Waterhouse and Bott secure Royal Ascot prospect at Goffs London Sale

Australian training partnership Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have added another potential international performer to their stable after purchasing Santa Bravado for £260,000 at the Goffs London Sale.

The three-year-old son of Iffraaj was secured by bloodstock agent Johnny McKeever on behalf of the Sydney-based trainers.

Santa Bravado arrives with an appealing pedigree, being a brother to multiple French stakes winner Dibajj, and recently advertised his credentials with a victory over 2000 metres at Navan for Irish trainer Andrew Oliver.

The colt could make an immediate appearance on one of racing’s biggest stages, holding an entry for Saturday’s Golden Gates Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Waterhouse and Bott have enjoyed success sourcing talent through the pre-Royal Ascot auction in the past, notably acquiring stakes winners Military Mission and New Endeavour via the same route.

The top-priced lot of the sale was Jersey Stakes contender Green Sense, who was sold privately after leaving the ring for £700,000.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained daughter of Starman was purchased by Brittany Linton, chief executive of American-based Boyd Racing.

“We’re very excited about her and looking forward to her running in the Jersey Stakes on Saturday,” Boyd Racing principal Randy Boyd said.

“After that she’ll probably come back to the US and run in Saratoga and be a turf horse there. We have a trainer in mind but I’d better wait to tell him first.”

Overall, 11 of the 19 horses offered changed hands, generating turnover of £2.97 million.

That figure was well below the £8.07 million achieved in 2025, while the average price fell to £270,000 from £403,500 last year.

Despite the softer figures, Goffs Group chief executive Henry Beeby said the sale should not be judged solely on turnover statistics.

“The 2026 London Sale was another enormous success in so many ways. Whilst the statistics are well behind last year, we don’t measure this sale in the same way,” Beeby said.

“Normally, we obsess over percentage rises or falls but with the London Sale it is an entirely different approach. Success at the London Sale is judged by the reaction of both vendors and purchasers and, by that measurement, we’ve had a very positive evening.

“The top lot has been bought by a new entrant to European turf racing from the United States; the Queen of Australian racing Gai Waterhouse has got involved again as have Amo Racing, while Apollo were new entrants on the London buyer list.”

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