Perfect Power Colt Tops Final Day of Record-Breaking Tattersalls December Foal Sale
The record-breaking Tattersalls December Foal Sale came to a close on the fourth and final day with a son of PERFECT POWER topping proceedings during a vibrant session. Turnover for the sale exceeded 43 million guineas, an increase of over 20% on the previous record and up more than 40% on 2023, whilst wide margin increases in average and median, both also records, were registered.
New Pinhooking Partnership for Perfect Power Colt at 72,000 Guineas
A new pinhooking partnership kicked off today between Redwall Bloodstock and brothers Harry and Oliver Vigors, the teenage sons of Hillwood Stud’s Charlie Vigors. The team went to 72,000 guineas to the secure the colt by PERFECT POWER out of the OASIS DREAM mare PERFECT MUSE, sold by Manor House Farm Stud.
"I have seen a good few by the sire and he is getting very nice stock," said Redwall Bloodstock’s Hannah Wall. "It was a bit more than we wanted to spend but he is a very nice colt and very straightforward, he is a horse we all fell on and were keen to buy. He will come back to Tweenhills now and then will be sold by the boys from Hillwood Stud next year."
Harry added: "He is a standout for us today, a lovely big strong colt and is an athletic mover. Oliver and I went down this morning to see him without Dad, and we picked him out. We went back with Dad and he liked him too."
"Perfect Power was an amazing racehorse, the dam is three from three so hopefully he will be a good horse as well," said Oliver of the colt.
"We have been with Dad a few times to the sales now, but this is the first time we have actually bought one," explained Harry. "It is some buzz, when the board gets higher and higher it just gets more and more exciting."
Stauffenberg Lands Space Blues Colt for 65,000 Guineas
Philipp Stauffenberg, signing as Stauffenberg Bloodstock Services, went to 65,000 guineas to secure the colt by SPACE BLUES out of the TEOFILO mare GLYNDEBOURNE, a half-sister to the Grade 1 winner DEBUSSY and Group 3 winner LAUGH ALOUD.
"He is for resale," said Stauffenberg from outside the ring. "He is a very good walker, he is by a stallion who we don’t know about but we can give a chance to, and, of the foals we have seen today, we thought that he is the one who stood out based on his action really.
"We just have to hope for the best now, but I think he will be a proper, commercial October Book 2 horse," added Stauffenberg, continuing: "I have bought three now and I have been underbidder a number of times, it has been tough to buy."
Paddy Smalley, who has been showing the colt this week for consignor Jamie Railton and breeder Manor Farm Bloodstock, said from outside the colt's box: "He has been really easy to do, straightforward and a great little horse. He has been busy, had lots of vets and has dealt with it all really well."
Kevin Tobin, with a few years' sales experience on Smalley and who took over for the sales ring, added: "The colt came really well prepped and has been a pleasure to handle."
The son of SPACE BLUES was bred by Craig and Laura Buckingham of Manor Farm Bloodstock and consignor Jamie Railton commented: "I am really pleased for Craig and Laura, they are great enthusiasts and they have not been doing this for too long but produced the colt really well. They have had a winner this week too, so it has been a good few days for them!"
A’Ali Colt to Tally-Ho Stud for 60,000 Guineas
Another sire to catch the attention of buyers at the December Foal Sale was the smart sprinter A’ALI, who was represented by his second crop of foals. One of the main beneficiaries of his popularity has been Bob and Fiona Temple's Saxtead Livestock, whose colt out of the CAPE CROSS mare AKHMATOVA realised 60,000 guineas to Tally-Ho Stud in the fourth session, following on from their sale of a colt by the same sire for 40,000 guineas on the opening day of the sale.
AKHMATOVA is the dam of three winners including WISE WORDS, a three-time winner and twice placed at Listed level, and WALAAA, dam of the Listed winning sprinter CLARENDON HOUSE. It is the extended family of the German Champion older horse KUTUB.
Breeders Saxtead Livestock also sold a colt by STRADIVARIUS for 25,000 guineas to Weston Farm and Saxtead’s Fiona Temple said: "We are delighted with this week, and this colt has been really straight forward all the way along. We looked at the three colts in the field this summer and said it would be great if they could make 100,000 guineas between them, well they have topped that at 125,000 guineas."
Chairman’s Statement
At the conclusion of the 2024 Tattersalls December Foal Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented:
“References to ‘the cream of the British and Irish foal crops’ have been made constantly throughout this week’s record breaking Tattersalls December Foal Sale and the extraordinary figures show the esteem in which the best British and Irish thoroughbreds continue to be held and where ‘the cream’ is to be found. All week Park Paddocks has been alive with pinhookers from Britain, Ireland and further afield; a combination of veterans who have been plying their trade for many years and hordes of the younger generation whose enthusiasm and commitment provide encouragement to the wider industry looking forward.
“Equally notable has been the immense contribution made by owners buying to race. The December Foal Sale will always be dominated by pinhookers, but owners, both domestic and international, have made a huge impact on the sale, particularly those from Australia, China, Japan and the USA as well as from throughout Europe and the Gulf region.
“Between them all they have contributed to a Tattersalls December Foal Sale which will be remembered for a very long time, not only for Whitsbury Manor Stud's outstanding 2,500,000 guineas FRANKEL filly foal out of SUELITA, who equalled the 27 year European record price for a foal, but also for a sale which produced an unprecedented number of foals selling for 500,000 guineas or more, wide margin records across the board for average, median and turnover and a massive 32 of the 40 highest priced foals to have been sold in Britain and Ireland this year.
“The confidence that the leading British and Irish breeders show in the uniquely diverse market at Tattersalls is a source of immense pride and it would be no exaggeration to say that so much of the strength of this week’s foal trade, as well as the record breaking December Yearling Sale, has been driven by the game - changing Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale a few weeks ago. Those three days of yearlings have driven the European bloodstock market ever since and to see so many British and Irish breeders and consignors subsequently reaping richly deserved rewards has itself been truly rewarding.
“Not all in the garden has, however, been rosy and the lowest tier of the market continues to struggle which is a concern, but as we move on to the market leading Tattersalls December Mares Sale we can reflect on another 2024 Tattersalls sale which has exceeded expectations and again shone a positive light on the industry.”
The four-day Tattersalls December Mares Sale starts on Monday 2nd December with the Sceptre Sessions on Monday 2nd December and Tuesday 3rd December. The catalogue for Europe’s premier breeding stock sale numbers 1,002 lots and can be viewed online at www.tattersalls.com.