A sensational week of trade at Tattersalls for Book 1 of the October Yearling
Sale was capped when the Galileo half-brother to Group 1 Epsom Derby winner
Authorized was sold for 2,5 million guineas to David Redvers, acting on behalf
of Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani. The sale represented the highest price for a yearling
in the world this year and the third highest-priced yearling colt ever in
Europe.
The final day saw a total of 139 lots sell for 20,064,500 guineas, at an
average of 144,349 guineas and a median of 85,000 guineas. This took the full
sale turnover to 68,102,500 guineas for the 418 lots sold, which makes it the
highest grossing yearling sale in European auction history. The average for the
three-day sale was also a new record at 162,925 guineas, a rise of 15 percent on
last year’s figures, whilst the median stayed the same at 100,000 guineas,
equally the record.
Catalogued as Lot No. 557, and already named HYDROGEN, the bay colt out of
the unraced Funsie (Saumarez) was the talk of the paddocks prior to his entry
into the ring, and did not disappoint. Interest came from trainers William
Haggas and Jeremy Noseda as well as Mandore International’s Nicholas de
Watrigant as the price rose past 1 million guineas, before Coolmore’s John
Magnier and Redvers entered the fray.
That pair went head-to-head as the price rose to 2.5 million guineas, with
Magnier finally waving the white flag.
Sheikh Fahad, the young member of Qatar’s royal family, has invested heavily
in bloodstock in recent years and, equally importantly, has given racing in
Britain a shot in the arm with his backing, along with his brothers of the QIPCO
British Champions’ Series.
“Tell them why you like him,” Sheikh Fahad said to Redvers when facing the
press after being congratulated by the colt’s breeder Paul Makin.
“Because you like him,” the agent answered wisely but with a broad grin.
Sheikh Fahad, who divulged that he has not yet made a decision as to who will
train the colt, declared, “We came to buy the best and we bought the best. He’s
a stallion in the making and we expected him to be the top lot without a doubt.”
“It’s an age-old cliche, but he’s the complete package and all the best
judges were after him,” added Redvers, appearing visibly shaken after his epic
bidding battle with Magnier. “I’m just incredibly lucky to have the best, most
enthusiastic but measured client in the business. I’m pinching myself really but
I truly believe that in the next five years we can go to some amazing places.”
Hydrogen was consigned by The Castlebridge Consignment on behalf of breeder
Paul Makin, who purchased Funsie in a private deal and whose bloodstock
interests are managed by Badgers Bloodstock. Makin was understandably thrilled
with the result.
“I didn’t try to anticipate what would happen. I paid a lot for the mare and
I do have three brothers at home and you can’t keep them all…well, you can,
but really I wanted to try the discipline of selling one that I really like!”
Makin joked. “Usually I’m a bit of a hedonist, but I haven’t bought anything
this time, which is a first, so now that I have sold one I am the complete
package! I just hope the horse goes on to excel for his new owner who is
terrific for racing in this country. They are positive people and I like that.”
Makin also revealed that Funsie is once again in foal to the champion sire
Galileo, and is believed to be carrying a filly.
Mandore International’s de Watrigant created the headlines last night when
buying the full sister to Was (Galileo) for 1,500,000 guineas right at the end
of the sale and the Frenchman struck again early on the second day when buying
another Galileo filly, this time Lot 403, for 700,000 guineas.
Consigned from The Castlebridge Consignment, the filly is out of Group
3-placed Arkadina (Danehill), who is a three-quarter sister to the 2009 Group 1
Irish One Thousand Guineas victress Again (Danehill Dancer). De Watrigant
secured the filly at the expense of agent Hugo Lascelles and indicated that she
was purchased for an existing client.
Magnier, who had been frustrated on several occasions on the final day of the
sale, secured Lot 560, an Oasis Dream colt out of the unraced Galaxy Highflyer
(Galileo) for 675,000 guineas. The Meon Valley Stud-consigned colt’s second dam
is Group 1 Irish Oaks queen Colorspin (High Top), who also produced the Group
1-winning trio of Kayf Tara (Sadler’s Wells), Opera House (Sadler’s Wells) and
Zee Zee Top (Zafonic). The bay colt was knocked down to Magnier after he saw off
a determined bid by Waratah Thoroughbreds’ Paul Fudge.
Earlier in the evening, Shadwell Estates’ Angus Gold signed for a Dalakhani
filly out of Distinctive Look (Danehill). Consigned from Newsells Park Stud, Lot
508 hails from one of the hottest pedigrees in the book with his dam being a
half-sister to Group 1 winners Nathaniel (Galileo), Great Heavens (Galileo) and
Playful Act (Sadler’s Wells); Group 2 scorers Percussionist (Sadler’s Wells) and
Echoes in Eternity (Spinning World); and Group 3 victress Changing Skies
(Sadler’s Wells).
“Pedigree!” Angus Gold stated. “Need I say any more?
“She is bred to be a mile and a half filly, she is going to take time but she
is a very attractive purchase for a stud such as Shadwell.”
With 22 lots making 500,000gns or more in Book 1 compared to nine in 2011,
Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony was quick to praise the vendors who sent the
company “the cream of the European yearling crop.”
At the conclusion of Book 1 of the 2012 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale,
Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;
“Book 1 of last year’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sale produced a
remarkable set of results with huge rises in average, median and turnover and,
even though we knew this was an exceptional catalog, it seems extraordinary that
we have bettered those figures this week,” Mahony said. “Tribute really must be
paid to the vendors who yet again have enabled us to compile an outstanding
catalog for Europe’s premier yearling sale. They have sent us the cream of the
European yearling crop and have been rewarded by a truly cosmopolitan cast of
buyers attracted to Park Paddocks by world class yearlings and a sale with a
reputation second to none for producing European classic and Group 1 winners.
“The statistics for this week’s sale make impressive reading, especially in a
climate of continued economic uncertainty. The second smallest Book 1 catalog
has produced the highest ever turnover for this sale, the average has reached
unprecedented levels and Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale has produced the
highest priced yearling in the world this year.
“The 2,5 million guineas sale topping Galileo colt was the obvious highlight
of the sale, but the real feature has been the fierce and diverse competition at
the top of the market. We have had a record number of yearlings sell for 400,000
guineas or more — 12 of them by the phenomenal Galileo — and there have been
no less than 16 different buyers at this level.
“Our long standing clients, both domestic and overseas, have been as active,
if not more so, than ever, and buyers from established markets such as
Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, and the USA have been more prolific than in recent
years. In addition, the contribution from new or relatively new participants has
been a real source of encouragement for all involved in the industry. The Qatari
influence, in particular, has been immense and buyers from Malaysia, Russia,
South Africa and Turkey have all made a significant impact demonstrating the
enduring global appeal of European bloodstock and the Tattersalls October
Yearling Sale.
“Books 2 and 3 of the October Yearling Sale commence on Monday and we look
forward to sustaining the momentum from this week’s successful sale,” he
concluded.
Monday will mark the beginning of five consecutive days of selling at Park
Paddocks, with Book 2 of the October Sale running until Thursday and Book 3
taking place on Friday.
For complete results, please visit
tattersalls.com.