The softening to the tried horses market that was referenced by BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe and so many other buyers and vendors at Tattersalls this week did not translate massively to the figures of the Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale with only minor dips recorded in most of the key areas. No horse sold for seven figures all week while no six-figure sale was recorded on Thursday, with the concluding session headed by the unexposed French Artist (Farhh) at 95,000gns to Sam Haggas on behalf of Australian connections Bahen Bloodstock and Kris Lees. Despite a slightly larger [1%] offering of 1,169 horses, turnover at Park Paddocks fell by 2% to 33,199,500gns this week. The average fell by 3% to 32,612gns and the median stayed the same at 15,000gns. The 87% clearance rate was also the same as last year.While Australian buyers accounted for 20 lots in total, in many ways the story of the sale was Najd Stud back bidding stronger then ever through bloodstock agent Nico Archdale. The Saudi Arabian buyers were responsible for the 750,000gns top lot, The Lost King (Kingman).Commenting on this week's trade, Tattersalls managing director Matthew Prior said, “The Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale has once again lived up to its reputation as the largest and most international sale of its kind in the world. Turnover has exceeded 30 million guineas for the sixth consecutive year, and with buyers from more than 30 countries competing throughout the week, the depth and diversity of international demand has been the defining feature of another strong renewal of this sale.“One of the great strengths of this sale is the extraordinary variety of horses on offer, catering for buyers at every level of the market. Australian buyers have once again been particularly active, purchasing more than 20 lots and continuing to enjoy remarkable success with graduates of this sale. Since 2022, Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale graduates have won 212 Group and Listed races worldwide, underlining the quality of horses offered and the sale's international reputation.”He added, “It has also been encouraging to see continued demand from the Gulf region, despite wider geopolitical challenges, alongside strong participation from Britain, Ireland and across the countries of the EU. Whilst the international participation at this sale is a considerable success story, it comes against a very challenging domestic backdrop, with this week's Budget adding to the pressures already facing small businesses. The increase in gambling duties added to the changes to Business Property Relief from the first Labour Budget pose a real threat to the continued success of the racing and bloodstock industry in this country.“The sustained international demand throughout the week is a testament to the quality of horses presented by leading owners and trainers from across Europe, and the strength and depth of European racing. We are grateful to both vendors and purchasers for their continued support of this unique sale and look forward to welcoming buyers back to Park Paddocks for our forthcoming December Sales.”As for Thursday's trade, the once-raced French Artist was out on his own as the most expensive horse sold on the day. Trained by Ollie Sangster, the two-year-old came into the sale off the back off a respectable debut effort at Nottingham at odds of 200-1. Haggas admitted that the blank canvas of a profile that French Artist boasts was factored into the price. He commented, “He's going to go to Sydney to Kris Lees, who's based in Newcastle. I thought this horse ran a very good race on debut, and he's just a bit of a blank canvas. He's been bought and priced more on his potential than on what he's actually achieved so far. He's going to stay further than a mile – he has run over an extended mile, and I think he'll stay further and will improve as he goes up in trip. He'll get into Australia off a very good low level, so he can work his way up through the ranks and hopefully pay his way as he progresses.”The post International Demand Helps Keep Tattersalls HIT Sale Figures Largely In Line With Last Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.