Hydrogen lights up the board at Tattersalls October

A sensational week of trade at Tattersalls for Book 1 of the October Yearling

Sale was capped when the Galileo half-brother to Group 1 Epsom Derby winner

Authorized was sold for 2,5 million guineas to David Redvers, acting on behalf

of Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani. The sale represented the highest price for a yearling

in the world this year and the third highest-priced yearling colt ever in

Europe.

The final day saw a total of 139 lots sell for 20,064,500 guineas, at an

average of 144,349 guineas and a median of 85,000 guineas. This took the full

sale turnover to 68,102,500 guineas for the 418 lots sold, which makes it the

highest grossing yearling sale in European auction history. The average for the

three-day sale was also a new record at 162,925 guineas, a rise of 15 percent on

last year's figures, whilst the median stayed the same at 100,000 guineas,

equally the record.

Catalogued as Lot No. 557, and already named HYDROGEN, the bay colt out of

the unraced Funsie (Saumarez) was the talk of the paddocks prior to his entry

into the ring, and did not disappoint. Interest came from trainers William

Haggas and Jeremy Noseda as well as Mandore International's Nicholas de

Watrigant as the price rose past 1 million guineas, before Coolmore's John

Magnier and Redvers entered the fray.

That pair went head-to-head as the price rose to 2.5 million guineas, with

Magnier finally waving the white flag.

Sheikh Fahad, the young member of Qatar's royal family, has invested heavily

in bloodstock in recent years and, equally importantly, has given racing in

Britain a shot in the arm with his backing, along with his brothers of the QIPCO

British Champions' Series.

"Tell them why you like him," Sheikh Fahad said to Redvers when facing the

press after being congratulated by the colt's breeder Paul Makin.

"Because you like him," the agent answered wisely but with a broad grin.

Sheikh Fahad, who divulged that he has not yet made a decision as to who will

train the colt, declared, "We came to buy the best and we bought the best. He's

a stallion in the making and we expected him to be the top lot without a doubt."

"It's an age-old cliche, but he's the complete package and all the best

judges were after him," added Redvers, appearing visibly shaken after his epic

bidding battle with Magnier. "I'm just incredibly lucky to have the best, most

enthusiastic but measured client in the business. I'm pinching myself really but

I truly believe that in the next five years we can go to some amazing places."

Hydrogen was consigned by The Castlebridge Consignment on behalf of breeder

Paul Makin, who purchased Funsie in a private deal and whose bloodstock

interests are managed by Badgers Bloodstock. Makin was understandably thrilled

with the result.

"I didn't try to anticipate what would happen. I paid a lot for the mare and

I do have three brothers at home and you can't keep them all...well, you can,

but really I wanted to try the discipline of selling one that I really like!"

Makin joked. "Usually I'm a bit of a hedonist, but I haven't bought anything

this time, which is a first, so now that I have sold one I am the complete

package! I just hope the horse goes on to excel for his new owner who is

terrific for racing in this country. They are positive people and I like that."

Makin also revealed that Funsie is once again in foal to the champion sire

Galileo, and is believed to be carrying a filly.

Mandore International's de Watrigant created the headlines last night when

buying the full sister to Was (Galileo) for 1,500,000 guineas right at the end

of the sale and the Frenchman struck again early on the second day when buying

another Galileo filly, this time Lot 403, for 700,000 guineas.

Consigned from The Castlebridge Consignment, the filly is out of Group

3-placed Arkadina (Danehill), who is a three-quarter sister to the 2009 Group 1

Irish One Thousand Guineas victress Again (Danehill Dancer). De Watrigant

secured the filly at the expense of agent Hugo Lascelles and indicated that she

was purchased for an existing client.

Magnier, who had been frustrated on several occasions on the final day of the

sale, secured Lot 560, an Oasis Dream colt out of the unraced Galaxy Highflyer

(Galileo) for 675,000 guineas. The Meon Valley Stud-consigned colt's second dam

is Group 1 Irish Oaks queen Colorspin (High Top), who also produced the Group

1-winning trio of Kayf Tara (Sadler's Wells), Opera House (Sadler's Wells) and

Zee Zee Top (Zafonic). The bay colt was knocked down to Magnier after he saw off

a determined bid by Waratah Thoroughbreds' Paul Fudge.

Earlier in the evening, Shadwell Estates' Angus Gold signed for a Dalakhani

filly out of Distinctive Look (Danehill). Consigned from Newsells Park Stud, Lot

508 hails from one of the hottest pedigrees in the book with his dam being a

half-sister to Group 1 winners Nathaniel (Galileo), Great Heavens (Galileo) and

Playful Act (Sadler's Wells); Group 2 scorers Percussionist (Sadler's Wells) and

Echoes in Eternity (Spinning World); and Group 3 victress Changing Skies

(Sadler's Wells).

"Pedigree!" Angus Gold stated. "Need I say any more?

"She is bred to be a mile and a half filly, she is going to take time but she

is a very attractive purchase for a stud such as Shadwell."

With 22 lots making 500,000gns or more in Book 1 compared to nine in 2011,

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony was quick to praise the vendors who sent the

company "the cream of the European yearling crop."

At the conclusion of Book 1 of the 2012 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale,

Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;

"Book 1 of last year's Tattersalls October Yearling Sale produced a

remarkable set of results with huge rises in average, median and turnover and,

even though we knew this was an exceptional catalog, it seems extraordinary that

we have bettered those figures this week," Mahony said. "Tribute really must be

paid to the vendors who yet again have enabled us to compile an outstanding

catalog for Europe's premier yearling sale. They have sent us the cream of the

European yearling crop and have been rewarded by a truly cosmopolitan cast of

buyers attracted to Park Paddocks by world class yearlings and a sale with a

reputation second to none for producing European classic and Group 1 winners.

"The statistics for this week's sale make impressive reading, especially in a

climate of continued economic uncertainty. The second smallest Book 1 catalog

has produced the highest ever turnover for this sale, the average has reached

unprecedented levels and Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale has produced the

highest priced yearling in the world this year.

"The 2,5 million guineas sale topping Galileo colt was the obvious highlight

of the sale, but the real feature has been the fierce and diverse competition at

the top of the market. We have had a record number of yearlings sell for 400,000

guineas or more -- 12 of them by the phenomenal Galileo -- and there have been

no less than 16 different buyers at this level.

"Our long standing clients, both domestic and overseas, have been as active,

if not more so, than ever, and buyers from established markets such as

Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, and the USA have been more prolific than in recent

years. In addition, the contribution from new or relatively new participants has

been a real source of encouragement for all involved in the industry. The Qatari

influence, in particular, has been immense and buyers from Malaysia, Russia,

South Africa and Turkey have all made a significant impact demonstrating the

enduring global appeal of European bloodstock and the Tattersalls October

Yearling Sale.

"Books 2 and 3 of the October Yearling Sale commence on Monday and we look

forward to sustaining the momentum from this week's successful sale," he

concluded.

Monday will mark the beginning of five consecutive days of selling at Park

Paddocks, with Book 2 of the October Sale running until Thursday and Book 3

taking place on Friday.

For complete results, please visit

tattersalls.com.