By Emma Berry
Breeders, vendors and purchasers can draw breath as Tattersalls falls 'dark' for a viewing day ahead of the start of the four-day Breeding Stock Sale on Monday morning. But as mare selection gets properly underway today, the team at Park Paddocks can reflect on a successful week of foal trade in Newmarket.
With many potential buyers commenting that they'd found it hard to get involved earlier in the week, it was no surprise to see an upturn in prices during Saturday's final session, in which 167 horses sold for an average of 21,163gns, which rose by 4%. The median also improved to 15,000gns (+15%), while the day's aggregate was 3,534,200gns (+9%) and the clearance rate was 71%.
Overall turnover had dipped by 9% at last year's foal sale to 30,568,350gns for 743 sold, but that was on the back of a record sale in 2015, which also featured an extra half-day of foals catalogued, 803 of which found a buyer. This year, a total of 32,668,200gns (+7%) was accrued from 742 foals sold at a record average of 44,027gns (+7%) and a record-equalling median of 25,000gns (+19%). The clearance rate was on a par with last year at 78%.
At the conclusion of four days of strong trade at Tattersalls, Chairman Edmond Mahony said, “The correlation between the yearling market and the foal market is well established and the record-breaking Tattersalls October Yearling Sale has been matched by an equally dynamic Tattersalls December Foal Sale. This week's sale has achieved increases across the board and cemented the reputation of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale as the premier fixture of its kind in Europe. Tribute must go to the vendors who yet again have brought the cream of the British and Irish foal crops to Tattersalls and the buyers have responded accordingly. A record average well in excess of 40,000gns, turnover of more than 30 million gns for the fifth consecutive year, as well as a record-equalling median all tell the story of a sale which has produced fierce and sustained competition at all levels of the market from start to finish.”
He added, “”The strength of this week's Foal Sale indicates a market in good health as the focus now switches to the breeding stock. The Tattersalls December Mare Sale is uniquely cosmopolitan and this year's catalogue has an abundance of quality in addition to the final instalment of the once in a generation Ballymacoll Dispersal.”
Overbury Filly The Star
Simon Sweeting's Overbury Stud regularly offers a decent draft of foals during the Saturday morning session and this year's highlight was an Iffraaj filly (lot 1150) bought by Liam Norris for 110,000gns.
“She's a beautiful filly and was the only one I had on my list today. I bought a lovely filly from Overbury two years ago and I hope that this one will be just as lucky for all of us,” said Norris, who indicated that the daughter of the stakes-placed mare Arabian Mirage (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) had been bought for a small syndicate with the aim being to resell next year through Norris Bloodstock, run by the agent's wife Jenny.
Simon Sweeting added, “I'm delighted with the price but I'm even more delighted with where she is going as Liam and Jenny do a fabulous job with their horses and this filly is out of a young mare so it's important for us.”
“Richard Brown of Blandford bought her for us last year carrying the filly and he is very strict when it comes to buying mares. They have to be correct, good-looking and athletic, which means we walk away from a lot, but this has worked out very well indeed.”
Overbury also sold a colt by Darley freshman Outstrip (GB) (lot 1151) to Peter and Ross Doyle for 45,000gns who was prepared in Newmarket by Dukes Stud, which owns a number of mares in partnership with the Gloucestershire farm. The son of the Redback (GB) mare Pink Flames (Ire)–a sister to GI EP Taylor S. winner Lahaleeb (Ire)–has two multiple-winning half-siblings in Listed Copa de Oro San Sebastian winner Flanders Flame (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) and Scorching Heat (GB) (Acclamation {GB}).
“He's from a very good family,” Sweeting said. “Flanders Flame is a Listed winner and I know that Andrew Balding thinks a lot of Scorching Heat who has been lightly raced and is now rated 90, and Sheikh Fahad bought the Iffraaj yearling this summer.”
The O'Callaghan family of Yeomanstown Stud are always big foal buyers and they added to a busy week at Tattersalls with the purchase of a Night Of Thunder (Ire) colt (lot 1186) for 100,000gns.
Kirtlington Stud's colt is a half-brother to two winners and is out of the the unraced Green Desert mare White Wedding (Ire), a half-sister to G1 Meon Valley Fillies' Mile winner Simply Perfect (GB) (Danehill). Further back, the family also includes Bianca Nera (GB), the grandam of multiple Group 1 winner and new Darley stallion Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Yeomanstown signed for a total of 18 foals at Tattersalls for 1.4 millions gns but the leading buyer numerically was the father-and-son team of Peter and Ross Doyle, who signed for 23 foals.
Very much missed at Tattersalls this week is Kevin Mercer, who died earlier this year. His Usk Valley Stud was represented during the final foal session by a Sea The Stars half-brother to the Listed winner and Group 2-placed Nantyglo (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}) (lot 1196), who sold for 95,000gns to Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock.
“He's a smashing colt by an exceptional sire and from the great Usk Valley family of Nantyglo,” said Brown.
Umpteen names of top-class racehorses appear under the colt's second dam, Solo De Lune (Ire) (Law Society), including her daughters, the G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Cerulean Sky (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) and G1 Darley Irish Oaks winner Moonstone (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}).
The Next Generation
One young pinhooker went home very happy after signing for his first foal for 4,000gns. Not to be outdone by his 8-year-old sister Nell, who bred this season's juvenile winner Pasta Makesufaster (GB) (Multiplex {GB}), Fraser Kent, aged 10, bought lot 1292, a son of Casamento (Ire) from West Stow Stud, and intends to return him to the ring next year through his father Richard's Mickley Stud.
Kent junior said, “He was a good strong colt and a lovely mover. I've saved up £420 to buy him.”
Tattersalls can be assured that Kent senior will cover the rest of the bill.
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