Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Ends With Record Average And Median

The 2002 Tattersalls October yearling sale ended Saturday with a record average of 43,076 guineas (+24% on 2001), a best ever median of 30,000 guineas (+43%), and a gross of 30,196,500 guineas (+16%) that had only been bettered once before.

This is Britain's most comprehensive yearling sale, and Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony reflected: "This has been a week for many in the racing and breeding industry to look back on with satisfaction. For the sale to achieve a 24% rise in average and a 43% rise in median is startling in itself, but for the 2002 sale to break the records set in 2000 is staggering. There are certain benchmark figures which you expect to see unchallenged for many years and the average price at the 2000 October Yearling Sale had leapt 62% from the 1999 levels. We were thrilled at the time, but also aware that such figures were unlikely to be matched for a very long time To surpass those figures in what has been an uncertain year in both global economic terms, and in the bloodstock world, is a massive tribute to the quality of the yearlings at the sale, to the sale's worldwide reputation, and also to the reduced numbers in the catalogue after the record numbers last year. We had to be stringent in the selection process this year and it has without doubt had a significant impact on the sale. Particularly satisfying has been the smooth transaction to the new format introduced this year, with the sale starting with the stronger lots. The level of demand has been consistent all week, and equally importantly the clearance rate has been hugely impressive."

Saturday's session was topped by a 52,000 guineas Zilzal colt that showed a handy advance on his 10,500 guineas foal price when sold to agent Amanda Skiffington. The Chilton Brook Stud offering will be trained in Berkshire by Denis Coakley for owner Chris van Hoorn.