Waterhouse goes high to get the Knight

4 min read

Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse has celebrated Group 1 success out of the Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale and she’ll be hoping for similar success with her latest purchase.

She was pushed to 250,000 guineas on Thursday to secure the 3-year-old Knight Errant (IRE) (So You Think {NZ}) from the Phantom House Stables consignment.

“The plan is that he’ll go out to Australia to Gai, he’ll have a bit of a break now and hopefully race next year, said agent Susie McKeever, who signed for the colt. “ He’s a lovely-looking horse – solid, strong and good legs.

“Gai has been such a supporter of this sale and we have usually managed to buy one or two here for her and they have gone on well.

“We bought The Offer here and he went on to win the Sydney Cup.” – Susie McKeever.

“We bought The Offer here and he went on to win the Sydney Cup.”

A son of Montjeu (IRE), The Offer (IRE) was a two-time winner when he was bought by Waterhouse in 2012 and he went on to claim six more races. Aside from his G1 Sydney Cup victory, he was also successful in the G2 Chairman’s Handicap, the G3 Manion Cup and the G3 Bendigo Cup.

The McKeevers will have an interest on Melbourne Cup day this year with Our Crown Mistress (Star Witness), bought by McKeever Bloodstock at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $200,000, to run in the G3 HKJ Club Stakes for Waterhouse and training partner Adrian Bott.

The Offer, winning the G2 Chairman's Handicap

Knight Errant has showed himself to be a progressive type with four wins up to 2000 metres for Newmarket handler William Jarvis.

“We bought this horse primarily to target the Melbourne Cup, Gai won it in 2013 and she’s dying to win it again.” - Claudia Miller.

“We bought this horse primarily to target the Melbourne Cup, Gai won it in 2013 and she’s dying to win it again,” Waterhouse representative Claudia Miller said.

“We loved this horse – he is big and scopey. We have been under-bidders on a few and this is probably more than we thought we'd spend, but that is the state of the market.

“We liked his form and thought we could improve him. We’re very happy.”

Knight Errant is a son of Lamanka Lass (USA) (Woodman {USA}), who has been a prolific breeder with nine of her 11 foals to race having been successful including the G2 Santa Anita Oak Tree Derby winner Dark Islander (IRE) (Singspiel {IRE}).

Melbourne Cup winner

The dam is a half-sister to the dual Group 3 winner Far Lane (USA) (Lear Fan {USA}) and the family has also made a major impression in this part of the world through 1986 G1 Melbourne Cup winner At Talaq (USA) (Roberto {USA}).

Australian Bloodstock signed for three purchases, including Urbino (GB) (Dansili {GB}) for 100,000 guineas. Lindsay de Souza is at Tattersalls representing Luke Murrell and Jamie Lovett’s syndication organisation.

They have Sixties Groove (IRE) (Sixties Icon {GB}) chasing a G1 Melbourne Cup spot in Saturday’s G3 Lexus S. Shocking (Street Cry {IRE}) was the last horse in 2009 to complete the Lexus-Melbourne Cup.

Urbino has placed twice in five starts from Sir Michael Stoute’s yard and is a brother to the G3 Newcastle Gold Cup winner Disclaimer from the family of the multiple Group 1 winners Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Elmaamul (USA) (Diesis {GB}).

The right Candidate

Australian Bloodstock also claimed for 80,000 guineas the one-race winner Candidate (IRE) (Camelot {GB}) and Occupy (USA) (Declaration Of War {USA}), also with a maiden success to his credit, for 25,000 guineas.

Craig Rounsefell’s Boomer Bloodstock with Radley Equine secured Sunblessed (IRE) (Sir Percy {GB}) for 85,000 guineas. The filly has placed in half of her six starts and is a direct female descendant of the dual G1 Newmarket Champion S., winner Alborada (GB) (Alzao {USA}).

"The market at Tatts has been strong all week for the horses that are rated highly with a deep buying bench assembled from all over the world," Craig said.

"Like all auctions at the moment if you have the right article you got rewarded." - Craig Rounsefell

"Like all auctions at the moment if you have the right article you got rewarded. This sale is always tricky as you have so many hoops to jump through with race replays, inspections, vetting and the large number of withdrawals. I was happy to pick up a filly of her quality."

Go Racing signed for their second purchase when Albert Bosma went to 24,000 guineas for Pippin (GB) (Intello {GER}). The 3-year-old has won two of his eight starts, both over 2400 metres.