Complete Results
The Tattersalls Breeze-Up Sale concluded in Newmarket, England Thursday with decreases in average and median prices. Tattersalls reported 110 horses sold for a total 2,577,600 guineas, compared with the 3,843,500 guineas gross last year. This year's average price of 23,432 guineas represented a 6.11% decline from last year's 24,957 guineas average. The median fell 15% to 17,000 guineas.Although the numbers were down, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said the sales company was satisfied with the results, considering the potential impact that the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease could have had on the auction."Bearing in mind the climate of uncertainty that has overshadowed the lead up to the Breeze-Up Sale we would have to be satisfied with the results," Mahony said. "With the foot and mouth outbreak at the forefront of everybody's minds it has not been the most straightforward sale to promote, and recent import restrictions imposed in certain key countries have undoubtedly not helped, but the average price has held up remarkably well in spite of everything."Mahony noted that even without foot-and-mouth disease concerns, the sales company faced a challenge in trying to top last year's record sale."Even without the various problems last year's spectacular sale was always going to be a hard act to follow, but the vendors have sent some quality two year olds with international pedigrees and it is only the second time that the average has broken through the 20,000 guineas barrier," Mahony said. "The top of the market has shown great resilience with buyers from Hong Kong and Japan making a significant impact backed up by solid domestic demand, while another encouraging feature has been the number of two year olds heading for Greece following a recent promotional visit."The second and concluding session of the sale was topped by a Fraam colt produced from the Pharly mare Fading, purchased by C. G. Davey for 70,000 guineas from the consignment of Eddie O'Leary.
