When Tattersalls dropped the final gavel on its Craven breeze up sale, the Newmarket, England-based auctioneer had completed a two-day sale in which key statistical figures soared to record levels.
Tattersalls reported 98 juveniles traded hands for gross receipts of 14,120,000gns (US$19,038,069), a record that exceeded the previous mark set in 2008 by more than 2 million guineas. The average and median also established new records, increasing 30% and 42% to 144,082gns ($194,266) and 110,000gns ($148,313), respectively, over the 2016 sale. There were 57 horses sold for 100,000gns or more, exceeding the previous record of 40 also in 2008.
"To see the average and median increase by such wide margins is a clear indication of the extraordinary strength of demand at the top of the market, and the equally extraordinary growth in this sector of the European bloodstock market,” Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said. “Owners, trainers and agents from all over the world target the Craven breeze up sale because it consistently produces top-class racehorses, and the combination of regular buyers competing with new faces has produced a sale of sustained strength from start to finish."
Topping the April 19 second session and the sale was a 2-year-old Kentucky-bred son of the deceased stallion Scat Daddy, purchased by David Redvers for 675,000gns (US$910,106) from Jim McCarten’s Gaybrook Lodge Stud. Bred in Kentucky by Rosemont Farm, the sale-topper is a half brother to Irish group 3 winner Great White Eagle, a daughter of Elusive Quality who herself topped the Craven sale in 2013 when purchased by Jamie McCalmont Bloodstock for 760,000gns ($1,225,808).
The colt had been bought back for $65,000 when offered by Trackside Farm at the 2016 Keeneland September yearling sale. Gender Dance, the winning daughter of Miesque’s Son who produced the colt and Great White Eagle, was bought by Ballyduance Stud for $7,000 from the Trackside Farm consignment to the 2016 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale.
"When people buy the sale topper, they always come out with the cliches that they thought it was the best horse in the sale, and that it ticked all the boxes," said Redvers, who had to fend off underbidder Richard Knoght and stiff competition from others, including Florida-based Justin Casse. "This horse had some minor issues as a yearling, but he has proved that he can gallop. He has a great mind and this sale has been tremendously successful for us.
"We are delighted to have bought him, and in fact are quite surprised to have managed to get him. He is exactly the sort of horse we are looking for. He will be trained in Newmarket."
The second top price for the day was 400,000 guineas ($539,322) for a Siyouni colt out of the Shirocco mare Acentela, consigned from Church Farm & Horse Park Stud. The sale was a massive pinhooking triumph after being purchased for €62,000 as a yearling. He will go into training with Kevin Ryan.
"It is more than we thought we'd have to pay, but the market is savage and if you want horses you have to get involved," Hillen said. "All the rumors ahead of this sale were correct and it has proved to be strong with lots of new people involved."
