Sedate end to memorable October Yearling Sale as Book 4 concludes

Kitty Trice reports from the final session of at Park Paddocks

Tattersalls: concluded with Book 4 of the October Yearling SaleCredit: Edward Whitaker

An exciting couple of weeks at Park Paddocks ended rather more sedately with trade at Book 4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale on Saturday with 42 lots changing hands at the final play.

Unsurprisingly after some astonishing highlights, business proved quieter at the sale's final session which achieved turnover of 153,500gns, down from 219,700gns last year. The average turned out at 3,655gns (from 4,308gns), a decrease of 15 per cent, and the median totalled at 2,500gns, (2,200gns), a 14 per cent increase from 12 months ago.

Llety Farms' filly by Equiano topped the session when heading the way of Nick Bradley and George Boughey for 11,000gns. The fourth foal out of the winning Oasis Dream mare Psychic's Dream, she is a half-sister to Ataser who boosted the page with success in a valuable nursery at Doncaster's St Leger meeting last month.

Reflecting upon the sale overall, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said: "If ever there were any doubt as to the unique status of Newmarket as the hub of European racing and breeding it has been dispelled over the past two weeks of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

"This town has an infrastructure and workforce dedicated to the thoroughbred industry and as such is uniquely placed to cope with the obstacles and challenges thrown at us all by the global Covid pandemic. Ever since the lockdown in March, the industry and the town have worked together in full compliance with all the prevailing rules and regulations to ensure that horses could be cared for at the same time as ensuring safe working environments for everyone at all times.

View full Book 4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale results

"Those same principles have been applied at all 11 sales which have taken place at Tattersalls since the end of June and yet again we would like to express our gratitude to every individual who has participated at any of these sales."

Despite the challenges presented as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and economic downturn, overall figures have held up unexpectedly well compared with last year.

Mahony added: "It has not been easy at times and selling rates have regrettably, but inevitably, been slowed by the new bidding arrangements we have had to introduce, but everybody has shown incredible resolve and they have been rewarded with a market which has displayed remarkable resilience and continued to demonstrate a sustained appetite for the cream of European yearlings in all sectors of the market.

"Similar to Books 1 and 2, Book 3 of the October Yearling Sale has seen a healthy mixture of domestic and overseas competition, albeit at a lower level and we continue to admire the determination of buyers in the face of unprecedented difficulties. The live internet bidding platform has been invaluable and will no doubt be even more extensively used at the forthcoming Autumn Horses in Training Sale, while buyers in attendance have also worked incredibly hard to assist many of those unable to attend.

"The spirit of industry-wide cooperation has been outstanding and will continue to serve us well as we endeavour to provide as vibrant a market as possible at both the forthcoming Autumn Horses in Training Sale and the December Sales which will bring an extraordinary Tattersalls sales season to a close."