(Edited Tattersalls press release)
Book 3 of the Tattersalls October yearling sale started Oct. 15 in England with declines from the previous year of 8.5% in gross revenue, 17.4% in average price, and 12.5% in median price. The buy-back rate fell from 31.9% in 2008 to 23% this year.
A Shamardal colt was the most expensive horse sold, bringing 50,000 guineas from Blandford Bloodstock’s Richard Brown, who outlasted trainer Marco Botti. Bred by Crone Stud Farms in Ireland and consigned by John Cullinan’s Horse Park Stud, the chestnut yearling is out of the 12-year-old Salse mare Ridotto, who was winless in four career races. He is a half-brother to four winners, including Salsa Brava (by Almutawakel), who finished second in the Jaguar Lowther (Eng-II) and Chippenham Lodge Stud Cherry Hinton (Eng-II) Stakes and third in the Albany Stakes in 2004.
The results for the first session included a gross of 1,842,300 guineas for the 194 yearlings that sold. The average was 9,496 guineas, and the median was 7,000 guineas. Last year, the 175 horses that sold grossed 2,012,500 guineas and averaged 11,500 guineas. The median was 8,000 guineas.
