Record Number Of Seven Figure Yearlings As Tattersalls October Book 1 Concludes
The three-day Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 concluded with a further four lots breaking the million guineas mark including a joint sale-topping 2.6m guineas sale for a DUBAWI colt. The final session saw a total of 119 lots sold for 30,456,000 guineas at an average of 255,933 guineas and a median of 140,000 guineas, taking the three day total to 386 lots sold for 88,038,000 guineas, a turnover record for any European auction, breaking the record set at this sale last year. The sale average was 228,078 guineas and the sale median 130,000 guineas.
The DUBAWI colt out of the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera winner ZEE ZEE TOP became the joint-highest priced yearling in the World this year when knocked down to Shadwell Estates’ Angus Gold for 2,600,000 guineas. The colt hails form one of the great Meon Valley Stud families and is a brother to the dual Group 1 winning IZZI TOP whose first foal DREAMFIELD won so impressively at Nottingham yesterday that he is just 20-1 for next year’s 2,000 Guineas.
"We are obviously delighted," said Mark Weinfeld of Meon Valley Stud. "The update yesterday did help, but this has been such a great pedigree for the farm.
"You do dream, and we were thinking that he would get a million, and you never know what is going to happen until you are here.
"He has been a smashing colt all the way through - and this family, right back to Reprocolour, all have great temperaments, they are tough too and take their racing.
"It is a great vindication of the stud and we have been having a lucky patch of late, but it is all down to the hard work done at home by the whole team."
Angus Gold, who secured the filly at the expense of Roger Varian said: "I went to the farm three weeks ago and loved this horse when I saw him there - he has a great outlook. Since being here he has never missed a beat and showed himself really well.
"He has lots of presence, plenty of scope - he won't be an early sort, but I was impressed with him when he came to the sale ring, he really pulled himself together.
"The family just goes from strength to strength. Sheikh Hamdan was keen to get a good Dubawi and let's hope this horse can run!"
| Year | Catalogued | Offered | Sold | Aggregate | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 184 | 164 | 119 | 30,456,000 | 255,933 | 140,000 |
| 2015 | 171 | 156 | 124 | 24,375,000 | 196,573 | 140,000 |
| Year | Catalogued | Offered | Sold | Aggregate | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 551 | 493 | 386 | 88,038,000 | 228,078 | 130,000 |
| 2015 | 513 | 462 | 372 | 82,744,500 | 222,431 | 150,000 |
One of the highlights of the catalogue was the own-sister to the multiple Group 1 winning filly ALICE SPRINGS who was consigned by ‘Flash’ Conroy’s Glenvale Stud. Bidding on the chesnut filly by GALILEO out of the DANEHILL DANCER mare ALEAGUEOFTHEIROWN began with a flourish when owner/breeder Paul Makin opened with a bid of 1 million guineas. Alastair Donald was one of those who took the price along after that, as it quickly rose to 1.5 million guineas before Makin again took control of things, raising the stakes to 2 million. MV Magnier was the only bidder willing to raise the stakes, securing the filly for 2.1 million guineas. She was the fourth horse to sell for 2 million guineas or more this week.
Peter Doyle, who has worked alongside Mayfair Speculators’ Markus Jooste and MV Magnier all week, signed for the filly, taking the spending for the trio to 9,010,000 guineas for the twelve yearlings purchased.
"This is a very nice filly with a pedigree, who walked well," said Doyle.
"Mayfair Speculators and Coolmore have bought some lovely yearlings this week."
FRANKEL was one of the best horses to grace the Turf, winning 10 Group 1 races in his unbeaten career and his eagerly anticipated first runners have not disappointed with four Group/Listed winners already as well as a slew of impressive maiden winners. His progeny at Tattersalls this week have naturally been in great demand but none more so than the colt out of the 1,000 Guineas winner ATTRACTION from the Duke of Roxburghe’s Floors Stud who was knocked down to Shadwell Estates’ Angus Gold for 1,600,000 guineas.
"It is a feeling of relief!" smiled the Duke of Roxburghe when saying how he felt after selling the colt bred by his Floors Stud. "I've watched the horses selling all week and waited for today and have been starting to feel the pressure. I am not sure that I can answer any questions now - I am not in a fit state!
"Frankel is the most exciting stallion, and Attraction was the most exciting thing to happen in my racing life - both of them made all up the Rowley Mile, this could not have been more fitting.
"I wanted to use Frankel for her in his first year, but Attraction was on a late pregnancy so we left her that year. She had a Dubawi colt this year and is in-foal to Invincible Spirit.
"This colt was always the coolest horse to work with, a fantastic temperament and outlook and my staff have done a wonderful job all year.
"It is an honour that Sheikh Hamdan and Shadwell have bought him."
The other FRANKEL to realise 1 million guineas or more on the final day was the half brother to ZOFFANY, the horse who got closer to the superhorse than any other in a Group 1, when finishing ¾ length second in the St James’s Palace Stakes. Consigned by Denis Brosnan’s Croom House Stud, the son of the MACHIAVELLIAN mare TYRANNY was secured by MV Magnier for 1,100,000 guineas after he saw off Angus Gold and Roger Varian.
"He is the nicest horse we have had," said Denis Brosnan, "all the way through from a foal. We were hoping for a million."
"The sire has been doing amazing things and probably a year earlier than expected. We have used him at least once every year. Tyranny is not in foal, but she has a Dubawi foal at foot. We usually keep the fillies and sell the colts - we are going to have a big decision to make next year."
TYRANNY has been a dream purchase for Brosnan, having been purchased at the 2007 Tattersalls December Mare Sale for 230,000 guineas by Hugo Merry Bloodstock, a figure dwarfed by the sale of her yearlings since at Tattersalls which have realised more than 2.6 million.
FRANKEL’s progeny have realised 7,075,000 guineas for the nine yearlings sold.
At the conclusion of Book 1 of the 2016 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;
“As recently as 2010 the turnover at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale was below 50 million guineas and the average price was just over 100,000 guineas. Last year the sale turnover broke through 80 million guineas for the first time and that record has been bettered again in 2016, while the average price has exceeded 220,000 guineas for the third consecutive year. In addition, we have sold a record nine yearlings for 1 million guineas or more this week, including the two sale-topping DUBAWI colts whose 2.6 million guineas price tags make them the highest priced auction yearlings in the world this year.
“Every year since 2012, Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale has produced the world’s highest priced auction yearling which reflects the extraordinary quality of the yearlings the consignors consistently bring to the sale. Book 1 attracts the cream of British and Irish yearlings as well as some outstanding individuals from French, German and Italian breeders, and the depth to the catalogue is the key to attracting so many of the world’s leading owners to the sale. As well as the quality of the yearlings in Book 1, we should also acknowledge the part played by the unprecedented strength amongst the stallions currently standing in Britain and Ireland, most notably DUBAWI, FRANKEL and GALILEO who have shared this week's nine seven-figure yearlings between them.
“Stallions of such global stature are a massive draw and we have welcomed buyers this week from throughout the world including America, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and South Africa as well as a hugely influential number of individual buyers from throughout the Gulf region. Another positive has been the response to the £25,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus scheme which we introduced last year and which has already caught the imagination of owners and trainers in both Britain and Ireland. To date there have been 33 £25,000 Book 1 Bonus winners this year and almost all the recipients have reinvested this week.
“While we can reflect on the positives to come from the past three days, it would be wrong to overlook the polarisation in the marketplace as the foal crops grow. Demand for the very best yearlings has been as strong, if not stronger, than ever, and that is reflected in the record number of seven figure yearlings and record turnover. The clearance rate, however, has not matched last year’s levels and increasing selectivity is becoming a feature of the bloodstock market which presents both breeders and sales companies with challenges. Nevertheless, we now turn our attention to Books 2, 3 and 4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale starting on Monday and as ever we have quality catalogues which look set to appeal to a wide cross-section of buyers."
Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale starts on Monday, October 10 at 10am.