Sadler's Wells Filly Stands Out at Tattersalls

Fillies by Sadler's Wells and Key of Luck topped the final day of the Tattersalls October yearling sale part 1, realizing 1.2 million guineas and 900,000 guineas, respectively. In all on Friday in England, 100 horses sold for 14,332,000 guineas, at an average of 143,320 guineas and a median of 87,500 guineas. The four-day sale saw 432 lots sold for 55,035,000 guineas, the second highest turnover for a yearling sale in Europe, at an average of 127,396 guineas and a median of 82,000 guineas.

The bay Sadler's Wells filly is out of the Darshaan mare Time Away, a group III winner. The filly is an own-sister to this year's group II Prix de Malleret winner Time On. Consigned from agent Jamie Railton, the filly saw interest from agent John Warren and Coolmore Stud managing partner John Magnier, but neither could match the efforts of London-based agent Charlie Gordon-Watson who purchased her on behalf of a new client.

Gordon-Watson also signed for the Key of Luck filly, which is out of the Caerleon mare Alleluia. Consigned from Sonia Rogers' Airlie Stud, the half-sister to this year's group II Lancashire Oaks winner Allegrettos hails from the one of the best families in the stud book, with group I winners Aussie Rules, Albanova, Alborada, Yesterday, and Quarter Moon all out of half-sisters to Alleluia. Enthusiam the filly was understandably high, with bloodstock agents James Wigan, Anthony Stroud, Dick O'Gorman, and Brian Grassick all signaling their interest during bidding, but none could match the efforts of Gordon-Watson whose bid of 900,000 guineas landed the filly on behalf of the same client as that of the top lot.

"The 2005 Tattersalls October yearling sales were hugely successful and were always going to be hard acts to follow. but the average and median prices this week have held up well and the turnover is second only to last year's record levels with a marginally smaller catalogue," said Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony. "In the course of the week, there have been some notable highlights with two seven figure transactions including the highest priced yearling colt sold in Europe this year, some major pinhooking triumphs, and sustained demand for well bred fillies from start to finish. It has not, however, always been a straightforward week, and while the top of the market has been very strong, we would have liked to have seen a little more depth to the middle market."