The Book 2 portion of the Tattersalls October yearling sale opened in England with a median price of 25,000 guineas ($41,877 in U.S. funds) that was the same as a year ago. The gross for the 192 horses that sold Oct. 11 dropped 6.6% to 6,269,000 guineas ($10,500,945) while the average price fell 2.3% to 32,651 guineas ($54,692).
The clearance rate was 70.3% (for the 273 horses offered), down from 81.4% in 2009.
Sheikh Mohammed’s bloodstock manager John Ferguson bought the highest- and second-highest-priced yearlings during the session. The two colts were sired by Iffraaj, who stands at Kildangan Stud, which is the Ireland division of Sheikh Mohammed’s international Darley operation.
The session topper, which brought 160,000 guineas ($268,010) was consigned by Denniff Farms. The bay colt is the first foal out of the winning Forest Camp mare Camp Riverside, who is a half sister to 2007 Somerville Tattersall Stakes (Eng-III) winner River Proud (by Proud Citizen ).
The second-most-expensive yearling, which sold for 150,000 guineas ($251,260), was consigned by Whatton Manor Stud. Kern/Lillingston Association had purchased the chestnut colt as a weanling for the equivalent of $38,048 from Victor Stud, agent, at Tattersalls last November.
The yearling, who is a half brother to the winner Mister Louis (by Indian Lodge), is out of the Riverman mare Voyage of Dreams, who finished second once and third once in six career races. Voyage of Dreams is a full sister to 1990 Dubai Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas, Fr-I) winner Houseproud. Voyage of Dreams also is a full sister to stakes winner Stornoway and a half-sister to another added-money winner, Proud Fact (by Known Fact).
"Iffraaj is a horse that improved throughout his career and he has made an exceptional start with his 2-year-olds,” Ferguson said. "We bought plenty last week and are very pleased with what we bought.
"But these are difficult times for many,” Ferguson continued, “and the biggest single issue for all is the cost of production. We will sit down next month and work out what we are going to do with Darley's stallion fees and, yes, some will be coming down. We got to give everyone a chance and a lot of people are still finding things very tough."
Iffraaj (by Zafonic) was a group II winner in England.
