Record Breaking Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Book 1 Concludes

The remarkable trade continued on the third and final day at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale with two sons of FRANKEL headlining the session on a day that saw a further 24 yearlings sell for 500,000 guineas or more, taking the three-session total to 73. Turnover for the three day sale was a record 126,671,000 guineas, up a massive 47% on last year’s sale, whilst the average and median rose by 30% and 25% respectively to 298,752 guineas and 200,000 guineas, both records.

FRANKEL was a superstar on the racecourse and looks to have transferred that superiority to the breeding shed, breaking all records so far in his stud career and already the sire of a remarkable eight top level winners in 2022. He has five of the top ten prices at this year’s October Book 1 Sale including today’s top two lots.  

Richard Knight Signs for Frankel Colt at 2,000,000 Guineas  

The highest priced lot for the day was the FRANKEL colt out of SEA THE STARS mare BOLD LASS who sold for 2,000,000 guineas to the bid of agent Richard Knight after he saw off trainer Charlie Appleby, standing with the Godolphin team.  

Consigned by Watership Down Stud on behalf of breeder Bjorn Nielsen, the colt is a half-brother to the Listed placed AMNIARIX out of a daughter of MY BRANCH, the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes second and Irish 1000 Guineas third and dam of Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup winner TANTE ROSE.  

"He is obviously a Frankel," said Knight when explaining the reasons for the purchase. "He is a scopey, quality colt - I went down and saw him again this morning and he was very relaxed. He is a very athletic horse, he vetted well, the dam has produced a 100+ rated horse already and he comes from a nice family. He is just a lovely colt. It was the top of our budget and where we saw we'd have to go to get him.  

"We were underbidder on a filly yesterday by Frankel and they are as hot as anything and hard to buy. We were well aware we'd have to pay a good price to get him."  

When explaining the strength of the market here, Knight said: "There is a beautiful bunch of horses here, it is the best catalogue of individuals we have seen at any yearling sale this year as a bunch. You often get into some sales and individuals don't match up to the pedigrees – here the individuals have matched up as well, there are some lovely horses.  

"All the yearling sales have been very strong so far, breaking records everywhere - we have come here and the sale has got the best individuals so it is no surprise that Tattersalls is having an amazing sale." 

Cumanis Celebrate 1,900,000 Guineas Frankel Sale  

Two lots earlier another son of FRANKEL hit the headlines when selling for 1,900,000 guineas to the partnership of MV Magnier and Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm. Consigned by Fittocks Stud and bred by Sara & Luca Cumani in partnership with Arrow Farm & Stud, the colt is out of the PIVOTAL mare BLUE WALTZ, a winning half-sister to the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes winner FANTASIA and the Group 3 winner PINK SYMPHONY, the dam of Grade 1 Man O’ War Stakes winner HIGHLAND CHIEF.  

"It has been an amazing week, the market has been very strong - long may it continue! It is very exciting to be part of this environment," said Luca Cumani of Fittocks. "You never know what they might make, we thought he'd be 500,000 guineas to 800,000 guineas and up, but you can never tell."  

He recalled: "I trained for Peter Brant in the 1980s and early 90s, I trained the dam of Thunder Gulch for him and the good filly Roseate Tern, and we have known each other for donkey's years."  

Cumani added: "It is especially good that this colt stays in Europe - we need the class horses, but people know that if you want class horses you need to come to this sale and to Europe to get them."

Beautifully Bred Dubawi Colt to Godolphin for 1,600,000 Guineas  

The sale’s leading buyer Godolphin secured another son of DUBAWI when landing the colt out of the GALILEO mare HOW for 1,600,000 guineas, after seeing off underbidder Roger Varian. Consigned by Eugene Daly’s Longview Stud, the colt’s beautifully bred dam HOW was purchased at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale in 2019 for 680,000 guineas by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock. She is a daughter of the dual Group 1 winner LILLIE LANGTRY and a sister to the Champion two and three-year-old filly MINDING, this year’s Oaks winner TUESDAY and the Irish 1000 Guineas winner EMPRESS JOSEPHINE.  

After signing the last docket, Anthony Stroud reflected on the three amazing days of trade at Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale:  

"I think it has been a very good sale, I think the horses have really been exceptional, a really good group of horses. It has been very competitive with a lot of visitors from America here, Coolmore participating, Godolphin, Sheikh Mohammed has been here, and it was fantastic to have seen Shadwell buying. The Japanese having been busy too. The prices have been strong and the breeders have been paid. Overall the standard of the horses have been reflected by the prices. I think it has been a good week.  

"The sale has built up as we have gone through the second and third days. This is the top end and whether you are in art or racing, people want to be involved in the top end.  

"Dubawi is an incredible stallion and he is now a twenty one year old. His percentages are very good, and Charlie Appleby is very good at training them - he is a master with them. It is the obvious route for us." 

The fourth highest price for the day was 1,500,000 guineas for the DUBAWI half-brother to Group 3 Solario Stakes winner and Group 2 Champagne Stakes third SILVER KNOTT. Trainer William Haggas made much of the early running on the colt, along with agent Tom Goff, before Anthony Stroud and David Redvers took over with the former prevailing on behalf of the Godolphin team.  

The son of the Group 1 winning NATHANIEL mare GOD GIVEN, herself a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner POSTPONED, was consigned by Whatton Manor Stud on behalf of breeder Andrew Stone’s St Albans Bloodstock.  

Stone said: "When you breed a lovely horse it always very sad to see them go. I have 16 mares and one has to keep the operation going, we are so blessed to have wonderful buyers in the market who are prepared to pay such a wonderful price for such a good horse.  

"Having bred Postponed I was so excited to see him go on so well and now Silver Knott, I hope this horse is really good for them. We are so humbled. It was slightly surreal, he is such a special horse - he walked really well around the ring and he is such a big imposing horse. Postponed seems such a long time ago now and you wait for these good ones to come along, and it is the stuff dreams are made of.  

"We are just deeply grateful to Sheikh Mohammed supporting the trade. A lot of credit goes to the Players and the team at Whatton, they do such a fantastic job. I am very blessed to have the majority of my mares with them and with Julian at Newsells, I am very lucky."  

Consignor Ed Player said: "It is our first seven-figure sale, last year was our highest with his half-brother when he made 725,000 guineas so to hit the million was unbelievably exciting, we are so delighted for Andrew. He is such a great guy, and a massive supporter of the industry and for him to have a big sale, I could not be more delighted for him and his family.  

"All year we have known he is a beautiful horse. He has got the pedigree, got the looks, got everything, but to hit that sort of level - you dream about it but in reality you have so many hoops to jump through. He has given us a few nervous moments along the way, but the guys at home have done an amazing job and the team here too, and Mark who has been showing him.  

"It is the stuff of dreams." 

Chairman's Statement

At the conclusion of Book 1 of the 2022 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;  

“This has been an extraordinary yearling sale. When the first two lots through the ring on Tuesday morning made 500,000 guineas and 1,300,000 guineas, the stage was set and the pace has been unrelenting from that moment on. Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale annually showcases the very best yearlings to be found in Europe, and even by the lofty standards of this special sale we felt that this year’s catalogue was out of the ordinary. Nevertheless we could not have predicted the extraordinary level of trade we have experienced over the past three days.  

“Record turnover in excess of 125 million guineas, a rise of almost 40 million guineas on last year’s October Book 1, as well as a record median and a record average price just under 300,000 guineas are impressive statistics by any standards, but the progression of this sale in recent years has been truly remarkable. Only twelve years ago Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale produced turnover of 48 million guineas and an average of 107,000 guineas which puts this week’s remarkable figures into context. As well as the huge rises in all of the key indicators, an unprecedented 73 yearlings have sold for 500,000 guineas or more and there have been 16 which have broken the million guineas mark with the 2.8 million guineas FRANKEL colt from Watership Down Stud being the highest priced yearling sold anywhere in the world this year.  

“Impressive as all the statistics are, the real feature of Book 1 of the 2022 October Yearling Sale has been the sustained demand at all levels of the market which has contributed to a clearance rate well in excess of 85%. Buyers from throughout the world, most notably the Gulf region, America, China, Japan and throughout Europe have all made a significant impact on a record breaking sale and particularly notable has been the presence of so many of the world’s most successful racehorse owners here at Park Paddocks for the duration of the sale. Their confidence in Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale is hugely appreciated and reflects not only the outstanding quality of the yearlings which the vendors commit to the sale year after year, but also the sale’s unrivalled reputation for producing Classic and Group 1 winners and Newmarket’s status as the European hub of the thoroughbred business.  

“In addition to so many of the world’s leading owners, the number of British and Irish trainers active throughout the week has been notable and their presence has without doubt been influenced by the £7,200,000 in October Book 1 Bonus prize money which we have distributed since 2016. The £20,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonuses are hugely popular and to see so many beneficiaries reinvesting this week is a strong endorsement of a scheme which continues to reward owners at all levels of the Book 1 market.  

“To have rewritten the Book 1 record books and to have seen so many breeders and consignors so richly rewarded this week has been wonderful. Europe’s premier yearling sale has lived up to its reputation in spectacular fashion and we look forward to sustaining the momentum into Books 2, 3 and 4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale starting on Monday next week.” 

Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale takes place from Monday, 10th to Wednesday, 12th October.