The Tattersalls October yearling sale’s Book Two portion ended with an 8.2% increase in its gross revenue from 2009 to 22,241,900 guineas ($37,027,515 in U.S. funds).
The average price during the auction’s four-day run, Oct. 11-14 in England, declined 4.3% to 32,470 guineas ($54,055). And the median price remained the same at 25,000 guineas ($41,619).
The clearance rate fell from 82.7% last year to 73.7% as 685 of the 929 horses offered were sold.
“Buyers have consistently remarked all week that quality yearlings have been hard to buy, and it has been wonderful to see some major pinhooking triumphs throughout the sale as well as a truly cosmopolitan crowd at Park Paddocks from start to finish,” said Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony. “Nevertheless, the increased numbers cataloged for Book 2 (1,031 compared to 820 in 2009) have had an impact on the clearance rate, which has not matched the outstanding level achieved last year.
“The demand for places in Book 2 was unprecedented and reflects an enormous vote of confidence in the sale,” he continued. “But the sheer numbers have been daunting. The market continues to show resilience considering the prevailing economic climate, but the extra 211 yearlings cataloged has, without doubt, placed a strain on the lower levels of the Book 2 market. This year’s British and Irish foal crop has (been) reduced significantly which will make the task of managing the numbers less challenging in colt, 2011, and we would be looking to keep next year’s October Book 2 to its traditional three-day format.”
The results for Book 2’s fourth session included a gross of 3,157,700 guineas ($5,256,825) for the 107 yearlings that sold. The average was 29,511 guineas ($49,128) and the median was 21,000 guineas ($34,960). The clearance rate was 70.9% for the 151 horses offered.
A Green Desert colt was the most expensive horse sold during the final session, bringing 145,000 guineas ($241,391). Rachel Boffey, acting on behalf of London-based Australian Stuart Stuckey, purchased the bay yearling from his breeder, Genesis Green Stud.
Produced from the unraced Unfuwain mare Strings, the colt is a half brother to the winners Super Flight (by Exceed and Excel), Bahamian Music (by Bahamian Bounty), and State Opera (by Shamardal). Their dam is a half sister to Victory Note (by Fairy King), who captured the 1998 Dubai Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French Two Thousand Guineas, Fr-I) and was a group III winner in England.
“This is a lovely colt,” Boffey said. “He is ‘scopey’ with a great walk.”
