Fillies Dominate As Tattersalls October 1 Continues In Bullish Fashion

Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continued in the bullish fashion on the second day with increases and average and median and impressive clearance rate. The three highest prices for the day were fillies and like yesterday, Badgers Bloodstock and a GALILEO filly were the common factor in the session topper. In total there were 123 lots sold for 15,797,000 guineas at an average of 128,431 guineas and a median of 100,00 guineas. The clearance rate for the day was 83%, rising to 87% when the six private sales are included. The average and median rose 14% and 41% respectively on the same session in 2010.

The top lot on the second day was Lot 275, the GALILEO filly out of the SURUMU mare PEACE TIME consigned from Gestut Etzean in Germany. The sister to the Group winners PEACE ROYAL and PEACEFUL LOVE was knocked down to Charlie Liverton and signed for by Grant and Tom Pritchard-Gordon of Badgers Bloodstock.

"She is lovely," said Charlie Liverton, who saw off John Magnier for the filly.

"She is from a really tough German family, is very athletic and has a delightful eye. We are really pleased to have picked her up. She goes into training with John Gosden."

One yearling who looked one of the highlights of the catalogue was the CAPE CROSS filly out of the KINGMAMBO mare MODEL QUEEN. The half-sister to the dual Group 1 winning sprinter REGAL PARADE and the Group/Listed placed duo of HOT PROSPECT and MOUNT HELICON was also the recipient of a significant catalogue update following the win of her half-brother ENTIFAAHA in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes. Consigned from John and Lady Carolyn Warren’s Highclere Stud, the filly was knocked down to Charlie Gordon-Watson, after he saw off the efforts of Shadwell Estates’ Angus Gold. Gordon-Watson indicated that the filly was bought on behalf of Craig Bennett’s Merry Fox Stud.

"She will be trained by Henry Cecil," said Gordon-Watson.

"Craig just decided that he would like to buy a filly again. It is always nice to be buying for him.

"CAPE CROSS has produced two of the best runners in the last five years in SEA THE STARS and OUIJA BOARD, I think he is an underrated sire and does not get the credit he deserves."

Gordon-Watson bought the SADLER’S WELLS filly LIFFEY DANCER for Bennett at this sale in 2007 for 2.5 million guineas, a world-record price for a yearling filly at auction. Her three-quarters sister by GALILEO sells tomorrow as Lot 502, offered by Oaks Farm Stables.

The third highest priced lot for the day was Lot 286, the OASIS DREAM filly out of the BARATHEA mare POLITESSE who was consigned by David and Dianne Nagle’s Barronstown Stud. The half-sister to the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest winner KING’S APOSTLE is a grand-daughter of EMBASSY, the Champion 2YO Filly in Europe in 1997 and was knocked down to agent Amanda Skiffington after she saw off the efforts of Charlie Gordon-Watson.

"I thought she was the nicest filly in the sale," said Skiffington.

"She has been bought for Gretchen and Roy Jackson of Lael Stable, and we are totally thrilled to get her. The Jacksons were looking particularly for a filly."

The filly will stay in Newmarket and go into training with William Haggas who trained the smart sprinters ENTICING and SUPERSTAR LEO for the same owners.

The final day of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale starts at 11.30am on Friday, October 7.