Brother To Authorized Sells For 2.5m Guineas At October 1

A sensational week of trade at Tattersalls for Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale was capped when the GALILEO three-parts brother to Derby winner AUTHORIZED was sold for 2,500,000 guineas to David Redvers, acting on behalf of Sheikh Fahad. The sale represented the highest price for a yearling in the World this year and the third highest priced yearling colt ever in Europe. The final day saw a total of 139 lots sold for 20,064,500 guineas, at an average of 144,349 guineas and a median of 85,000 guineas. This took the full sale turnover to 68,102,500 guineas for the 418 lots sold which makes it the highest grossing yearling sale in European auction history. The average for the three day sale was also a new record at 162,925 guineas, a rise of 15% on last year’s figures, whilst the median stayed the same at 100,000 guineas, equally the record.

Catalogued as lot 557, and already named HYDROGEN, the GALILEO colt out of the SAUMAREZ mare FUNSIE was the talk of the paddocks prior to his entry into the ring, and the three-parts brother to the Group 1 Derby winner AUTHORIZED didn’t disappoint in the ring. Interest came from trainers William Haggas and Jeremy Noseda as well as Mandore International’s Nicolas de Watrigant as the price rose past 1 million, before Coolmore’s John Magnier and David Redvers entered the fray. The pair went head-to-head as the price rose to 2.5 milion with Magnier finally waving the white flag. Consigned by The Castlebridge Consignment, on behalf of breeder Paul Makin, who purchased the mare FUNSIE in a private deal and whose bloodstock interests are managed by Badgers Bloodstock.

"It is a cliche," said Redvers, "but this horse is the complete package. I am just incredibly lucky to have the best and most enthusiastic, yet measured, client in this business."                          

Makin was understandably thrilled with the result.                          

"I didn't try to anticipate what would happen. I paid a lot for the mare and I do have three brothers at home and you can't keep them all... well, you can, but really I wanted to try the discipline of selling one that I really like!" smiled the breeder.                          

"I have not bought one at this sale which is a first, so now that I have sold one I am the complete package!

"I just hope the horse goes on to excel for his new owner who is terrific for racing in this country. They are positive people and I like that."                          

The new connections would not be drawn as to where the colt will be trained.

Mandore International’s Nicolas de Watrigant created the headlines last night when buying the sister to WAS for 1,500,000 guineas right at the end of the sale and the Frenchman struck again early on the second day when buying another GALILEO filly, this time lot 403 for 700,000 guineas. Consigned from The Castlebridge Consignment, the filly is out the DANEHILL mare ARKADINA - the Listed placed three-parts sister to the Group 1 Irish 1,000 Guineas winner AGAIN. De Watrigant secured the filly at the expense of agent Hugo Lascelles and indicated that she was purchased for an existing client.

The next lot in the ring was the OASIS DREAM filly out of the SADLER’S WELLS mare AROSA who was knocked down to agent Michael Goodbody on behalf of Waratah Thoroughbreds’ Paul Fudge. Consigned from David and Diane Nagle’s Barronstown Stud, the filly was the eighth purchase this week for Fudge for a total of 3,200,000 guineas.                          

Early in the evening Shadwell Estates’ Angus Gold signed for the DALAKHANI filly out of the DANEHILL mare DISTINCTIVE LOOK. Consigned from Newsells Park Stud, the grey filly hails from one of the hottest pedigrees in the book, with DISTINCTIVE LOOK being a half-brother to this season’s Group 1 winners NATHANIEL and GREAT HEAVENS as well as six other Group/Listed winners.                          

"Pedigree!," said Angus Gold, "Need I say any more?"                          

"She is bred to be a mile and a half filly, she is going to take time but she is a very attractive purchase for a stud such as Shadwell."                          

John Magnier, who had been frustrated on several occasions on the final day of the sale secured the OASIS DREAM colt out of GALILEO mare GALAXY HIGHFLYER for 675,000 guineas. The Meon Valley Stud consigned colt is out of a sister to the Group 1 winning trio of KAYF TARA, OPERA HOUSE and ZEE ZEE TOP and was knocked down to Magnier after he saw off a determined bid by Waratah Thoroughbreds’ Paul Fudge.                          

At the conclusion of Book 1 of the 2012 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;                          

“Book 1 of last year’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sale produced a remarkable set of results with huge rises in average, median and turnover and, even though we knew this was an exceptional catalogue, it seems extraordinary that we have bettered those figures this week. Tribute really must be paid to the vendors who yet again have enabled us to compile an outstanding catalogue for Europe’s premier yearling sale. They have sent us the cream of the European yearling crop and have been rewarded by a truly cosmopolitan cast of buyers attracted to Park Paddocks by world class yearlings and a sale with a reputation second to none for producing European Classic and Group 1 winners.                          

“The statistics for this week’s sale make impressive reading, especially in a climate of continued economic uncertainty. The second smallest Book 1 catalogue has produced the highest ever turnover for this sale, the average has reached unprecedented levels and Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale has produced the highest priced yearling in the world this year. The 2,500,000 guineas sale topping GALILEO colt was the obvious highlight of the sale, but the real feature has been the fierce and diverse competition at the top of the market. We have had a record number of yearlings sell for 400,000 guineas or more – 12 of them by the phenomenal GALILEO - and there have been no less than 16 different buyers at this level. Our long standing clients, both domestic and overseas, have been as active, if not more so, than ever, and buyers from established markets such as Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, and the USA have been more prolific than in recent years. In addition, the contribution from new or relatively new participants has been a real source of encouragement for all involved in the industry. The Qatari influence, in particular, has been immense and buyers from Malaysia, Russia, South Africa and Turkey have all made a significant impact demonstrating the enduring global appeal of European bloodstock and the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. Books 2 and 3 of the October Yearling Sale commence on Monday and we look forward to sustaining the momentum from this week’s successful sale.”                          

Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale starts on Monday, October 15th at 10am.