Numbers decline for Book 1 of Tattersalls October Yearling sale

Numbers decline for Book 1 of Tattersalls October Yearling

sale

Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale concluded with a daughter of

Oasis Dream (GB) topping the score sheets but, despite the solid trade from the

first two days continuing, numbers dropped for both the session and Book 1.

The final session saw 143 lots change hands for 15,284,000 guineas, a decline

of 13.8 percent over last year when 153 yearlings were purchased for 17,723,000

guineas. The average of 106,881 guineas represented a drop of 7.7 percent over

the 2009 average of 115,837 guineas. The 75,000 guineas median remained steady.

The three-day sale saw 449 lots sell for 48,243,000 guineas, at an average of

107,445 guineas and a median of 70,000 guineas. Those numbers fell 10.2 percent,

5.2 percent and 10.3 percent, respectively, over the 2009 Book 1 figures of

53,735,000 guineas for 474 selling at an average of 113,365 guineas and a 78,000

guineas median.

One lot whose pedigree has seen numerous significant updates over the past 18

months is that of Lot No. 650, the Oasis Dream filly who topped the session. Out

of the unraced Daylami (Ire) mare Tariysha, the filly is a full sister to last

season's Prix Morny (Fr-G1) winner Arcano whilst her dam is a half-sister to the

dam of this year's Prix de l'Abbaye (Fr-G1) winner Gilt Edge Girl (Monsieur

Bond).

Blandford Bloodstock's Stuart Boman and the Stobart Group's Andrew Tinkler

both made early plays on the filly, who was bred and consigned by James Egan's

Corduff Stud in Ireland, before Charlie Gordon-Watson and Shadwell Estates'

Angus Gold both entered the fray. Gold proved successful when Gordon-Watson

refused to answer his bid of 700,000 guineas.

It came as no surprise that Sheikh Hamdan should take such an interest in the

filly as Arcano ran in the Sheikh's colors when successful in the Prix Morny

last year and is set to take up stud duties at his Derrinstown Stud in Ireland

in 2011.

It was certainly an enthralling few minutes in the Tattersalls sale ring in

the early evening as the lot before the session-topping Oasis Dream filly was

knocked down to Coolmore's John Magnier for 525,000 guineas. Consigned as Lot

649, the Montjeu (Ire) colt out of Group 3 heroine Tarfah (Kingmambo) saw Sir

Robert Ogden and Tinkler both make bold bids along with agent Alex Cole before

the trio were trumped by Magnier. The smart colt was consigned from Lady Carolyn

Warren's Highclere Stud.

The Coolmore supremo was very active during October 1 signing for 15

yearlings in all for 5,372,000 guineas either as himself or via Demi O'Byrne.

Bringing the second highest price of the session was a Galileo (Ire) filly

out of multiple Grade 1 queen Riskaverse (Dynaformer), consigned from Voute

Sales. Lot 548 sold for 600,000 guineas to the bid of Irish agent Hugo Merry.

Grant Pritchard Gordon, the Eishin Farm team from Japan, Catherine Duncan on

behalf of Qatari interests, Gordon-Watson and Michael Goodbody were all beaten

in the race to secure the filly. Merry indicated afterward that he had purchased

the filly on behalf of the Dubai-based businessman Jim Hay.

"I bought a couple for Dr. Hay last year and luckily they have been

successful," Merry said. "I identified a couple for him here and he kindly let

me bid on them. This filly will go into training with Paul Cole."

The filly has been purchased with a stud career in mind and Merry, who

already boards a couple of mares for Hay at his own Kilshannig Stud, is hoping

that the filly will come back to the farm once her racing days are over.

"Hopefully, Dr. Hay will become a successful owner-breeder in time!" Merry

smiled. "But there was plenty of interest in her and the market has been very

strong for the top lots, especially fillies. I have been trying to buy yearlings

for another client and we have plunged in deeper than we had planned and still

came up short."

"There is no doubt that we all still live in testing times but there have

been plenty of positives to take from this year's renewal of Europe' premier

yearling sale," Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said at the conclusion of

Book 1. "The response to the Book 1 catalog from the moment it was published

suggested that the top of the market would be as competitive as ever and it

would be fair to say that this sector of the market has exceeded expectations.

"As soon as the yearlings arrived here at Park Paddocks the buyers were quick

to praise the overall quality and the trade over the past three days has

endorsed their views. While some of the traditional superpowers have been more

restrained than in recent years the feature of the sale has been the number of

new or relatively new faces from Britain and further afield making a significant

impact.

"The diversity of the international participation has been particularly

heartening. To have had buyers from Abu Dhabi, Australia, Dubai, Hong Kong,

Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Turkey and the

USA all active at the top of the market is a clear demonstration of why October

1 is the sale of choice for so many European consignors.

"The strength of the sale lies in the consistent quality of the catalog. Year

after year the vendors bring the cream of the European yearling crop to October

Book 1. It is their continued support which attracts the world's leading owners

to this fixture every year and also makes it the first priority for new

participants in the sport.

"To have sold the first seven figure yearling in Europe since 2007 was an

obvious highlight of the sale and it has been gratifying to have so many owners

and trainers enthusing about the £1,750,000 Tattersalls Millions race series,"

Mahony concluded. "It would, however, be wrong to pretend that it has all been

plain sailing this week. The market remains selective as we still contend with

the large pre-recession foal crops. Nevertheless the industry can take heart

from Book 1 of the 2010 October Yearling Sale. Last year's October 1

significantly outperformed the overall market and this year's figures are only

slightly down on those returns, but most importantly the sale has demonstrated

an enduring global demand for quality yearlings and an enduring appetite for a

great sport."

Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale starts Monday.