Record Turnover At Book 2 Of Tattersalls October Yearling Sale

Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale came to a successful close on Thursday with a new record turnover and increases in both average and turnover. A total of 206 lots were sold on the fourth and final day for a total of 7,147,500 guineas, with the clearance rate for the day a remarkable 88%. The average during the final session was 34,529 guineas and the median 30,000 guineas. The four-day sale saw a total of 788 lots sold for 31,039,000 guineas, which represented the second highest turnover for a sale in Europe in 2012, behind Book 1 last week. The turnover represented a rise of 23% on last year’s levels, whilst the average dropped 1% to 39,390 guineas and the median rose 7% to 32,000 guineas.

The top lot for the day was the SAKHEE’S SECRET colt out of the EFISIO mare COFFEE TIME which was knocked down to The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Mark Richards for 180,000 guineas. Richards had to fight off the efforts of Blandford Bloodstock’s Tom Goff to secure the colt consigned from Barry Mahon’s Mountain View Stud.

"We are obviously delighted," said Mahon. "He was pin-hooked for 39,000gns (from the December Foal Sale) and you dream of consigning a horse such as this. Hopefully, he will be lucky for his new owner."

COFFEE TIME, who is in foal to SAKHEE’S SECRET, is set to be offered at the forthcoming Tattersalls December Mare Sale.

The fourth day had kicked off to a strong start when just four lots in, the DUTCH ART colt out of the PIVOTAL mare BLITHE, was sold for 120,000 guineas. Johnny Peter-Hoblyn signed for the colt on behalf of Shadwell Estates, after he saw off the efforts of Badgers Bloodstock’s Grant Pritchard-Gordon. The Cheveley Park Stud consigned colt is by their very promising stallion DUTCH ART whose first two crops have included the German 2,000 Guineas winner CASPAR NETSCHER among eight Group/Listed winners.

"He is a very athletic horse, looked a real two-year-old and is by a sire who is catching the imagination. His dam was also rated in the 90s," said the Cheveley Park Stud’s manager Chris Richardson. When asked if he had thought the horse would fetch a six-figure sum, Richardson laughed and said: "He made in excess of what we had expected!"

At the conclusion of Book 2 of the 2012 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;

“Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale is the trainer’s sale and they have been out in force this week, British, Irish and their European counterparts, all making a huge contribution to a sale which has produced record returns. The astonishing level of trade we experienced at Book 1 last week set the tone and the momentum has carried through to Book 2 with sustained demand at all levels of the market from start to finish. The competition at the top of the market has been particularly intense with many of the leading buyers from last week still active and new faces, notably a strong Hong Kong contingent, making their presence felt, but the key to the success of the sale has been the depth to the trade. Last year's huge tally of 46 lots selling for 100,000 guineas or more has been bettered and more than 200 lots selling for in excess of 50,000 guineas is unprecedented at this sale. 

“Record turnover and key indicators which have all but matched last year’s outstanding Book 2 reflect the quality of the yearlings which the vendors have sent us. Demand for places in Book 2 was massive this year which is a tribute to the sale’s global reputation, and it has been wonderful to see the vendors' confidence in the sale rewarded. Trade over the last four days has mirrored Book 1 by again exceeding expectations and we now look forward to Book 3 of the October Yearling Sale, and to sustaining the momentum for the rest of the 2012 Tattersalls sales season.”

Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale featuring a catalogue of 266 lots  starts at 10am on Friday, October 19.