'Our selection process is clearly achieving the results on the track'

With Matt Prior appointed last month as head of Tattersalls sales held at Cheltenham and Ascot, we put the rising star of the auction house in the hot seat about his new role and associated industry issues

He also gives us a preview of the in-form Tattersalls Ascot Yearling Sale - the catalogue for which was published on Tuesday and is available to view by clicking here.

What prompted the reorganisation of the Tattersalls team?

The administrative teams for both Tattersalls Ascot and Cheltenham are based in Newmarket, and the reorganisation of the management structure reflects this. In continuing to work closely with Tattersalls Ireland’s Richard Pugh, we hope to utilise the group’s widespread expertise, in order to benefit the sales held at both venues.

How has your role changed?

My role has changed, in that I've taken over the day-to-day operations of the Clifton House office, where the Ascot and Cheltenham team are based. However, I still continue to inspect yearlings, auctioneer and source entries for Tattersalls sales held at Park Paddocks.

Your new role coincides with last year's Tattersalls Ascot Yearling Sale emerging as a fine source of inexpensive winners. Do you have any stats that exemplify how well its graduates have done?

For a sale in its infancy, last year’s renewal alone has already produced 16 individual two-year-old winners up to Sunday, with seven runners at Royal Ascot.

They include the three black-type winners Flippa The Strippa, Liberty Beach and Shadn, while Ventura Rebel was a very good second in the Norfolk Stakes and looks a Group winner in waiting.

Then of course Bettys Hope was a fairytale winner of the £250,000 Weatherbys Super Sprint for Rod Millman, having been purchased for only £3,000.

What is the key to the Ascot Yearling Sale's success?

Our selection process is all about the individual, with our inspection team focusing on athletic, precocious types, which is clearly achieving the results on the track.

The sale is easy to work, as it is limited to being a stand alone one-day sale, easily accessible for visitors from Ireland and Europe being only 30 minutes from London Heathrow airport. The team on hand also go that extra mile, whether you’re a vendor or purchaser, to make your visit a pleasant one.

Can you give us a taste of what's in store at this year's Ascot Yearling Sale?

We've catalogued 167 yearlings, with leading sires Dandy Man, Dark Angel, Farhh, Holy Roman Emperor, Showcasing and Starspangledbanner represented.

Of those catalogued, 37 are out of two-year-old winning mares and 56 are full or half-brothers and sisters to two-year-old winners. Promising sires with their first crop of two-year-olds also feature, with yearlings by Anjaal, Cable Bay, Due Diligence, Gutaifan and Outstrip among them.

Those looking for first-crop yearling sires will also be spoilt for choice with 17 freshmen represented by a total of 34 yearlings, including yearlings by Awtaad, New Bay and Twilight Son appearing in the line-up.

The largest consignments come from Bearstone Stud and Jamie Railton with ten apiece, while Trickledown come next with a draft of nine. Following closely is Norris Bloodstock with a team of eight yearlings.

Flippa The Strippa was the first black-type winner from the Ascot Yearling Sale, so it is particularly pleasing that Houghton Bloodstock are set to offer her lovely half-sister by Free Eagle as Lot 34.

Do you have any innovations in mind for other sales held at Ascot – the breeze-up and regular mixed auctions?

In the immediate future, my intentions are to get to know the venue a little more and consolidate the sales that we already have before looking to make any alterations.

Cheltenham sales do a roaring trade; are there any plans to modify the format or is it a winning recipe best left untouched?

Similarly to Ascot, there's no need for any changes with the current proven format working very well. The results speak for themselves. I’m looking forward to getting to know the existing team within my new role, as we look ahead to the start of the new sales season, which begins in November.

Michael O'Leary has been a big supporter of Cheltenham sales – how do you think trade for point-to-pointers will hold up in his absence in future?

The store sale results held up well, with point-to-point buyers remaining a very strong force, showing their continued confidence in the marketplace. While Gigginstown were undoubtedly strong supporters of the sales, there's considerable depth at the top end of the market owing to the results achieved year after year.

Do you think the factors that make Cheltenham sales such a success could be replicated to Flat sales in a similar format?

There are no initial plans to change the format of any of the existing sales, but rather to get to know both venues more before assessing what opportunities there might be. Given the team and expertise we have in place, we will always naturally look at innovations that could utilise these.

Finally, is Tattersalls braced for a no-deal Brexit?

With a new Prime Minister and cabinet now in place, we're all hoping to see a clearer picture develop in the coming months, as we approach the departure deadline of October 31.

Like any business that relies on the ease of movement of horses across international borders, we continue to prepare for a no-deal scenario as best we can among the uncertainty, to help reduce any potential disruption.

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