2010 February Sale Press Release

The four-year-old filly RHYTHM QUEEN topped a solid Tattersalls February Sale at 55,000 guineas on a day where 147 lots were sold for 991,500 guineas, at an average of 6,745 guineas and a median of 3,500 guineas. The turnover was up 40% compared with the 2009 renewal of the sale whilst the average rose 3%.

RHYTHM QUEEN, the filly by DANEHILL DANCER out of the Group 1 placed OLD VIC mare FLAWLY, was knocked down to agent Dwayne Woods for 55,000 guineas. The half-sister to the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club second BEST NAME was purchased by Woods on behalf of Stobart Transport’s Andrew Tinkler, after he saw off the efforts of locally based agent Cormac McCormack. RHYTHM QUEEN, who was consigned to the sale by John Troy, will reside at Woods’ Brook Stud near Newmarket.

A few lots earlier Irish agent John O’Byrne secured the LUJAIN mare CHRISALICE for 50,000 guineas after seeing off the efforts of fellow Irishman Seamus Kennedy who bought her dam DIARY for 11,000 guineas at the 2005 Tattersalls February Sale. Consigned from The Castlebridge Consignment, CHRISALICE has enjoyed significant catalogue updates during the last year courtesy of her siblings TOTAL GALLERY, winner of the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp and LADY DARSHAAN, second in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Ascot. The GREEN DESERT mare DIARY has certainly proven a goldmine for her owners with her HIGH CHAPARRAL filly foal realising 300,000 guineas at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale two months ago.

At the conclusion of the 2010 Tattersalls February Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;

“The recurring theme of recent sales of this nature has been the sustained global demand for quality and that has very much been the feature of today’s sale. It would be fair to say that this was not a vintage February Sale catalogue, but there was plenty of competition for quality lots and the usual combination of domestic and international demand that typifies so many sales at Tattersalls. The market does, however, remain selective which serves as a reminder that we still face testing times. Nevertheless turnover and average have both shown increases on last year’s February Sale and without doubt there will be success stories to emerge from today’s sale to go with the three 2009 Group 1 producers purchased at previous Tattersalls February Sales. 

“Another positive feature was the particularly well attended Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Stallion Parade which preceded the sale. There is real strength in depth amongst the stallions currently standing in Britain and we were delighted to see so many people here to view the high class roster of stallions on show today.”