Yearling Galileo colt sets European record

The European record for a yearling was shattered on the opening day of Book 1

of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when a Galileo full brother to Epsom

Oaks runner-up Secret Gesture was sold to John Magnier for 3,600,000 guineas.

The sale represents a record for a yearling in Europe, eclipsing the

3,400,000 guineas paid for the subsequent Group 1 winner River Dancer at the

Tattersalls Houghton Yearling Sale in 2000. The sale also represents the highest

price for a yearling in the world in 2013, with 3.6 million guineas equivalent

to $6,000,000 and 4,500,000 Euros.

David Redvers stunned the packed auditorium when he opened the bidding on the

colt, out of the mare Shastye (Danehill), at 1,000,000 guineas. This was soon

countered by John Magnier, with the pair swapping 200,000-guinea bids until

Sheikh Fahad took over the reins from his bloodstock manager. Despite bidding

3.5 million guineas he was unwilling to increase the final bid made by Magnier.

The colt was consigned by Jacobs Family's Newsells Park Stud which is managed

by Julian Dollar.

“He has the pedigree, he ticks all the right boxes, he is by Galileo out of a

Danehill mare -- let's hope he has an engine," M.V. Magnier said. "Galileo, of

course, speaks for himself, but you 'd never think you'd have to go that far."

The opening day saw rises across the board with a total of 124 lots sold for

26,319,000 guineas, a rise of 14 percent on the opening session in 2012. The

average and median both rose 28 percent and 7 percent to 212,250 guineas and

117,500 guineas, respectively. The turnover for the day was the highest for Book

1 of the October Yearling since its inception in 2003.