Three Top 200,000 Guineas On Second Day Of Tattersalls October 2

Trade stepped up a level on the second day of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale with three lots selling for 200,000 guineas or more, and the clearance rate improving significantly to 87%. A total of 208 lots were sold for 9,300,500 guineas, at an average of 44,714 guineas and a median of 35,000 guineas. These represented rises of 7% in turnover, 13% in average and 17% in median when compared with the second day in 2011.

The top lot on the second day was the SHAMARDAL colt out of PRINCESS SPINDRIFT that was consigned from Gay O’Callaghan’s Yeomanstown Stud. The son of the DESERT PRINCE mare is a half-brother to the Listed winner IMPERIAL GUEST and was knocked down to agent Ross Doyle for 245,000 guineas after he saw off the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Mark Richards.  The sale represented a huge result for his owners who bought him at the 2011 Tattersalls December Foal Sale for 32,000 guineas.

"He is from a tough family and looks tough," said Doyle. "He is for an undisclosed client and goes into training with Richard Hannon. He is a lovely-moving horse with a pedigree and looks. We thought he was the week's standout."                                                                                                                                 

Earlier in the day Tony Nerses secured the TEOFILO colt out of POPPETS SWEETLOVE for 220,000 guineas on behalf of the Kuwait based owners Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar. The FOXHOUND mare POPPETS SWEETLOVE is a half-sister to the Champion European 3YO Sprinter OVERDOSE and was consigned to the sale by Peter Player’s Whatton Manor Stud.

"You dream of having one that everyone wants," smiled Player. "He did have a lot of vettings, but before you sell you have to bring your hopes down to a sensible level.

"It sounds so hackneyed to say that is down to luck, but to have such a nice horse it really is."

Nerses secured the colt after seeing off a plethora of bidders that included David Redvers, Ed Sackville, Richard Knight and John Ferguson. 

"We were very keen to buy the horse," said Nerses. "He has nice pedigree, and is a very nice individual. He will come back to Blue Diamond Stud and we will decide upon a trainer later."

The progeny of Champion sire GALILEO were understandably in great demand during last week’s October 1 Sale, averaging almost 500,000 guineas for the 29 lots sold including the three lots to break the million guineas mark. So it was no surprise that the only GALILEO catalogued for Book 2 would attract plenty of attention and so it proved with the daughter of the Group 3 winning NAMID mare REDSTONE DANCER being knocked down to BBA Ireland’s Adrian Nicoll for 205,000 guineas.

"She is going to Ireland, althought I can't tell you where yet. She is for an existing client, and we might put together a partnership," said Nicholl. "She is out of a stakes winner and is a good model, we liked her a lot."

Nicoll had to hold off the efforts of Sheikh Fahad’s bloodstock manager David Redvers, as well as BBA Ireland’s Eamonn Reilly, John O’Byrne and Malcolm Bastard to secure the filly who was consigned from Ballybin Stud.

Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continues at 10am on Wednesday, October 17.