Tattersalls rebranded October Yearling Sale (Part One) started on a high Tuesday, with records being posted all round. The top-priced yearling, a French-bred colt by Kingmambo out of Irtifa set a new record for the sale when bought for 525,000 guineas by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, surpassing the previous best of 475,000 guineas set by a Danehill filly two years ago.
New consignors European Sales Management, run by Frenchmen Eric Puerari and Marc de Chambure with Florida-based Michel Zerolo, consigned the top lot. Trainers for Sheikh Hamdan's sale purchases are decided at the end of the sales season.
The day's turnover of 14,180,500 guineas was up 27% on last year, the average of 76,239guineas rose by 32% and the median of 58,000 guineas by 38%. All three figures are records while there were 54 six-figure lots, compared to 29 on the same day last year and 67 in the total 2002 sale.
Lady Chryss O'Reilly, who breeds through Castlemartin Stud and Skymarc Farms, paid 260,000 guineas through the Curragh Bloodstock Agency's Eamonn Reilly to purchase a Danzero half-sister to her Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Rebelline.
"The filly will be going into training with (Rebelline's trainer) Kevin Prendergast and Rebelline was obviously the attraction," said O'Reilly.
Charlie Gordon-Watson was the day's biggest spender with 15 lots knocked down to the London agent for a total of 1,627,000guineas.
