Robust Trade on Opening Day of Tattersalls October Book 2
Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continued on from where Book 1 finished with bullish trade on the opening day that saw 55 lots sell for 100,000 guineas or more. That figured compared with 37 on the opening session last year whist the number of lots to realise 200,000 guineas or more was a mammoth 14, compared to 5 last year. The opening session saw 214 lots sell for 16,563,000 guineas, a rise of 31% on the corresponding session last year. The average rose 23% and the median 20% to 77,397 guineas and 60,000 guineas respectively.
The action kicked off early on the opening day of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, with lot 530, the LOPE DE VEGA sister to Group 3 Prix de Conde winner LUMINATE realising 370,000 guineas to the bid of Godolphin’s Anthony Stroud. Jake Warren and MV Magnier also made bold bids to secure the filly out of the RAINBOW QUEST mare KALANDARA, the half-sister to the Group 1 Champion Stakes and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner KALANISI.
The filly was consigned to the sale by Baroda and Colbinstown Studs and breeder and consignor David Myerscough was understandably delighted;
"It is all about timing! Lope De Vega is going well - he had two Group 1 winners this weekend - and she has really come right at the right time. She has already been a good-walking filly, and is one you would never know you had on the farm as she has never had any problems, but she has also done really well this autumn."
KALANDARA had a LAWMAN full-brother to LUMINATE this spring and is in-foal to NEW BAY.
"There are discussions that we might see if we can get to Frankel with her next spring -that would be exciting," added Myerscough.
The second horse to sell for 300,000 guineas or more was lot 564, the NATHANIEL colt out of the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes winner LANGS LASH who was knocked down to China Horse Club’s Mick Flanagan for 350,000 guineas. Consigned by Newsells Park Stud, the colt is a half-brother to the Listed winning WAIPU COVE whilst his full brother THE KID BOBBY B won recently to give their dam her second winner from two foals of racing age.
Flanagan secured the colt after seeing off bids from Japanese interests as well as agent Charlie Gordon-Watson.
"He is a very good physical and good quality horse and is by a sire who is capable of getting exceptional performers.” said Flanagan.
"There is a very good draft by the sire here this week and they could all sell like this horse."
The Hong Kong Jockey Club team, made up of Nick Columb, Mark Richards and Grant and Tom Pritchard-Gordon were busy during October Book 1 buying four yearlings for 1,140,000 guineas and they made their presence felt during the opening day of Book 2, buying three lots including two of the top four.
The first of those was lot 516, the ACCLAMATION colt out of INSAAF for 260,000 guineas. The son of the AVERTI mare INSAAF, herself a half-sister to the Group 2 Temple Stakes winner PRICELESS, was consigned to the sale by Ciaran ‘Flash’ Conroy’s Glenvale Stud and provided his owners with a stunning pinhooking success, having been purchased for 85,000 guineas at last year’s Tattersalls December Foal Sale by Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock.
"He is one of the nicest Acclamations that we've seen for a long time," said Richards.
"He is a good walking horse, deep bodied with plenty of substance - hopefully he'll look attractive once he is back in Hong Kong."
The team struck again at the other end of the day, securing lot 722, the SEA THE STARS colt out of the beautifully-bred mare PENNY POST. A daughter of GREEN DESERT, PENNY POST is out of the Group 2 Prix Maurice de Gheest winner BLUE NOTE and a sibling to the Group 1 winners ZIETEN and BLUE DUSTER. The colt was also consigned by Glenvale Stud and was knocked down to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for 300,000 guineas after they saw off BBA Ireland’s Eamonn Reilly.
"We wouldn't normally be in the running for a son of Sea the Stars," commented Richards, "but this colt just looked a speed horse as an individual, and also has a pedigree that is full of speed. Hopefully, the class of Sea The Stars will also come though - he is a top class stallion and he gets plenty who are good over a mile."
Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continues at 10am on Tuesday, October 10th.