The Book 2 portion of the Tattersalls October yearling sale opened strongly in England, posting increases from a year ago of 39.1% in gross, 27.1% in average price, and 24% in median price. Nineteen horses were sold for six-figure amounts Oct. 11 in England compared to nine in 2010.
Another encouraging development during the first session involved the clearance rate, which rose to 84.7% from 70.3% last year.
An Acclamation colt brought the top price of 180,000 guineas ($295,298 in U.S. funds). Angus Gold, representing Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Estate Company, purchased the bay yearling from The Castlebridge Consignment. Mark Richards of the Hong Kong Jockey Club was the immediate underbidder.
“Acclamation is a great stallion who had to do it the hard way and is getting better mares now,” Gold said. “(Trainer) John Gosden, who was with me, loved the horse (the session-topping yearling), but it will be up to Sheikh Hamdan to decide where he goes. This horse should not take too long and is a 2-year-old type. We like to supplement the more backward homebreds with some sharper horses.”
Bred by Mrs. C. R. Gonzalez in Great Britain, the colt is the fourth foal out of the winning Theatrical mare Intrepid Queen, who is a half sister to American added-money winners Russian Tango (by Nijinsky II) and Bravo Bull (by Holly Bull). The yearling’s second dam is the Eclipse Award winner Brave Raj (by Rajab), who captured the 1986 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I).
An Acclamation–Grand Slam Maria colt brought the opening session’s second-highest price of 165,000 guineas ($270,690). Peter and Ross Doyle Bloodstock purchased him from Rathbarry Stud.
An Acclamation–Gold Hush colt commanded 160,000 guineas ($262,486) to tie for third based on price with an Iffraaj–Khibraat colt. Charlie Gordon-Watson Bloodstock purchased the Acclamation yearling from Keith Harte, agent. Shadwell acquired the Iffraaj yearling from Kildaragh Stud.
The first session’s results included a gross of 8,718,000 guineas ($14,302,260) for the 210 yearlings that were sold. The average was 41,514 guineas ($68,105), and the median was 31,000 guineas ($50,857). Last year, 192 horses were sold.