Book Two of Tattersalls’ October yearling sale, concluded Oct. 17, posted a 23,907,500 guineas aggregate, up 18% from 2006. The average of 50,544 guineas was up 15% and the median advanced 3%, to 35,000 guineas.
Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Shadwell Estates was by far the sale’s biggest buyer. The final day’s purchases - which included five of the top eight lots - were headed by a second-crop Nayef filly out of listed-placed Classical Dancer (Dr Fong), who cost 300,000 guineas.
Shortly beforehand, a duel between Gold and trainer Bryan Smart helped a son of Nayef - who had been bought for just 16,000 guineas as a foal last year - show a big advance on that price, making 280,000 guineas when consigned from Snailwell Stud.
John Magnier’s son MV signed for a 230,000 guineas Peintre Celebre colt consigned and bred by Dermot and Perle O’Rourke’s Plantation Stud, on whom John Warren was underbidder.
At the close of play, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said, "We were pleased with the way Book One went last week and equally pleased with the last two days, which have also exceeded expectations by some considerable margin.
"At the end of last week it became clear talking to the trainers and agents that the strong Book One trade had left many of them with more orders to fill going into this week than they had expected. Without doubt, this has driven the sustained demand we have witnessed throughout Book Two.
"A measure of the strength of Books One and Two is the total turnover in comparison with recent years. We have added more than 13-million guineas to the turnover (than) at the equivalent stage last year, and more like 27-million guineas to the 2004 equivalent. These are big figures and an average for Book Two of over 50,000 guineas is equally impressive.
"The key has been the quality of the yearlings offered in both Books One and Two, as well as the format of the two weeks, which has attracted a wide cross-section of buyers from start to finish. It all bodes well for a successful Book Three, which starts Wednesday at 9:30 a.m."