Unrelenting demand for quality horses led to record revenues for Tattersalls’ 2013 sales season, which ended with a four-day mare sale that saw financials soaring across the board at its conclusion Dec. 5 in Newmarket.
The Dec. 3 purchase of Immortal Verse for 4.7 million guineas ($8,090,580 in United States funds), which was a European record price for a broodmare, and the sale a day earlier of Dancing Rain for 4 million guineas ($6,869,080) helped propel the mare auction to a 43.4% rise in total sales from the 2012. The sale also realized a 51.8% increase in average, and a 47.4% increase in median.
"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 preeminent sale of its type in Europe," Tattersalls chairman Edmund Mahoney said at the sale’s conclusion.
Total revenue for the December sales overall, including foals and yearlings, was up 36.7% to 97,989,000 guineas ($168,060,933), compared with last year’s December sales. The annual turnover for all of Tattersalls 2013 sales rose 18% to a record 248,689,200 guineas ($426,526,846).
There were 721 horses sold throughout the four-day mare sale for an aggregate 62,998,500 guineas ($108,048,727). The average price was 87,377 guineas ($149,860), and the median was 28,000 guineas ($48,022).
The clearance rate was 80.9%, compared with 81.3% in 2012.
“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 ($857,500) or more,” Mahony noted. “The number of mares and fillies sold for 300,000 guineas ($514,530) or more has risen from 25 last year to 41 this year.”
Immortal Verse and Dancing Rain were among five horses sold for six figures at the mare sale.
An English and French group I winner in 2011, Immortal Verse sold in foal to Dansili and was bought by Adrian Nicoll of BBA Ireland for a new partnership to be established within Coolmore. Her price surpasses the previous European record price for a broodmare set at the same sale in 2006 when Magical Romance sold for of 4.6 million guineas. A 5-year-old daughter to Pivotal out of the Sadler’s Wells mare Side of Paradise, Immortal Verse was offered by Luke Lillingston’s Mount Coote Stud on behalf of U.S.-based Merriebelle Stable, operated by Texans John Moores and Charles Noell.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s bloodstock adviser, John Ferguson, secured dual Oaks winner Dancing Rain, who sold in foal to undefeated European champion Frankel. The 5-year-old daughter of Danehill Dancer is out of the Indian Ridge mare Rain Flower, a half sister to 1992 Epsom Derby (Eng-I) winner Dr Devious. She was consigned by Martin and Lee Taylor’s Clairemont Stud. The brothers campaigned her to victories in the 2011 Epsom Oaks (Eng-I) and the German equivalent.
“Every single Tattersalls sale this year has shown growth and the annual turnover of 249 million guineas has comfortably surpassed the previous record achieved at the height of the market in 2007," Mahony said. "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.”
