A son of Exceed and Excel topped Book 3 of the Tattersalls October yearling sale, bringing 52,000 guineas ($88,051 in U.S. funds).
Willie Browne purchased the chestnut colt from The Castlebridge Consignment Oct. 19 in England.
Bred in Ireland by Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd., the yearling is the first foal out of the winning Haafhd mare Crystal Moments. His second dam, Celestial Choir (by Celestial Storm), won the 1998 Dipper Novices Steeplechase in England.
The results for Book 3 included a gross of 1,669,600 guineas ($2,827,125) for the 199 horses that were sold. The average price was 8,390 guineas ($14,207) and the median price was 6,000 guineas ($10,160). Compared to last year, when 223 yearlings were sold, the gross declined 10.5%. The average increased less than 1% while the median rose 9.1%.
The clearance rate increased to 86.9% from 72.4% in 2011.
For the October yearling sale’s Book 1, Book 2, and Book 3 combined, the results included a gross of 100,811,100 guineas ($170,702,700), which was an all-time high. The average was 71,752 guineas ($121,498) for the 1,405 horses that were sold. The median was 38,000 guineas ($64,345).
Compared to last year, when 1,222 yearlings were sold, the gross rose 28%. The average and median rose 11.3% and 8.6%, respectively.
The clearance rate increased to 83.6% from 81.3% in 2011.
"In the current economic climate, it seems remarkable to be reflecting on a Tattersalls October yearling sale which has reached unprecedented levels of turnover, but that is the reality and it is a welcome one,” said Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony. “The two weeks of the October yearling sale are long and sometimes arduous, but to have exceeded all expectations for the second consecutive year is a marvelous achievement for all concerned and a tribute to the vendors who have placed so much faith in the market at Tattersalls. Catalogs of outstanding quality have enticed buyers from throughout the world to Park Paddocks and competition at all levels of the market has been extraordinary.
"Since the global economic upheavals of 2008,” Mahony continued, “the bloodstock industry, like all others, has had to adjust and react to challenging conditions. The swift and significant reduction in the British and Irish foal crops has paid dividends. While we have cataloged more yearlings this year than last, the overall numbers at the principal British, Irish, and French yearling sales have been lower than in 2011 and the demand we have experienced throughout Books 1 to 3 suggests that a more healthy balance between supply and demand is being achieved. There have been so many positives to take from the 2012 Tattersalls October yearling sale and we look forward to sustaining the momentum for our remaining 2012 sales."
