Two at Breeders' Cup - Big draft proves popular at Tattersalls sale

Qatar Racing is represented by a pair of horses, starting with three-year-old Peace And War, who runs in today's Gr.1 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (16.35 local time, 21.35 in UK) on dirt. Now trained in the US by Graham Motion, Peace And War began her racing career with Olly and Hetta Stevens at Robins Farm Racing in Surrey, and from their yard she won last year's Gr.1 Darley Alcibiades Stakes, which was run at Keeneland.

It took her a while to get competitive this year, but after second places in Listed and Grade Three company she was third last month in the Gr.1 Cotillion Stakes. Joel Rosario was in the saddle on that occasion, but he rides Curalina in today's race, and Drayden Van Dyke rides Peace And War for the first time in public. He has to overcome the outside draw in stall 15.

Secret Gesture (pictured under Pat Smullen at last year's Breeders' Cup in Santa Anita) is Qatar Racing's hope on tomorrow's card - the Ralph Beckett-trained five year-old, who is owned in partnership with Newsells Park Stud, runs in the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (13.10, 18.10 in UK), in which she was fifth last year. US jockey Florent Genoux takes the ride.

Three other European fillies are in the line-up, including this year's QIPCO 1000 Guineas heroine Legatissimo, and Miss France, who narrowly beat Pearl Bloodstock's Lightning Thunder in last year's running of the Newmarket Classic.

Tattersalls' Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale ended in Newmarket last night after four days' of trading and plenty of interest in horses offered by Qatar Racing. Despite a 16% decline in turnover and a 26% reduction in the average price, horses from the Qatar Racing draft - which was consigned by Jamie Railton - included 14 horses that made 50,000gns-plus, and seven that made a six-figure sum.

Flying Empress makes 175,000gns in the ring - www.tattersalls.com

They were headed by Rockfel Stakes fourth Flying Empress, who was knocked down for 175,000gns to Qatar-based trainer Jassim Ghazali. Master Of Irony, who is going jumping with Ireland's champion trainer Willie Mullins, and Sacrificial, who was bought by bloodstock agent Jeremy Brummitt, both made 130,000gns, while Fog Of War, who made 125,000gns to a bid from Stroud Coleman Bloodstock, has been bought to race at the Dubai Carnival. The same sum saw Flaming Spear return to trainer Kevin Ryan but for a new owner.

Also happy to keep horses they had trained this year were Newmarket's David Simcock and Charlie Fellowes - Simcock regained Captain Morley with a bid of 110,000gns, while Fellowes secured Wet Sailfor new owners at a valuation of 100,000gns.

Sacrficial, who sold for 130,000gns - www.tattersalls.com

As ever, there was something for all budgets and tastes in the consignment, with prices starting at 800gns, and a wide range of buyers from around the world investing in Qatar Racing horses. Trainers who left Newmarket with horses from the draft included Brian Baugh, Robert Cowell, Brian Ellison, Richard Fahey, Gary Moore and Johnny Murtagh. Mags O'Toole and Charles Byrnes were among those who dipped in to buy horses with a jumping career in mind.