The gross revenue increased 40.2% from a year ago and the average price rose 3% during the Tattersalls February mixed sale in England.
Rhythm Queen, a 4-year-old daughter of Danehill Dancer, was the most expensive horse sold Feb. 4, bringing 65,000 guineas ($92,251 in U.S. funds). Bloodstock agent Dwayne Woods, who purchased her for Stobart Transport’s Andrew Tinkler, held off another agent, Cormac McCormack, in the bidding. The brown filly will be sent to Woods’ Brook Stud near Newmarket.
Consigned by John Troy, Rhythm Queen failed to win in her two career races in 2009. She finished seventh in a 16-horse field at 10 1/2 furlongs and fifth, beaten by four lengths, against 13 rivals at 10 furlongs.
Rhythm Queen is out of the winning Old Vic mare Flawly, who finished second in the Prix de Royaumont (Fr-III) and Garden City Breeders’ Cup Handicap (gr. IT) in 2000. Flawly also was third in the 2000 Prix Minerve (Fr-III).
Rhythm Queen is a half-sister to Best Name (by King's Best), who scored in the Prix du Prince d’Orange (Fr-III) and the Prix Francois Mathet in 2006. In addition, Best Name finished second in the 2006 Prix du Jockey Club Mitsubishi Motors (Fr-I) and the 2005 Prix de Conde (Fr-III).
The gross for the 147 horses that sold during the February auction was $991,500 guineas ($1,663,032). The average was 6,745 guineas ($11,314), and the median was 3,500 guineas ($5,871), equaling 2009’s comparable figure. The other 2009 results included gross of 707,100 guineas and an average of 6,547 guineas for the 108 horses that sold. The clearance rate fell from 69.7% last year to 63.1% this year.
“The recurring theme of recent sales of this nature has been the sustained global demand for quality and that has very much been the feature of today’s sale,” said Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony.
“It would be fair to say that this was not a vintage February sale catalogue, but there was plenty of competition for quality lots and the usual combination of domestic and international demand that typifies so many sales at Tattersalls. The market does, however, remain selective, which serves as a reminder that we still face testing times. Nevertheless, turnover (gross) and average have both shown increases on last year’s February sale and without doubt, there will be success stories to emerge from today’s sale to go with the three 2009 group I producers purchased at previous Tattersalls February sales.”