Buyers arrive in droves for next Bradsell or Eddie's Boy at the Somerville Sale

Tattersalls is an organisation steeped in tradition. It was established by Richard Tattersall in 1766, has held yearling sales at Park Paddocks in Newmarket from 1958 and still sells in guineas, a unit of legal tender that was once equal to 21 shillings but is now worth £1.05.

This week sees another big nod to the past, as Tuesday’s Somerville Yearling Sale takes its name from Somerville Tattersall, the final member of the eponymous family to head up the auction house. However, while the Somerville Sale may be named after a significant figure from the past, the event is very much one for the future as a sale on a steep upward curve.

This is the second renewal of the Somerville Yearling Sale, which was launched in light of the success the Ascot equivalent enjoyed when it was forced to relocate to Park Paddocks in 2020 amid heavy Covid disruption.

The Ascot Sale laid some firm foundations, having produced talents such as Miss Amulet, a £7,500 BBA Ireland buy who went on to win the Lowther Stakes, and the Molecomb Stakes winner Steel Bull, who was pinhooked by Kilbrew Stables at £15,000. Other notable graduates whose achievements far exceeded their purchase price include Liberty Beach, Shadn and Summer Sands.

But the Somerville has rather elbowed its way to prominence among an already busy sales schedule courtesy of some even more eyecatching early results, both on and off the track.

Last year’s inaugural edition saw turnover reach 4,952,000gns, which was more than double the corresponding figure from the final renewal held under the Ascot banner, while average and median prices took similarly sizeable leaps, up to 21,345gns and 16,250gns respectively. The top lot fetched 120,000gns when Adam Driver of Global Equine Group landed Petches Farm’s Twilight Son colt.

Bradsell: another high-class graduate of the saleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Arguably even more impressive has been the calibre of animal that has graduated from last year’s sale, with the likes of Group 2 Coventry Stakes hero Bradsell and Eddie’s Boy, winner of the valuable Weatherbys Super Sprint and third in the Windsor Castle Stakes, among the 232 lots that sold in 2021.

Those two names were consigned by Terry and Margaret Holdcroft’s Bearstone Stud, which is back in town with a nine-strong draft this year, including a half-sister to Eddie’s Boy (Lot 66).

“We’ve had a great time this season with Eddie’s Boy, who was very unlucky in the sales race [Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes], and then we’ve had Bradsell as well, who flew the flag for us this year,” said Bearstone’s long-serving stud manager Mark Pennell.

“We’ve got a lovely draft of nine yearlings here, they all look like sharp two-year-old types so hopefully we can find someone another Bradsell or Eddie’s Boy!”

Bearstone was among the auction’s supporters during its time at Ascot, where they sold the smart Ventura Rebel, winner of the Group 3 Renaissance Stakes and a neck runner-up in the Norfolk, to Federico Barberini for £28,000.

“We’ve consigned some nice horses at this sale in both locations and always supported it very well at Ascot,” said Pennell. “We felt there was a good opening for a new sale for these early two-year-olds, but now that it’s moved to Newmarket it’s become an even bigger sale.

"All the important people are here and there are a lot of people in Newmarket who wouldn’t travel to Ascot but they’re all here now. There have been some very good two-year-olds coming out of the sale and people are really noticing that.”

A deep and diverse buying bench ensured there was a vibrant atmosphere on the Park Paddocks grounds during last year’s Somerville Sale, and all the indications are that the buzz will be even more noticeable at this year’s edition.

“Last year was a busy sale – the weather was good, which always makes a difference – but this year has just been phenomenal with the interest we’ve had in the horses,” said Pennell. “We’ve never stopped and from half eight right through to five o’clock yesterday the horses were never in their stables.

“There has been massive interest. We’ve targeted horses here who look like they’ll be precocious and people buying here want an out-and-out two-year-old. That’s what we try to produce at Bearstone as we’re all about speed.”

Expanding on the notable lots among Bearstone’s draft, Pennell said: “We have a half-sister to Eddie’s Boy by Washington DC, she’s a really nice, good-walking filly.

"We also have a very nice Havana Grey filly out of Yearbook (105), so it’s the same family as Group 1 winners Hearts Of Fire, Spanish Fern and Lord Shanakill. It’s a very good pedigree and there are a lot of good fillies breeding on the page too; this pedigree always produces a good filly.

“We’ve got a cracking colt by Mayson (218) who’s a half-brother to Ventura Rebel, he’s a great-walking colt and a really good individual, and he’s another who’s going down really well.”

The Shropshire operation also has a well-related filly by the same sire as last year’s star graduate Bradsell, as Pennell added: “We’ve also got a nice Tasleet filly (311) whose two-year-old half-brother Prairie Falcon won a Class 2 race at Goodwood this year. We retained Prairie Falcon and we think he’s going places as he’s improving all the while.

“We’re expecting a very good sale as we’ve got some nice, early two-year-olds who’ll make really nice trainers’ horses. We handpicked these for this sale so we’re very hopeful.”

The sire profile of this year’s 313-lot catalogue is a mix of new and proven names. Leading first-season sire Havana Grey is the most represented stallion with 21 lots, while the likes of Ardad, Bated Breath, Dandy Man, Dark Angel, Kodiac, Mehmas, New Bay, Showcasing and Zoffany all have progeny entered.

Advertise, Calyx, Eqtidaar, Inns Of Court, Invincible Army, Land Force, Magna Grecia, Masar, Phoenix Of Spain, Soldier’s Call and Ten Sovereigns are among the first-crop sires with lots due to come under the hammer.

The catalogue’s emphasis is very much on conformation and precocity, but there are a host of well-bred lots among the bunch nonetheless, not least Mickley Stud’s Showcasing colt out of Marygate Stakes winner Delizia (184), while Barton Stud offers the Dark Angel filly out of dual Listed scorer Regatta (29). In total 43 of the lots, so 14 per cent, are out of mares who achieved black type during their own racing careers.

Selling begins at 10am.

Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale factfile

Where Park Paddocks, Newmarket
When One-day sale begins on Tuesday at 10am
Last year’s stats From 270 offered, 232 sold (86 per cent) for turnover of 4,952,000gns (up 112 per cent year-on-year), an average of 21,345gns (up 85 per cent) and a median of 16,250gns (up 103 per cent).
Notable graduates Amichi (sold by Yeomanstown Stud, bought by SackvilleDonald for 15,500gns); Bradsell (sold by Deborah O'Brien from Bearstone Stud, bought by Highflyer/Harry Dunlop for 12,000gns); Eddie’s Boy (sold by Bearstone Stud, bought by Blandford Bloodstock/Middleham Park Racing for 45,000gns); New Collection (sold by Stringston Farm, bought by Marco Bozzi Bloodstock for 4,500gns)

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