Cover image courtesy of Tattersalls
At A Glance
The 2023 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 concluded on Thursday. Of the 532 lots catalogued, 470 were offered, resulting in 391 sold. The figure was down on the 2022 stats that saw 550 catalogued, 489 offered and 424 sold.
The 2023 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 grossed an impressive 95,395,000gns (AU$182,503,200). However, the figure sat considerably below the 2022 gross of 126,671,000gns (AU$242,338,400).
The 2023 sale concluded, recording an average of 243,977gns (AU$466,800) and a median of 180,000gns (AU$362,200). Once again falling short of the 2022 average of 298,752gns (AU$570,600) and a median of 200,000gns (AU$380,600)
Lot 226, a colt by Frankel from Bizzarria offered by Hascombe and Valiant Stud, became the overall top lot of the 2023 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 when selling for 2,000,000gns (AU$4.012 million) to M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm.
Newsells Park Stud was crowned the leading vendor selling 25 yearlings at a gross of 10,565,000gns (AU$20.18 million) and recording an average of 422,600gns (AU$800,500).
Godolphin took out the top spot for purchasers, spending 12,030,000gns (AU$22.98 million) on 20 lots and recording an average of 601,500gns (AU$1.15 million).
The Juddmonte Farms-based Frankel concluded Book 1 as the leading sire. Frankel had 18 lots sell for a gross of 11,120,000gns (AU$21,249,200) and an average of 617,778gns (AU$1,180,500).
Australasians active
Australasian-based buyers remained active on the final day of the 2023 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, purchasing a handful of lots.
Brad Spicer of Spicer Thoroughbreds spent 180,000gns (AU$360,200) to secure Lot 364, a son of Sea The Stars (Ire).
Lot 364 - Sea The Stars (Ire) x Floret (Ire) (colt) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Blue Diamond Stud offered the colt and he is the second foal from the unraced Galileo (Ire) mare Floret (Ire). She is a half-sister to the six-time Group 1 heroine Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).
The colt will go into training with the Warrnambool-based trainer, Lindsay Smith.
The Kiwis also made their mark; Ben Foote of Enigma Farm and Ross Lao of Upper Bloodstock paid 85,000gns (AU$170,500) for Lot 384.
Lot 384 - Zoustar x Gladiatrix (GB) (colt) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Offered by Tally-Ho Stud, the colt is by Australia’s own Zoustar and is from the Compton Place (GB) mare Gladiatrix (GB).
She won six races and has produced the Listed-placed Warrior Brave (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}).
Speaking to Sky Sports host Gina Bryce, Foote said, “Obviously, we know Zoustar from the Southern Hemisphere, and he’s a pretty popular stallion.
“This guy (Lot 384) we liked, he’s a nice horse, and we valued him at a higher price. I didn’t think we could afford him, but maybe he slipped through the cracks.
“This guy (Lot 384) we liked, he’s a nice horse, and we valued him at a higher price. I didn’t think we could afford him, but maybe he slipped through the cracks.” - Ben Foote
“We buy predominantly on type and Ross (Lao), and I usually like the same type of horse. It helps we know the sire, and he’s popular in Australasia.”
Lao added, “I am excited to have purchased a colt from Book 1 at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
“It has been a place I’ve always wanted to go, and the prestige here. Ben and I have worked together and thought we would make a trip here to have a look.
Ross Lao and Ben Foote | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
“Ben and I usually trade as Hong Kong is our main market, but we will make a plan. At this stage, the colt will probably go to New Zealand, and then from there, we will decide.”
Frankel in demand
The top lot on the final day of Book 1 was offered by Watership Down Stud as Lot 492, a daughter of the Juddmonte Farms super horse - Frankel (GB). The pretty chestnut is the first foal from G1 Cheveley Park S. victress Millisle (Ire), a daughter of Australia's sprinting superstar Starspangledbanner. The filly made 1.6 million gns (AU$3.21 million) selling to Shadwell.
Lot 492 - Frankel (GB) x Millisle (Ire) (filly) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Shadwell’s racing manager Angus Gold commented on the purchase, “Sheikha Hissa absolutely loved her (Lot 492) when she saw her. I said she's probably going to make a lot of money, and she said, 'Well, we need fillies for the stud.'
“A first foal out of the Cheveley Park winner by one of the world's great stallions, it's self-explanatory. She seemed very athletic and had a very good mind for Frankel. A very well-balanced filly.”
He added, “I thought she'd make a million and two, probably a million and three. We were determined to buy her, and there is obviously a period of rebuilding. It's a long-term project for Sheikha Hissa. It's exciting times for the stud, but obviously, you need to keep regenerating.”
“Sheikha Hissa absolutely loved her (Lot 492) when she saw her. A first foal out of the Cheveley Park winner by one of the world's great stallions, it's self-explanatory.” - Angus Gold
Shadwell did not add any colts to the team this week, but that's not to say that the major owner-breeders would be against the idea, with Gold going on to reveal that there is a possibility that Shadwell will be active at next week's Book 2 sessions.
He said, “Obviously, we'll be looking. The concentration has been fillies, but we will see what Sheikha Hissa wants to do.”
Gallery: Images courtesy of Tattersalls
It is no surprise that Frankel's progeny are in demand and deservedly so.
Shortly before Lot 492, Lot 483 waltzed through the famous ring. He was the last opportunity to buy a Frankel colt in the sale, sensing the opportunity M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm had the final sale at 950,000gns (AU$1.9 million).
Lot 483 was offered by the Cumanis’ Fittocks Stud and from the Oasis Dream (GB) mare Materialistic (GB). She descends from grand producer Souk (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}).
The colt is a half-sister to the John and Thady Gosden-trained Naaey (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) who think enough of her to be planning to enter her in the G2 Pride S. in the coming weeks.
Lot 483 - Frankel (GB) x Materialistic (GB) (colt) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
The legendary now retired Luca Cumani said, “From the moment he was born, he was strong. Obviously, yesterday's result helped, and we have to thank the Juddmonte team, as they were underbidders, and without them, we wouldn't have got this far.
Cumani added, “We'd like to thank Coolmore very much. They have been great supporters of ours, especially this year and last year.
“I bought Souk as a yearling in Goffs for Ir£100,000, which was a lot of money in those days, and I got home and got quite a bollocking. I'm glad it has worked out okay. (Her granddaughter) Platonic, who struggled to win and finally won as a 4-year-old in the French provinces, we sold for 100,000gns, and look what she has produced. It is a great family. We owe that family a hell of a lot.”
Luca Cumani | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
His wife Sara added, “It'll be great for all the guys at the farm as it's not been the easiest sale. (The market has been) up and down. We sold one for more than we expected, four for less than we expected and two we took home. They didn't seem to be excited about anything that is bred to look like a mile-and-a-half horse. But this was a great result, and we are grateful to the people who support us and grateful to the people who work with us.”
Hong Kong searching for another Romantic Warrior?
The Hong Kong Jockey Club were active on Day 3 at the 2023 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale signing for three yearlings.
The Tattersalls October Yearling has been a happy hunt ground for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, having sourced the outstanding Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) from the sale ground, albeit from Book 2.
The most expensive of the Book 1 purchases for the Hong Kong Jockey Club was Lot 441, a Kitten’s Joy (USA) colt offered by W H Bloodstock purchased for 400,000gns (AU$802,600).
The colt is the first foal from the Australia (GB) mare La Australiana (USA).
Gallery: The Hong Kong Jockey Club's purchases at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, images courtesy of Tattersalls
The Hong Kong Jockey Club also paid 225,000gns (AU$450,400) for Lot 472 a colt by Lope De Vega (Ire) from the Group 2-placed Dragon Pulse mare Magical Fire (Ire), offered by Ballyhimikin Stud.
Rounding out the purchases for the Hong Kong Jockey Club was Lot 493, a colt by Mehmas (Ire) consigned by New England Stud.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club shelled out 160,000gns (AU$320,000) to secure Lot 493, which is from the Lawman (Fr) mare Minnaloushe (Ire).
The colt is a half-brother to the Group 3 winner She Do (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and from the family of the Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Manuela De Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
Mahony is pleased with the results despite dip
Edmond Mahony, Chairman of Tattersalls, philosophically concluded his market assessment. He commented, “Year after year, the consignors show enormous faith in Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale, with the sale showcasing the very best that Europe has to offer, and yet again, we have seen so many of the world's leading owners competing for the finest turf-bred yearlings to be found anywhere in the world.
Edmond Mahony | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
“Amongst them have been a greater number of yearlings selling for one million guineas or more than all other European yearling sales combined, Europe's highest-priced yearling yet again, and 40 yearlings selling for in excess of 500,000gns which similarly is more than all other European yearlings sales to date this year.
“As ever, Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale has attracted buyers from throughout the world, so many of them are drawn annually to Park Paddocks by the consistent success of Book 1 horses at the highest level on the global stage. In the course of the past three days, buyers from Abu Dhabi, Australia, Bahrain, China, Dubai, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the USA have all made significant contributions at all levels of the market, confirming the unparalleled esteem in which the finest European yearlings are held and specifically those found annually at this particular sale.
“This is a sale that produces stallions and breed-shaping broodmares on an annual basis, and it is the sale's unrivalled reputation that annually makes this fixture an unmissable event for so many of the most influential thoroughbred owners in the world.”
“This is a sale that produces stallions and breed-shaping broodmares on an annual basis, and it is the sale's unrivalled reputation that annually makes this fixture an unmissable event for so many of the most influential thoroughbred owners in the world.” - Edmond Mahony
He added, “Amongst the success stories and numerous pin hooking triumphs, there has nevertheless been a selectivity to the market which we must recognise. Last year's game-changing October Book 1 was always going to be a challenging target, and so it has proved with the sale turnover some way short of the massive 2022 total, but the median has held up well, second only to last year's record level, the average of almost 250,000gns (AU$503,300) is an impressive figure, and the clearance rate in excess of 80 per cent is a solid number. We extend our gratitude as ever to the consignors and purchasers alike whose support is what makes Newmarket and Tattersalls a true hub for the European bloodstock industry. We look forward to seeing this year's crop of October Book 1 yearlings competing globally at the highest level as well as earning their owners in Britain and Ireland yet more lucrative £25,000 (AU$47,900) Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonuses.”
