Promising trainer Sam Kavanagh has purchased three horses at the Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale that was held at Newmarket at the end of October.
Sam Kavanagh is hoping that his three purchases at the Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale can replicate the success that Midsummer Sun has had in Australia. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Leading Australian trainers Chris Waller, Gai Waterhouse and David Hayes have been regular visitors to the sale for a number of years and Kavanagh has gotten on board in recent years; with the Sydney-based trainer acquiring stable star Midsummer Sun at the 2012 edition of the sale.
Kavanagh, with the assistance of English bookmaker Daniel Hague, analysed over 1500 horses that were on offer at the sale and after a lengthy process elected to purchase Border Legend, Consign and Braidley.
Border Legend was previously owned by The Queen and has been a consistent performer at handicap level for trainer Roger Charlton.
The Selkirk gelding made his racing debut in 2012 and broke his maiden at his third start at Windsor; with the five-year-old producing a string of consistent performances from 1600 metres right up to 2400 metres.
“Border Legend is a stunning big chestnut with a great walk and attitude,” Kavanagh said in a statement.
“His estimated rating here in Australia is 70 – making him very well placed with 33 points in hand from Dan’s rating of 103.”
Consign is a talented miler who made his racing debut under the care Jeremy Noseda at the end of 2012 and finished a credible seventh behind Windhoek and Gai Waterhouse-trained Greatwood in the 2013 edition of the Tattersalls Millions Three-Year-Old Trophy.
The Dutch Art gelding took out the Classified Stakes (1609m), Windsor Handicap (1670m), Goals Galore Handicap (1499m) and Troy Asset Management Handicap (1408m) at Ascot last year before Ryan Moore steered him to victory in the Arkle Finance Handicap (1609m) at Newmarket on September 25.
“Consign is a horse with an impressive turn of foot,” Kavanagh said.
“He is a horse that has been well thought of by the stable, yet had some muscle issues that have made his form unpredictable.
“His last two runs have been impressive and he vetted clean.
“He looks a horse with a run style that may be better suited to Australia and he may measure up in some very nice mile races next spring.”
Kavanagh’s three Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale purchases are rounded out by promising three-year-old Braidley, who has form around the likes of Stars Over The Sea, Bronze Angel and Queensberry Rules in England.
Braidley has only recorded two wins from his 13 career starts, but Kavanagh believes that there is plenty of improvement in front of the Dylan Thomas gelding.
“Braidley is an impressive three-year-old who has great form – beating stakes winners in the UK,” Kavanagh said.
“His pedigree suggests he is a 2000m horse, yet he had the speed to win over 1400m
“He is a horse with massive upside and will arrive in Australia rated only 68.”
Kavanagh was narrowly denied his third metropolitan win of the season at Royal Randwick on Saturday when Centre Pivot finished second in the Declaration Of War Handicap, but could have up to four runners at Rosehill Gardens this weekend after Midsummer Sun, Spinning Diamond, Cape Clear and I Am Zelady were all included in the nominations.
