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Not plain sailing but turnover hits 82,385,000gns as Book 1 draws to a close

Godolphin were the sale's leading buyers with 16,430,000gns spent

A yearling comes under inspection outside Tattersalls iconic sales ring
A yearling comes under inspection outside Tattersalls iconic sales ringCredit: Edward Whitaker

There were challenges and triumphs at this year's edition of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, with both soaring highs at the top of the market as well as more sobering realities further down the pecking order.

On the upside, the three-day auction supplied the year's most expensive yearling in the shape of the Galileo filly out of Shastye, who went MV Magnier's way at 3,400,000gns during a final session that proved the most vibrant of the three days.

On the flip side, key market metrics showed year-on-year declines that reflect the downturn seen not only across the bloodstock industry but the wider financial landscape.


View full Book 1 results and stats


The three-day auction generated a clearance rate of 79 per cent as 369 of 466 offered yearlings found a buyer. The same metric was 82 per cent 12 months ago. Turnover was down by 20 per cent year-on-year at 82,385,000gns, while the average and median price both fell by 13 per cent, the former to 223,265gns and the latter to 130,000gns.

Godolphin was by some way the most active buyer, with Sheikh Mohammed's operation securing 22 lots for a total spend of 16,430,000gns - a figure that amounts to 20 per cent of whole-sale turnover. Coolmore's MV Magnier also made a sizeable impact with his 14 purchases, among which were the top two lots, costing 9,780,000gns.
Lot 374 goes through the ring at Tattersalls Book 1
Top lot: the 3,400,000gns Galileo filly makes her way around the ringCredit: Laura Green
Newsells Park Stud, breeder of the 3,400,000gns top lot, was the leading consignor by aggregate sales, with their 15 sold lots generating receipts of 6,942,000gns.

At the conclusion of trade, Tattersall chairman Edmond Mahony said: "First and foremost we would like to express our sincere thanks to everyone who has participated at Book 1 of this year's Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, in whatever capacity.

"Since the early part of this year every walk of life has been thrown into turmoil and the global bloodstock industry is no exception. The scale of the disruption which everyone has faced is best illustrated by the fact that this week's sale has been the first 2020 British, Irish or French yearling sale to have taken place at both its originally intended location and date.

"Nevertheless, since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic we have worked collaboratively alongside Goffs and Arqana to explore every possible means by which to stage sales and to ensure that trade continues to take place as normally as possible.

"Everyone must take enormous credit for the way they have reacted to the difficult circumstances and responded to all the rules and regulations under which we have had to operate in order to provide the safest possible working environment for all concerned.

"In terms of the market, none of us can pretend that all is plain sailing and a slightly lower clearance rate reflects prevailing commercial realities from which none of us are immune, but we can also reflect on a resilience and sustained demand for quality yearlings in spite of the wider challenges.

"Book 1 of the 2020 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale has yet again produced the highest price for a yearling sold in Europe and North America, as well as the highest-priced yearling filly in the world and three of the ten highest prices ever at this fixture.

"Inevitably the market is down, in broad terms to around the levels of 2015 after a sustained period of growth, but the global appetite for our sport remains intact and buyers from throughout the world, albeit in reduced numbers, have made a huge contribution to Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale, as have the British and Irish buyers who continue to recognise this particular yearling sale as the key fixture in the European yearling sales calendar.

"Success-fuelled demand from American and Australian buyers has been very evident from start to finish and the support and commitment from throughout the Gulf region, in particular Dubai, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, continues to be hugely influential and massively appreciated by the whole industry."
Edmond Mahony: 'Everyone must take enormous credit for the way they have reacted to the difficult circumstances'
Edmond Mahony: 'Everyone must take enormous credit for the way they have reacted to the difficult circumstances'Credit: Edward Whitaker
He continued: "The significance of the lucrative October Book 1 Bonus, arguably greater than ever, has also been a feature of the sale and having distributed almost £5.5 million in bonus prize-money to date, it has been rewarding to see so many owners, trainers and syndicates actively pursuing future bonus winners.

"Opportunities to win significant prize-money have never been more crucial and the importance of incentives such as the £20,000 Book 1 Bonus, as well as the Great British Bonus, should not be underestimated in the current climate.

"Equally significant has been the outstanding quality of the yearlings on offer this week. This was without doubt the cream of the European yearling crop; a true showcase for so many of the best yearlings to be found anywhere in the world and we must pay tribute to the breeders and consignors.

"The market may not fully reflect the quality of the horses at Park Paddocks this week, but everybody should be applauded for what they have achieved in the face of extraordinary challenges and we will now turn our attention to Books 2, 3 and 4 of the October Yearling Sale, which are catalogues with all the ingredients to appeal to buyers at all levels of the market."


More Book 1 news:

Galileo sister to Japan becomes world's most expensive yearling at 3,400,000gns

Huge result for Gigginstown House Stud as Kingman filly fetches 1,450,000gns

Godolphin's seven-figure spree continues as 1,100,000gns Dubawi tops day two

James ThomasSales correspondent

Published on 8 October 2020inNews

Last updated 20:47, 8 October 2020

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