Five Sell for Over 1 Million in Strong Yearling Sale at Tattersalls

The directors of Tattersalls in Newmarket must have been delighted to see their premises fill up with the great and good of the bloodstock world for their three day October part 1 yearling sale bonanza. This catalogue featured the best yearlings Europe has on offer and maybe the world in terms of pedigrees of the participants, and with future potential equine stars appearing from breeders around the globe.

There were many yearlings on offer closely related to top class classic and group winners or out of dams which were the top racehorses in their heyday – one in every ten yearlings in fact of the 502 catalogued. All the right people had returned to Park Paddocks for the sumptuous feast of yearling bloodstock – so different from last year with a world pandemic in full flight! Sheikh Mohammed, the domo of Godolphin Racing was at the sales himself, conducting the operation of his trainers and agents looking and purchasing on his behalf. As was the other world bloodstock camp with John Magnier from The Coolmore Group conducting a similar musical operation.

The top trainers and agents, all eager to give their advice to the men with the capias millions to spend – all of them in little groups huddled around each other in close conversation. Then, there are the select band of trainers and agents from both the United States and Japan and other countries – all eagle eyed for that champion. The world and his wife were once again gathered at Newmarket, including of course, smaller British trainers looking for some crumb the big boys have missed and making their purchase of a champion of their own; assuming that is they can afford it.

There were just two groups left – the vendors, all nervous in the hope that the expenses they have paid out for the best stallions and the care and attention they have lavished on them for the past eighteen months while the juvenile equine delinquents were in their charge. All hoping that it will all have been worth it with the promise of a great fat cheque! The final group present was those just there to look and be nosey, the likes of me in fact, fascinated in watching how the other half live and operate and hoping to see some spectacular theatre in the sale ring.

It was a sale for fillies, which attracted the largest sums of money. Ten years ago, you couldn’t give a filly away, but now if they are well bred, they are seen as an investment as they always have the brood mare potential should they fail to win any races. It always amazes me how the bloodstock market is so adept at ignoring economic reality worldwide and still keeps on steadily increasing in value. This week was no exception to that rule. Tattersalls put together a strong but also workman like catalogue this year with fewer horses than usual and no real absolute outstanding lot. It was a catalogue that everyone in the industry could work with and the sale was strong and posted some outstanding returns for some vendors. It should be forgotten however, that, although to most, the prices realised were a ridiculous self-indulgence of the very wealthy, for many vendors, the stud fee to conceive these yearlings was well into six figures, so profits were not necessarily that forthcoming for some.

The first lot strode proudly into the sales arena, a March born colt by Kingman out of Eartha Kit, herself a listed winner and group placed. Edmond Mahony, Tattersalls chairman and senior auctioneer explained the rules and regulations to the assembled crowd before introducing the lot in front of him, and after some keen bidding, the colt left with a price tag of 525,000 guineas – all within three minutes. First blood to The Sheikh for Godolphin. Another 15 lots passed through, many making in excess of six figures when a filly this time, by Australia out of Falling Petais, the dam of last weekend Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes winner Saffron Beach, sold for 450,000gns. By the time lot 39 arrived, a Showcasing colt and a full brother to Advertise, the Group 1 winner of the Commonwealth Stakes at Royal Ascot, yearlings had already found buyers from the USA, Australia, Japan, France, Ireland and the UK. Lot 39 actually made 450,000gns. Ten lots later, Godolphin struck once again paying out 725,000 guineas for a March born colt by Lope de Vega out of multiple Group winner God Given. The colt’s second dam was the mother of Postponed, who wouldn’t have done his price any harm. Lot 63 saw the first of four offerings from Justify, the USA Triple Crown Winner and now a stallion standing in the USA. The colt’s dam is Hourglass, and although not a winner herself, this is her first foal and she is a half-sister to retired sire sensation Shamardal. The colt went for 450,000gns to American interests. The very next lot, a filly by Lope de Vega out of How, a full sister to Minding, Empress Josephine and Kissed by Angels, went for 475,000 to Godolphin. Next of value was the first of the Dubawi off-spring – an April born colt with a rather ordinary female pedigree, but with a mother who was a group winner, American bred J Wonder this one joined the 450,000gns tribe. Fittocks Stud provided lot 101, a late April born Galileo colt out of a Group winning mare, Koora and dam of a Group winner, he saw a price tag of 600,000 guineas to M.V. Magnier of Coolmore. The same purchaser also paid another 650,000gns for another Galileo colt a few lots later. This colt is out of Lightening Thunder, who was placed second in both the English  and Irish Guineas in her day with a rather uninteresting back pedigree, but he was a good looking February colt with early promise.

Next, an April born filly consigned from Germany lit up the sale room leaving with the top price of the day, 825,000 guineas paid by Cheveley Park Stud. She is by No Nay Never and a full sister to Arizona and Nay Lady Nay, both Group winners and out of Lady Ederle who was placed once in her racing days in the USA. Juddmonte Farms, not known for buying yearlings, (they breed plenty of them themselves) came close to paying the top price of the day for a filly by Dubawi, led out at 800,000gns. The filly is out of Longina, a German Group winner in her time. The main attraction of this pedigree is the solid German element – win, lose or draw on the racecourse, she will always be easy to mate as she is clear of any Galileo blood. Simon Mockeridge, of Juddmonte farms explained after the purchase that although it has been sad with the passing of Khalid Abdullah earlier in the year, the organisations commitment to racing remained as strong as ever and this year they had decided to try to buy some really good fillies to out cross with their stallions when the time came. Juddmonte stand both Frankel and Kingman at their Banstead Manor Stud. Getting towards the end of the first day’s sale, in walked another Galileo, this time a January born filly out of Miss France, a classic winner (1000 Guineas). The Coolmore boss was in attendance to procure the winning bid of 625,000 guineas.

The second day saw a slower start to proceedings. After 23 lots in for the day, the Newsells Park Stud, who had a plethora of top bred yearlings at this sale presented a Dubawi filly out of the American bred Peace In Motion, a group winner herself. The filly realised 400,000 guineas, brought by Manor House Stud. Ten lots later, the Minster Stud, owned by retired jockey Willie Carson had another Dubawi, this time a colt born in early April. He was out of a German bred mare Phiz who herself was a Group placed filly. The second dam, Peace Time, another German mare was the dam of four pattern race winners. The colt was another Godolphin purchase for 425,000gns. After another half hour of selling and fifteen lots later, in came yet another Dubawi to collect some of the top money around. Consigned by Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s Watership Down Stud, a nursery well known for producing the best, this was a filly out of Priceless, a winner of a Group 2 and a couple of listed races in the UK. The vendor saw 400,000 guineas for this one, who now is off to be trained in the United States by Chad Brown. The next big sale worthy of note was purchased by Alex Elliott to stay in training in the UK with Ralph Beckett. He had to pay 800,000 guineas to procure this Galileo filly out of Quiet Oasis for a new owner in racing. The filly is well enough bred being a full sister to Lancaster House, twice winner of the Gladness Stakes in Ireland. Quiet Oasis was a double Group winner in the States and this late April yearling is her fourth. A few lots later, David Redvers had to stump up 450,000gns for a colt by a horse Redvers knew very well, Roaring Lion, sadly departed as a young stallion last year. The colt was out of Reckoning, a listed place mare herself but the dam of two Group performers; Subjectivist, winner of the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup and Sir Ron Priestley, winner of the Princess of Wales Stakes recently. Both horses really freshened this pedigree up. The bigger prices were coming thick and fast by now as only four lots later, yet another filly hit the top notes with Glen Hill Farm from the United States having to pay 650,000gns for the Kingman out of Ring The Bell; unplaced herself but the pedigree read well enough with recent winners like Hydrangea (The Champions Mile at Ascot Group 1), the classic winning Hermosa. (1000 Guineas at Newmarket) and The United States, another Group 1 victor in Australia. M.V. Magnier brought the next Galileo, another filly for 540,000gns, a couple of lots later. This filly is out of the unraced mare Rock Orchid, but her dam was responsible for Dancing Rain, winner of the Epsom Oaks and Sumora a decent pattern race two year old. Both these fillies have also produced pattern horses themselves, so a modern pedigree with plenty going on. Although the strong market kept up its momentum, there was a short lull in the big prices. The next was another Dubawi, (lot 265). This March born colt was taken home by Godolphin for 625,000 guineas. He is out of Serenas Storm, who was unraced, but is also the dam of Group performers, Rizeena, champion 2 year old in Ireland in 2013 and Summer Romance, Group 2 winner this year in Meydan in the UAE. Just two lots later, a Frankel colt strode into the arena, out of Group winning Shadow Hunter. M.V. Magnier took this one for a mere 450,000gns to join the Coolmore horses. Lot 274 was a Kingman colt born in March and this was one of our top horses of the whole sale, with others to follow, but this was a half-brother to the wonderful Snow Lantern, winner of the Falmouth Stakes Group 1 this year. His dam of course being Sky Lantern, herself the Champion filly of 2013 winning classics and group races. The colt was sold to Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock for 625,000 guineas. Just three lots later, the sales ring went to a hush as a Sea The Stars colt from Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s Watership Down Stud entered the fray.

The homebred out of So Mi Dar, a group winner herself strode round purposefully as the bidding climbed to 1.2 Million. The grandson of Dar Re Mi, winner of the Yorkshire Oaks and dam of Champion miler in Europe only two years ago, Too Darn Hot together with other serious black type horses was purchased by Charlie Gordon Watson for American owner and former USA ambassador to the UK Bill Farish. The Watership Down Stud owner arrived just in time to see his colt sell – by taxi from London! By this stage in the sale, it was becoming clear that the interests from the United States were very real and they were more than happy to put their money where their mouths are! After the excitement of the first million guinea yearling, the next up of some note was an Invisible Spirit filly, again going to the States care of Ben McElroy. He had to pay 480,000gns for this filly out of Sparkling Turf. Although she didn’t cause the judge any worries on the racecourse, her dam is Shimmering Turf, Group winner herself and dam of Kitesurf, Group 1 winner in ParisLongchamp. Lot 305 was the next to see the 400,000gns mark surpassed with another filly, this time by Lope de Vega, a sire who has had tremendous sales of his off-spring. This filly realised 475,000 to Al Shira’aa Farms. She is out of Sweepstake, a pattern winner herself and the dam of Broome who only recently this year won the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud a Group 1 and some fancied him for the Arc last weekend. The next to make some serious money was a Sea The Stars filly out of Time Control a winner and dam of Cursory Glance, winner of the Moyglare Stud Stakes (Group 1) at two years. She also won a couple of other Group race in Ireland. This yearling was purchased for 680,000gns by One Agency. Only a couple of lots later in came another Sea The Stars colt. He was out Turret Rocks, who was the winner of the May Hill Stakes (Group 2) and was placed in several group races and this was her first foal. He was sold to M.V Magnier for the Coolmore group who finally got the better of Godolphin in an old fashioned bidding scrap between the two bloodstock empires. The final two lots of the day took over 400,000 each. The first was a colt by Siyouni out of a French bred mare Vorda, who was champion 2 year old in France in 2013. She is also the dam of Saiga, a listed winner in France last year. This colt made 425,000gns and was sold to Godolphin. The final lot of the day was a Sea The Stars filly out of Waila, a pattern race winner herself but as yet has not produced a winner from 3 possible foals. This filly went to Oliver St Lawrence for 450,000gns – a rather over inflated price in my opinion.

And so to the final day; Alistair Pim was the first on the rostrum today and after his announcements of the day as to how the sale would be conducted, in came a lovely filly from Newsells Park Stud – a Dubawi filly out of Waldierche born in February. This one is a half sister to Waldgeist, winner of the Arc de Triomphe in 2020 as well as Waldlied  and Waldkonig – all Group winners so this filly was bound to make a lot, even if she was the first offering of the day. Pim had to work hard, and it was beginning to look like he would not attain his opening value of 800,000, as his opening gambit, but he did surpass the figure and the filly was led out as the top price of the sale so far at 1.25 million. She was brought by Al Shira’aa Farms. The next one also took the eye, a colt by Kingman from the same family as the previous lot and Mike Ryan took this one home to the USA for 425,000gns. Lot 353 was the next to accomplish a decent return. This was a Kodiac colt out of Zykina, one of the younger members of the well known Cheveley Park families – Russian Rhythm who were consigners of the February born colt. It made 420,000gns to Chauvigny Global equine, a French bloodstock agency. Thady Gosden brought the Frankel filly out of Alienate, a three parts sister to 2020’s St Ledger winner and Champion 3 year old stayer – Logician. He had to pay 650,000gns for her. The very next lot saw 750,000 guineas paid for a Galileo colt out of Aljazzi, a Group 2 winner herself and was purchased by Hadden Bloodstock. Another filly to make her mark in the saleroom was by No Nay Never out of French bred mare Alta Anna. The yearling is a half-sister to both Bolshoi Ballet, Group 1 winner at Belmont Park and Southern France (Group 2 winner). Al Shira’aa Farms certainly came with their cheque books as they snapped this one up for 950,000 guineas. M.V. Magnier had been quiet for too long and the own brother to three times champion Sprinter Battaash was snapped up by the Irishman for 750,000gns. Two lots later, he snapped up another yearling, this time by Galileo out of Anthem Alexander, a Queen Mary winner at Royal Ascot among other 2 year old triumphs. He had had to pay 1.1 million guineas for this filly. One of the better priced colts of this week was the Godolphin purchase of a Frankel colt for 900,000gns. He is out of As Good As Gold a three parts brother to Eminent, successful in Group company in both the UK and France. Godolphin then spent another 625,000 for another Frankel colt, this time out of Auld Alliance – a half-sister to Golan and Tartan Bearer. Finally, the sale was within 100 lots of the end, and purchasers were starting to panic that they would not procure the yearling of their dream as the market was so strong. This had the effect of making the market even stronger.

Lot 411, a filly by Sea The Stars showed just what a good walker she is while walking around the sales arena, Not that Godolphin would have seen this as they were bidding for all their horses outside the sale room and all wearing masks, something which most did not. Anyway, they secured the filly for the sale’s top price of 1.5 million guineas. The filly is out of Best Terms another winner of The Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, and dam of Star Terms Mayhill winner at Doncaster. This was another old fashioned dual between Coolmore and Godolphin with the latter taking the spoils. It was rumoured that Juddmonte Farms were also playing on this filly in the early bidding. In a final run of massive prices, Godolphin struck again, this time for a Kingman colt out of Bristol Bay for 750,000 guineas. Although the mare is not a winner, she is the dam of Bay Of Poets who has scored on occasions over a mile in pattern race contests. Although, after this one went through the ring the prices were plenty high enough, the steam for the really expensive yearlings had dissipated somewhat.  However there were two more yearlings of note, one a son of Cracksman who was pin hooked for 95,000gns in December last year. He turned a profit of over 300,000 when selling to Winfield Bloodstock for 410,000gns. His pedigree is not that brilliant, but had been well refreshed this year with two Group performers, Fearby and Beau Recall. The dam Coolminx was pattern race placed. The final lot of high flying interest was a few lots from the end of the sale when a Kodiac filly out of Diaminda sold for 470,000 guineas to Westberg Bloodstock. Rather like the Cracksman just mentioned, there was little on the pedigree page save for Lusail, 2 year old winner of the Group 2 July Stakes this year.

The sale stats showed the strength and depth of the market with buyers from all over the world and trainers from the UK being able to pick up decent horses for priced ranging from 20,000 to 1.5 million. The Newsells Park Stud again topped the charts, with 22 yearling sold. They were the top vendors earning a total of 10.75 million from the total aggregate of 86.369 million guineas, slightly down from 2020 levels, but there were fewer horses catalogued. The average was up slightly at 230,317gns, up 3% but the median, a better marker of sales stats in our view was up considerably to 160,000gns up 23%. There were 452 yearlings offered for sale with 375 of them finding new addresses. (up from 79% in 2020 to 83% this year.) The top purchaser was Godolphin spending 9.375 million on 15 lots. The second top purchaser was M.V. Magnier for Coolmore with 12 lots and 6.575 million and with 19 lots purchased, Blandford Bloodstock brought the highest number of horses for a total of 4.647 million.

Pictures courtesy Goldeneye Photography and Tattersalls 

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