trainer Howard Johnson for 190,000 guineas. Following initial interest from agent Tim Corby it was local bloodstock agent Johnny McKeever, seated with Californian trainer Wally Dollase and Johnson who went head to head for the recent Maison-Lafitte winner. The former Andre Fabre trained colt is a half-brother to Group 2 winner MEDIA NOX, dam of this season's dual Group 1 winning filly NEBRASKA TORNADO. By ZAFONIC out of the NIJINSKY mare SKY LOVE, ASTRONOMIC is set to continue his career over hurdles.
The second highest price for the day was for another Juddmonte consigned colt as the three year old SALCOMBE was sold for 170,000 guineas to the bid of Johnny McKeever. Kern/Lillingston Association's Alastair Donald and trainer Gerard Butler had made most of the running before the McKeever St. Lawrence frontman entered proceeding's, eventually making the winning bid on behalf of the prevoiusly thwarted Dollase, with whom he was seated. SALCOMBE, a son of ELMAAMUL out of the GONE WEST mare WEST DEVON, was a high class winning two year old with his best performance being a close up fourth in last year's Group 2 Champagne Stakes, and indicated his current wellbeing finishing fourth in a competitive handicap at Newbury only days ago.
Earlier proceeding's had proved fustrating for Dollase who had also been underbidder on SO WILL I, the winning two year old INCHINOR colt consigned from Marcus Tregonning's Kingwood House Stables. The colt, out of the PETONG mare FUR WILL FLY lost his maiden status when winning at Newbury last Friday on his second start. Angus Gold, racing manager for Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Estates made the winning bid and indicated that the colt would stay with Tregonning at his Lambourn base.
The Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training concludes today.
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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