Book 1 of the Tattersalls October yearling sale ended its three-day run Oct. 7 in England with downturns in all of its key business figures. The number sold and gross revenue fell 5.3% and 10.2%, respectively, from 2009. The average price and median price declined 5.2% and 10.3%, respectively.
“There is no doubt that we all still live in testing times, but there have been plenty of positives to take from this year’s renewal of Europe’s premier yearling sale,” said Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony. “The response to the Book 1 catalog from the moment it was published suggested that the top of the market would be as competitive as ever and it would be fair to say this sector of the market has exceeded expectations. As soon as the yearlings arrived here at Park Paddocks, the buyers were quick to praise the overall quality and the trade over the past three days has endorsed their views.”
The gross for the 449 horses that sold was 48,243,000 guineas ($80,498,145 in U.S. funds). The average was 107,445 guineas ($179,282) and the median was 70,000 guineas ($116,802).
In 2009, the 474 yearlings that sold grossed 53,735,000 guineas and averaged 113,365 guineas. The median was 78,000 guineas.
The clearance rate (for the 595 horses offered) was 75.5%, down from the rate of 77.8% (for the 609 yearlings offered) in 2009.
“While some of the traditional superpowers have been more restrained than in recent years, the feature of the sale has been the number of new or relatively new faces from Britain and further afield making a significant impact,” Mahony said. “The diversity of the international participation has been particularly heartening. To have had buyers from Abu Dhabi, Australia, Dubai, Hong Kong, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, and the USA all active at the top of the market is a clear demonstration of why October (Book) 1 is the sale of choice for so many European consignors.
“Last year’s October (Book) 1 significantly outperformed the overall market and this year’s figures are only slightly down on those returns,” Mahony continued. “But most importantly, the sale has demonstrated an enduring global demand for quality yearlings and an enduring appetite for a great sport.”
A Galileo – Alluring Park filly topped the auction, bringing 1.2 million guineas ($1,993,173) during the Oct. 5 opening session. Coolmore Stud agent Demi O’Byrne purchased the bay yearling from her breeder, Seamus Burns’ Ireland-based Lodge Park Stud. The price was the highest paid in Europe for a yearling since 2007.
An Oasis Dream filly commanded the most expensive price during the sale’s third session of 700,000 guineas ($1,168,020). Angus Gold, representing Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Estate Co., purchased the bay yearling from James Egan’s Ireland-based Corduff Stud. Corduff bred her in partnership with the Yellow Bird Syndicate.
Produced from the unraced Daylami mare Tariysha, the filly is a full sister to 2009 Darley Prix Morny (Fr-I) and TNT July Stakes (Eng-II) winner Arcano.
The third session’s results included a gross of 15,284,000 guineas ($25,502,820) for the 143 horses that sold. The average was 106,881 guineas ($170,341), and the median was 75,000 guineas ($125,145).
Compared to 2009, when 153 yearlings were sold, the gross fell 13.8% from 17,723,000 guineas. The average declined 7.7% from 115,837 guineas. The median was the same.
The clearance rate slipped from 75.7% (for 202 horses offered) in 2009 to 73% (for 196 yearlings offered).