A Galileo filly brought 1.2 million guineas ($1,993,173 in U.S. funds) to top the opening session of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October yearling sale in England. But her big price didn’t provide a big enough boost Oct. 5 to push the key business figures above last year’s results. The gross revenue, average price, and median price fell 11.4%, 8.4%, and 17.5%, respectively.
Tattersalls reported that Coolmore Stud’s John Magnier was the buyer of the expensive filly in a press release, but listed Coolmore agent Demi O’Byrne as the purchaser on the summary sheet for the first session. Seamus Burns’ Ireland-based Lodge Park Stud bred and consigned the striking bay.
Grant Pritchard-Gordon, who was standing alongside Paul Makin, and Charlie Gordon-Watson also tried to buy the filly, which is a half sister to Janood (by Medicean), who captured this year’s Matalan Washington Singer Stakes in England.
Their winning dam, Alluring Park (by Green Desert), finished third in the Aga Khan Studs Blenheim and Rochestown Stakes in 2001 in Ireland. She is out of English and Irish champion and Irish Broodmare of the Year Park Express (by Ahonoora) and is a half sister to European champions New Approach (by Galileo) and Dazzling Park (by Warning). Alluring Park also is a full sister to Japanese group I winner Shinko Forest.
"I only had her reserved at 300,000 guineas, and even though I have been in this game a long time, you never quite know what is going happen,” said Burns of the session-topping filly. “But I have always felt that she is the nicest I have ever bred. It is rare for things to click together so well."
The results for the opening session included a gross of 14,921,000 guineas ($24,783,360) for the 146 horses that sold. The average was 102,199 guineas ($169,750) and the median was 66,000 guineas ($109,624). The clearance rate was 75.6%.
Last year, when 151 horses were sold, the gross was 16,840,000 guineas. The average was 111,523 guineas and the median was 80,000 guineas. The clearance rate was 74.8%.