Tai Chi colt leads way as BBAG October Sale figures fall across the board

BBAG's two-day October Sale concluded on Saturday with decreases in all key indicators of market health from last year's renewal.

Turnover was down by 20 per cent to €2,012,050, while the average fell by 12 per cent to €8,824 and the median dropped by the same percentage to €8,837 according to the company's statistics.

Most alarmingly, the clearance rate stood at just 61 per cent, compared with figures of 71 to 72 per cent achieved in 2017 and 2018.

The top price in Saturday's second session was €61,000, given by trainer Henk Grewe for a Tai Chi yearling half-brother to French Listed winner Amirant who has already been named A Winning Warrior.

Grewe reported the colt had been bought for a new syndicate of 16 women who go by the name of Club Rosé. Founded in Cologne, it is thought to be the first all-female large ownership syndicate in Germany.

As is an unfortunately familiar tale in German auctions, two of the other highest prices achieved on Saturday – €58,000 and €55,000 – were not enough for the yearlings in question – a Bated Breath colt and a Kendargent filly – to change hands and they went down as unsold.

An Areion three-parts sister to Italian Derby winner Feuerblitz offered by Marlene Haller did however find a new home, when knocked down to trainer-turned-agent Andreas Lowe on behalf of Gerd Mosca's Gestut Winterhauch for €55,000.

View BBAG results and statistics