Freedman buys Fanjura at Tattersalls HIT Sale

Lee Freedman stocked his Rye stables with several staying types out of the 2008 Tattersalls Autumn Horse in Training Sale and his agent was back for more during the second session of this year’s auction on Tuesday.

Grant Pritchard-Gordon paid 210,000gns (AUD 398,550) for the former Barry Hills trained Fanjura who scored a hat-trick of wins up to 2000m this year at Sandown (2) and Royal Ascot.

Fanjura (4g Marju – Accelerating by Lear Fan) is an Irish bred gelding and he also finished third in a Goodwood Listed event last month.  “He’s going to Lee Freedman in Australia,” Pritchard-Gordon said at the Newmarket sales complex.  “I bought six for them last year and they have won seven races.”

Among Freedman’s buys last year was Speed Gifted who won the G1 Metropolitan at Randwick on the way to the Melbourne Cup.  Unfortunately the Monjeu gelding, who was also previously prepared by Hills, went amiss last weekend and won’t return until the autumn.

Another of yesterday’s Tattersalls graduates heading to this part of the world is Martial Law who sold for 230,000gns (AUD 436,560) to agent Geoffrey Faber.

The Galileo three year-old won at Chantilly in September and was stakes placed at Saint-Cloud earlier this year.  “He’s been bought for a Victorian client,” Faber said.  “He will hopefully become a nice staying horse.  There are not many like him at this sale.”

Royal Diamond topped Tuesday’s session at Tattersalls when making 400,000gns (AUD 758,900) to the bid of trainer Michael Dods and owner Andrew Tinkler.

Royal Diamond (King’s Best) has won his last four starts for trainer Sir Mark Prescott at Sandown, Yarmouth, Ffos Las and Wolverhampton.

“We went to Sir Mark’s yard and I fell in love with him,” Tinkler said.  “I don’t think he’s fully matured yet.  We will set him for the Northumberland Plate and Ebor Handicap next year.”

Day 2 at Tattersalls saw 232 lots change hands for turnover of 6.3 million guineas (AUD 11.9 million) at an average of 27,162 guineas (AUD 51,575).