A poor renewal of Book 4 of the Tattersalls October yearling sale in England generated a gross of only 130,300 guineas, down 73% from last year for the 50 horses sold. The average price of 2,606 guineas dropped 50%, and the 1,450-guinea median fell 43%. Only 45% of the lots offered were listed as sold.

A Soviet Star -- Lalique filly consigned by Westerlands Stud topped the auction when selling to trainer Clive Cox  for 14,000 guineas.

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony commented: "Book 4 of the October yearling sale followed a very pleasing Autumn Horses in Training Sale, but it was a different story today,” said Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony. "We catalogued upwards of 2,000 yearlings for the four books of the October yearling sale and while Books 1 to 3 provided results that were ahead of expectations given the constant stream of poor economic news, the same cannot be said of Book 4 where uncommercial yearlings struggled to find a home."

COMPARATIVE FIGURES (IN GUINEAS)

October Book 4
YR     CAT   OFF  SOLD  AGG        AVG       MED
2008 158   110    50       130,300   2,606   1,450
2007 183   137    94       488,100   5,193   3,200
 
Total October Books 1-4
YR        CAT      OFF      SOLD    AGG                AV
2008     2,101   1,775   1,240    72,439,300    58,419
2007     2,201   1,917   1,490    95,015,000    63,768