INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
DECEMBER 6, 2013
Tattersalls wraps up record year
by Emma Berry
As the hammer fell on Lot No. 2425, the final horse through
the ring at an extraordinarily buoyant Tattersalls December Sale, it sealed a
record-breaking year for the Newmarket-based auction company, with an aggregate for all sales of
248,688,400 guineas in 2013.
“Every single Tattersalls sale this year has shown growth,
and the annual turnover has comfortably surpassed the previous record achieved at the
height of the market in 2007,” Chairman Edmond Mahony said at the conclusion of a frenetic
fortnight of trading. “That is a remarkable statistic and one that reflects the
professionalism and commitment of all involved in the bloodstock industry in Britain, Ireland and further
afield. The extraordinary competition for both foals and breeding stock at this year’s
Tattersalls December Sale has mirrored the sustained demand for quality bloodstock that we have
experienced throughout 2013.”
That competition saw the whole of the December
Sale — yearlings, foals and breeding stock — bring in 97,989,000 guineas-worth of business over the last
two weeks. The demand for fillies and mares this week — which saw five sell for
1 million guineas or more and a new European broodmare record set at 4.7 million guineas — led
to a mares’ sale turnover of 62,998,500gns, boosted by the final-day aggregate of
963,500gns from the final 146 lots sold (76 percent).
The quiet final session, with dips in the
average of 6,599gns (down 14 percent) and median of 4,800gns (down 20 percent), did little to halt the
overall rise of the mares’ section, which set an average of 87,377gns (up 52
percent) and 28,000gns (up
47 percent). The clearance rate was consistent with last year at 81 percent.
“Tattersalls is a global hub for the
bloodstock industry, and this year’s renewal of the Tattersalls December Sale has reinforced its
reputation as probably the most international bloodstock sale in the world,” Mahony
continued. “We have been
privileged over the years to have sold some true legends of our sport, which have attracted
huge audiences, but there have been times this week when the ring has been as crowded as
we have ever seen. This was a very strong December Mares catalog, but the sheer number
of buyers who have descended on Park Paddocks has been truly overwhelming, and a massive
tribute not only to the quality of the stock on offer, but also to the enduring reputation
of the Tattersalls December Sale as the pre-eminent sale of its type in Europe.
“The sales of the two magnificent race mares Dancing
Rain, for 4 million guineas, and Immortal Verse, for a new European record of 4.7 million
guineas, will live long in the memories of the huge crowds which witnessed them. It was an
honor for Tattersalls to have two such special mares in the same catalog, and we would
like to express our gratitude and admiration for the two teams connected with
both Dancing Rain and Immortal Verse.
“That gratitude extends to all who have made the 2013 Tattersalls December Sale such a memorable occasion. Vendors and purchasers alike have
combined to produce a December Mares’ Sale which has achieved huge rises in average,
median and turnover, as well as a record 22 lots sold for 500,000 guineas or more. The number
of mares and fillies sold for 300,000 guineas or more has risen from 25 last year to 41
this year, and the total turnover over the past four days has risen from 44 million guineas
to 63 million guineas.”
Former smart performer Capistrano Day (Diesis) led the
way during the final session of the fortnight, selling for
60,000gns to Peter Kelly of Emerald Bloodstock. A listed winner and
Group 3-placed in her racing days, the 17-year-old mare (Lot
2275) is the dam of five winners, including Group 3 runner-ups Sabbeeh (Red Ransom) and Dream Day (Oasis Dream). She was
sold with a February cover to Juddmonte’s young sire Bated Breath.
The Emerald Bloodstock team has had a busy week, signing
for 52 lots for a total of 3.6 million guineas. Speedy filly Blessing Box (Bahamian Bounty) took
the eye of Irish duo Michael Gaffney and Liam Butler, who bought her with a bid of
38,000gns, but will not be reoffering her next year in foal.
“You’ve got to love them first like you are married to
them,” Gaffney said of the three-year-old sprinter (Lot 2212), a winner at Yarmouth in July. “It is a
family I know and have wanted to get in to for some time. It is a good fast family and we
always buy young fillies. We also bought Mary’s Daughter (Royal Applause) earlier
this week.”
Blessing Box was consigned through Catridge Farm Stud,
which three lots later signed for Hard Walnut (Cape Cross), who earlier this year
provided young trainer Olly Stevens with his first winner. Now a dual winner, the granddaughter
of Phoenix S. (Ire-G1) second Yara (Sri Pekan) was sold for 30,000gns.
The Castlebridge Consignment, which swept the board at
Tattersalls last year and was charged with handling last month’s Paulyn Dispersal at
Goffs, ended the mares’ sale as leading consignor again, with 42 lots sold for 5,714,000gns.
Late in the session, the inappropriately named Fifty
Cent Gal (Lot 2378), sold for 4,000gns, had the distinction of being the final horse knocked down
in the ring by the widely respected Tattersalls director and auctioneer Philip Myerscough, who
bowed out from his role at the end of the company’s final day of trade in 2013.
“I don’t really believe in retiring,” said Myerscough,
whose son David runs the successful Baroda & Colbinstown Studs consignment with David Cox. “I’ll still have plenty of involvement with the industry.
We have a farm and the team bought about 15 foals this year, plus we have a big interest in
the National Hunt side of things.
“I’ve been doing this for 40 years with a few breaks in
between, such as when we set up Ballysheehan Stud to stand Fairy King.”
Myerscough, who is also a former managing director of
Goffs, was the auctioneer on the rostrum when the 3.4 million-guineas Galileo colt was sold
from Newsells Park Stud in October.
“It’s been an honor selling here at Tattersalls because it’s the top table of the bloodstock industry — you can see that just from how
many international buyers were here this week,” he said. “To sell such beautifully presented horses is
wonderful. Camelot is the one I remember best of all.”
Reflecting on his colleague’s decade with Tattersalls,
chairman Edmond Mahony added, “As we acknowledge the wider industry I would also like to pay
tribute to a much respected individual, Philip Myerscough, who steps down from the
rostrum at the end of this sale.
“Philip has achieved so much in so many different areas of the
business, and we are fortunate to have had the benefit of his expertise and knowledge at
Tattersalls and Tattersalls Ireland. Philip’s contribution to the company, both on and off the
rostrum, has been immense. We wish him well for the future and look forward to seeing him
at plenty of sales both here and at Tattersalls Ireland in years to come.”
The next sale at Tattersalls is the Tattersalls February Sale. More
information may be found at tattersalls.com.