3 minute read
Aggregate, average and median all show huge gains as Book 1 concludes
A record-breaking Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 concluded in Newmarket on Thursday, with record turnover of 126,671,000gns, up a massive 47 per cent on last year's sale, whilst the average and median rose by 30 per cent and 25 per cent respectively to 298,752gns and 200,000gns, both records. A total of 16 lots, 12 colts and four fillies, sold for 1,000,000gns or more.
As he did on Wednesday, Juddmonte Farm's Frankel (Galileo) accounted for the two most expensive lots with Richard Knight Bloodstock going to 2,000,000gns for a colt out of Bold Lass (Sea The Stars).
The session topping colt was offered by Watership Down Stud on behalf of breeder Bjorn Nielsen as Lot 381. He is a half-brother to the stakes placed Amniarix (Speightstown), while this is also the family of Group 1 winners Dubawi Heights (Dubawi), Make Believe (Makfi) and Tante Rose (Barathea).
"He is obviously a Frankel," said Knight who left Godolphin as the underbidder.
"He is a scopey, quality colt - I went down and saw him again this morning and he was very relaxed. He is a very athletic horse, he vetted well, the dam has produced a 100+ rated horse already and he comes from a nice family. He is just a lovely colt. It was the top of our budget and where we saw we'd have to go to get him.
"We were underbidder on a filly yesterday by Frankel and they are as hot as anything and hard to buy. We were well aware we'd have to pay a good price to get him."
When explaining the strength of the market here, Knight said: "There is a beautiful bunch of horses here, it is the best catalogue of individuals we have seen at any yearling sale this year as a bunch. You often get into some sales and individuals don't match up to the pedigrees – here the individuals have matched up as well, there are some lovely horses.
"All the yearling sales have been very strong so far, breaking records everywhere - we have come here and the sale has got the best individuals so it is no surprise that Tattersalls is having an amazing sale."
Frankel had five of the top ten prices at this year's Book 1 sale and the 25 yearlings by him sold for 18,745,000gns at an average of 749,800gns, to be second leading sire by average behind Dubawi.
Cumanis celebrate 1,900,000gns Frankel sale
Two lots earlier another son of Frankel sold for seven figures when MV Magnier and Peter Brant's White Birch Farm went to 1,900,000gns for the colt.
Consigned by Fittocks Stud and bred by Sara and Luca Cumani in partnership with Arrow Farm & Stud, the colt is out of the winning mare Blue Waltz (Pivotal) who is a sister to the multiple Group 3 winner Fantasia (Sadler's Wells).
"It has been an amazing week, the market has been very strong - long may it continue! It is very exciting to be part of this environment," said Luca Cumani of Fittocks. "You never know what they might make, we thought he'd be 500,000 guineas to 800,000 guineas and up, but you can never tell."
He recalled: "I trained for Peter Brant in the 1980s and early 90s, I trained the dam of Thunder Gulch for him and the good filly Roseate Tern, and we have known each other for donkey's years."
Cumani added: "It is especially good that this colt stays in Europe - we need the class horses, but people know that if you want class horses you need to come to this sale and to Europe to get them."
Three days of selling concludes
At the conclusion of this year's Book 1, Newsells Park Stud once again finished as leading vendor by aggregate having sold 23 yearlings for 10,895,000gns at an average of 473,696gns. In 2021 Newsells Park Stud was also leading vendor by average, however, this year the title went to Croom House Stud, with their three yearlings averaging 1,023,333gns, while Watership Down Stud sold 10 lots at an average of 878,000gns.
Godolphin, who was the leading purchaser in 2021, was the leading buyer again this year having spent 25,355,000gns on 35 lots.
At the conclusion of Book 1 of the 2022 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;
"This has been an extraordinary yearling sale. When the first two lots through the ring on Tuesday morning made 500,000 guineas and 1,300,000 guineas, the stage was set and the pace has been unrelenting from that moment on," said Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony.
"Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale annually showcases the very best yearlings to be found in Europe, and even by the lofty standards of this special sale we felt that this year's catalogue was out of the ordinary. Nevertheless we could not have predicted the extraordinary level of trade we have experienced over the past three days.
"Record turnover in excess of 125 million guineas, a rise of almost 40 million guineas on last year's October Book 1, as well as a record median and a record average price just under 300,000 guineas are impressive statistics by any standards, but the progression of this sale in recent years has been truly remarkable.
"Only twelve years ago Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale produced turnover of 48 million guineas and an average of 107,000 guineas which puts this week's remarkable figures into context.
Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale begins on Monday.