Galileo topping average sale price at 2021 European yearling auctions

Galileo has achieved the highest average price of any stallion at European yearling auctions held in 2021 up to October 17, according to the newly published Weatherbys Bloodstock Sales Review Part 1.

The late Coolmore phenomenon has had 20 yearlings go under the hammer, for an average price of 498,770gns (€586,554). The most expensive of all was a filly out of Nickname, a US Grade 1 winner by Scat Daddy, who was bought by MV Magnier for €1.5 million at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale.

Dubawi shaded Galileo to field the highest yearling median price, though, with a figure of 405,000gns (€476,280). The Darley flagbearer was also responsible for the top-priced yearling sold in Europe so far this year, the half-sister to Prix de Malleret winner Babylone bought by Charlie Gordon-Watson for a cool €2.4m at Arqana in August.

Frankel, who is set to collect his first British and Irish sire title this year, supplied both the third-best yearling average, which came in at 325,501gns (€382,790), and median, which was 259,354gns (€305,000). The dearest of the 36 lots by the dual world champion was a half-brother to US Grade 2 winner Mrs Sippy bought by MV Magnier for 925,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1.

Kingman, a colleague of Frankel at Banstead Manor Stud, recorded the fourth-best yearling average, at 232,476gns (€273,392), and median, at 170,000gns (€199,920). Leading the way among the sire’s 71 lots to go under the hammer was the colt out of May Hill Stakes winner Turret Rocks, who was sold to MV Magnier and White Birch Farm for 1,100,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1.

The fifth-best yearling average in 2021 belongs to Gilltown Stud-based legend Sea The Stars, at 190,731gns (€224,300) for 76 lots sold. He was represented by the Tattersalls October Book 1 top lot, the full-sister to high-class filly Star Terms out of dual Group 2-winning two-year-old Best Terms, bought by Godolphin for 1,500,000gns.

However, it is Ballylinch Stud big-hitter Lope De Vega who can claim the fifth-best median price this year, at 150,000gns (€176,400). Godolphin were also the buyers of his most expensive lot, a colt out of Premio Lydia Tesio winner God Given who cost 725,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1.

The Lope De Vega colt out of God Given exits the Tattersalls sales ring after bringing 725,000gns from GodolphinCredit: Edward Whitaker

The European-based first-crop yearlingsire who notched the highest average price was Coolmore resident Saxon Warrior, at 82,205gns (€96,674) for 57 lots offered. Most expensive of all was the half-brother to Classic heroine Halfway To Heaven out of top sprinter Cassandra Go signed for by BBA Ireland for €540,000 at Goffs Orby.

The best median price achieved by a member of this cohort, though, was achieved by champion three-year-old Roaring Lion. The late Tweenhills Stud sire had 44 yearlings from his first – and, sadly, only – crop knocked down for a median of 62,000gns (€72,912), with a high of 450,000gns paid by David Redvers for the half-brother to Gold Cup hero Subjectivist.

The few commercial first-crop yearlings in Europe by US Triple Crown hero Justify and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Mendelssohn, both sons of Scat Daddy who stand at Ashford Stud in Kentucky, proved popular.

Justify was represented by six lots who were knocked down for an average of 219,263gns (€257,853) and median of 210,000gns (€246,960), while Mendelssohn had five sell for an average of 132,129gns (€155,384) and median of 105,000gns (€123,480).

A surprise package, perhaps, among the first-crop sires has been former Kildangan Stud resident Jungle Cat. The Group 1-winning son of Iffraaj covered only 19 mares at a fee of €8,000 in his sole season standing in Ireland in 2019, but seven of the resultant offspring have been through the ring as yearlings in 2021 and they have sold for an average of 32,020gns (€37,656) and an even higher median of 40,000gns (€47,040).

The Bloodstock Sales Review Part 1 contains yearlings sold at public auction in Europe, and those by European-based sires sold at major auctions in North American and Japan.

Copies of the Weatherbys Bloodstock Sales Review 2021 Part 1 can be purchased through Weatherbys Shop

Alternatively please contact the Weatherbys Shop Team on 01933 304776, shop@weatherbys.co.uk or in Ireland Annette Doyle on +353 (0)45 879979, adoyle@weatherbys.ie

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