Numbers decline for Book 1 of Tattersalls October Yearling
sale
Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale concluded with a daughter of
Oasis Dream (GB) topping the score sheets but, despite the solid trade from the
first two days continuing, numbers dropped for both the session and Book 1.
The final session saw 143 lots change hands for 15,284,000 guineas, a decline
of 13.8 percent over last year when 153 yearlings were purchased for 17,723,000
guineas. The average of 106,881 guineas represented a drop of 7.7 percent over
the 2009 average of 115,837 guineas. The 75,000 guineas median remained steady.
The three-day sale saw 449 lots sell for 48,243,000 guineas, at an average of
107,445 guineas and a median of 70,000 guineas. Those numbers fell 10.2 percent,
5.2 percent and 10.3 percent, respectively, over the 2009 Book 1 figures of
53,735,000 guineas for 474 selling at an average of 113,365 guineas and a 78,000
guineas median.
One lot whose pedigree has seen numerous significant updates over the past 18
months is that of Lot No. 650, the Oasis Dream filly who topped the session. Out
of the unraced Daylami (Ire) mare Tariysha, the filly is a full sister to last
season’s Prix Morny (Fr-G1) winner Arcano whilst her dam is a half-sister to the
dam of this year’s Prix de l’Abbaye (Fr-G1) winner Gilt Edge Girl (Monsieur
Bond).
Blandford Bloodstock’s Stuart Boman and the Stobart Group’s Andrew Tinkler
both made early plays on the filly, who was bred and consigned by James Egan’s
Corduff Stud in Ireland, before Charlie Gordon-Watson and Shadwell Estates’
Angus Gold both entered the fray. Gold proved successful when Gordon-Watson
refused to answer his bid of 700,000 guineas.
It came as no surprise that Sheikh Hamdan should take such an interest in the
filly as Arcano ran in the Sheikh’s colors when successful in the Prix Morny
last year and is set to take up stud duties at his Derrinstown Stud in Ireland
in 2011.
It was certainly an enthralling few minutes in the Tattersalls sale ring in
the early evening as the lot before the session-topping Oasis Dream filly was
knocked down to Coolmore’s John Magnier for 525,000 guineas. Consigned as Lot
649, the Montjeu (Ire) colt out of Group 3 heroine Tarfah (Kingmambo) saw Sir
Robert Ogden and Tinkler both make bold bids along with agent Alex Cole before
the trio were trumped by Magnier. The smart colt was consigned from Lady Carolyn
Warren’s Highclere Stud.
The Coolmore supremo was very active during October 1 signing for 15
yearlings in all for 5,372,000 guineas either as himself or via Demi O’Byrne.
Bringing the second highest price of the session was a Galileo (Ire) filly
out of multiple Grade 1 queen Riskaverse (Dynaformer), consigned from Voute
Sales. Lot 548 sold for 600,000 guineas to the bid of Irish agent Hugo Merry.
Grant Pritchard Gordon, the Eishin Farm team from Japan, Catherine Duncan on
behalf of Qatari interests, Gordon-Watson and Michael Goodbody were all beaten
in the race to secure the filly. Merry indicated afterward that he had purchased
the filly on behalf of the Dubai-based businessman Jim Hay.
“I bought a couple for Dr. Hay last year and luckily they have been
successful,” Merry said. “I identified a couple for him here and he kindly let
me bid on them. This filly will go into training with Paul Cole.”
The filly has been purchased with a stud career in mind and Merry, who
already boards a couple of mares for Hay at his own Kilshannig Stud, is hoping
that the filly will come back to the farm once her racing days are over.
“Hopefully, Dr. Hay will become a successful owner-breeder in time!” Merry
smiled. “But there was plenty of interest in her and the market has been very
strong for the top lots, especially fillies. I have been trying to buy yearlings
for another client and we have plunged in deeper than we had planned and still
came up short.”
“There is no doubt that we all still live in testing times but there have
been plenty of positives to take from this year’s renewal of Europe’ premier
yearling sale,” Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said at the conclusion of
Book 1. “The response to the Book 1 catalog from the moment it was published
suggested that the top of the market would be as competitive as ever and it
would be fair to say that this sector of the market has exceeded expectations.
“As soon as the yearlings arrived here at Park Paddocks the buyers were quick
to praise the overall quality and the trade over the past three days has
endorsed their views. While some of the traditional superpowers have been more
restrained than in recent years the feature of the sale has been the number of
new or relatively new faces from Britain and further afield making a significant
impact.
“The diversity of the international participation has been particularly
heartening. To have had buyers from Abu Dhabi, Australia, Dubai, Hong Kong,
Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Turkey and the
USA all active at the top of the market is a clear demonstration of why October
1 is the sale of choice for so many European consignors.
“The strength of the sale lies in the consistent quality of the catalog. Year
after year the vendors bring the cream of the European yearling crop to October
Book 1. It is their continued support which attracts the world’s leading owners
to this fixture every year and also makes it the first priority for new
participants in the sport.
“To have sold the first seven figure yearling in Europe since 2007 was an
obvious highlight of the sale and it has been gratifying to have so many owners
and trainers enthusing about the £1,750,000 Tattersalls Millions race series,”
Mahony concluded. “It would, however, be wrong to pretend that it has all been
plain sailing this week. The market remains selective as we still contend with
the large pre-recession foal crops. Nevertheless the industry can take heart
from Book 1 of the 2010 October Yearling Sale. Last year’s October 1
significantly outperformed the overall market and this year’s figures are only
slightly down on those returns, but most importantly the sale has demonstrated
an enduring global demand for quality yearlings and an enduring appetite for a
great sport.”
Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale starts Monday.