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Muir burst into tears when he saw Daddy Go
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Muir burst into tears when he saw Daddy Go

As is often the case at Tattersalls Autumn Horse Training Sales, international investments were prominent in Newmarket on Monday.

Imports from Europe continue to make headlines in Australia; Via Sistina’s record Cox Plate romp is the latest example.

Ciaron Maher is among the Aussies looking forward to welcoming a new addition after leading trainer’s scout Will Bourne teamed up with Billy Jackson Stops to secure Go Daddy for a market-record 350,000 guineas.

The son of Smooth Daddy made steady progress through 12 starts for William Muir and Chris Grassick. Although his only victory came by two points in his first handicap match at Nottingham, with 83 points, he changed hands with 105 points on Monday.

His third-place efforts include third in Group 3, including the Geoffrey Freer Stakes won by Al Aasy and the Deutsches St Leger won by Prydwen. He was last seen running fourth behind Next in the Listed Noel Murless Stakes.

Although his future lies in Australia, Bourne revealed Go Daddy will head to the Newmarket yard of Harry Eustace, brother of Maher’s former training partner David, before boarding the plane to Australia.

“He profiles brilliantly for Australia and I was chatting to Ciaron and he loved him and how consistent he was,” Bourne said. “The plan is to keep him working here with Harry, then take the training flight of horses.

“We’ll be targeting the Manion Cup, where William Haggas did really well, winning with Favorite Moon and Post Impressionist, so we’ll be aiming to get him straight off the plane during Sydney Carnival.

“Harry has prepared horses like Sir Dragonet for us to win the Cox Plate, so Ciaron has full confidence in Harry. They work very well together.”

On the price, Bourne added: “The maximum was 400,000 guineas and I’d be thrilled to get him for 250,000 guineas, so anything in between is pretty good. He’s got the perfect profile for Australia, so I don’t think he’s the one.” “He was kidnapped by everyone.”

Go Daddy has participated in sales three times before. He first won €16,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale, for which SFF Bloodstock signed the ticket; When Diego Dias brought down the gavel 10 months later he made a €36,000 transaction at the Tattersalls Ireland September Annual Sale.

It was later sold to Muir for €50,000 at the Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale. He is the fifth foal of the Listed Invincible Spirit mare Liby’s Dream.

There were certainly mixed feelings for Go Daddy’s former trainer, as Muir said: “I don’t want to sell them, that’s not what I’m doing this for. I looked around for sales and bought Fearless Freddy for just 8000 guineas, Go Daddy was €50,000 on flash sale , so what do you do?

“The prize money here is so pitiful that the owners need to make something out of it.

“C’mon Daddy and Freddy will go on and Spaceport (bought by Highflyer Bloodstock) was cheap at 100,000 guineas. He’s got a lot of work to do, and so have all three of these horses.”

“They are really beautiful horses with great potential. I recently bought a 12-year-old filly, so we bought a few of them as well. I hope the customers who sold today will re-invest.”

The two-year-old Fearless Freddy was signed by Busuttin Racing and JP Bloodstock and lost to Patrick Sells for 280,000 guineas. The son of Regions enjoyed much better fortune than on his first visit to the ring, as he was held back by his dealer for just 8000 guineas in Book 3 of the October Annual Sale.

His value has soared following three wins from six starts, including his last outing at York.

He had to overcome great difficulties when running on the Knavesmire, but despite entering the open field late he showed a turn of foot that took him a length and a half wide. This effort was given a Racing Post Rating (RPR) of 92.

“It will go to Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young in Cranbourne, Australia,” Sells said. “Last year I bought them a horse that would have been a carbon copy. His name is Craig, he came second in the (Group 1) Toorak Handicap two weeks ago and is running in the Golden Eagle this week.

“I went to William’s house last week to see this man and he described it as a tiger.

“If you watch his run at York, every time I watch that replay I don’t think he’s going to win. To get a turn of foot over a mile on soft ground, that’s what we’re looking for. Hopefully he’ll be someone else.” I watched him all year but that York run was the highlight,” Craig said.

Sells added: “There was a lot of interest in him, but these owners have had good success with horses like him. “He’s a Territory out of the Motivator mare, Craig is a Territory out of the New Approach mare.

“Even down to the piece on his front end, it’s like a carbon copy, almost a little weird! But he’s got a bomb-proof mentality and he wants to win and you’ve got to pay for it.”

Muir and Grassick’s Linkslade Stables sold eight lots on the day for a total of 802,000 guineas.