Bloodstock industry holds its breath as superpowers circle ahead of another Tattersalls Book 1 blockbuster

Oh my God! No three words more neatly sum up the collective reaction to what went down at Book 1 of last year’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. Simply put, the event was – to borrow another three-word descriptor – off the charts. 

Should anyone need reminding, the history books were ripped up and rewritten as an unprecedented 127,823,000gns changed hands. 

That is 1,152,000gns more than the previous benchmark, despite 79 fewer yearlings being sold than on that occasion in 2022. The average price was also a clear sale record at 370,500gns, as was the median of 250,000gns. 

But the bare financial details barely do justice to the drama that unfolded. It was not just the prices that made this event so memorable, but the personalities too.

Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 catalogue

Book 1 has always catered for the elite of world racing – think Coolmore and Godolphin for starters – and the established superpowers would have been within their rights to expect a case of business as usual 12 months ago. Kia Joorabchian had other ideas. 

Sales do not hand out most valuable player awards (or should that be most valuable bidder) but, if they did, the Amo Racing principal would have been a shoo-in. 

Joorabchian, who was joined on day one of the sale by Nottingham Forest’s billionaire owner Evangelos Marinakis, walked away from Park Paddocks with Amo Racing’s name on the docket of 25 lots, including several with partners Al Shaqab Racing and Valmont. 

His unmatched spend totalled 22,940,000gns – 18 per cent of that record-breaking aggregate. Moreover, his haul took in four of the six most expensive lots, including the chart-topping Frankel filly out of Royal Ascot winner Aljazzi who brought 4,400,000gns. 

Last year's top lot, the Frankel filly out of Aljazzi, sells to Amo Racing for 4,400,000gnsCredit: Edward Whitaker

Joorabchian also bought the second-top lot, the son of Wootton Bassett and Park Bloom who became the most expensive colt in European yearling sales history at 4,300,000gns. Subsequently named Poker and sent into training with Karl Burke, he was a never-dangerous sixth at Haydock on his debut last month. 

The Amo man was not alone in driving the Book 1 market, but his contribution is hard to overstate. Ever since last year’s Book 1, one question has remained: were those market conditions an anomaly or is that the new normal? 

Only time will tell, although such is Book 1's lofty position, the received wisdom suggests that those events set the global bloodstock market on something of a bull run. Trade has remained notably buoyant throughout this year’s sales, including when records were posted at the two European dates most directly comparable with Book 1, namely the Arqana August Sale and last week’s Goffs Orby.

The same has been true on the other side of the Atlantic, where the blue-chip auctions at Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland reached hitherto uncharted heights. While trade in the US has been underpinned by the 100 per cent tax depreciation that came into effect under President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the driving forces in the European market remain much the same.

Coolmore's MV Magnier was all smiles during inspectionsCredit: Laura Green

Nonetheless, evidence from the sales ground on a balmy final day of inspections suggests a repeat of 12 months ago remains a distinct possibility. 

Joorabchian was back on deck and busy inspecting yearlings with a sizeable Amo delegation, including key lieutenant Robson Aguiar and the operation’s in-house trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy. 

There was a significant contingent from the Coolmore camp, with Aidan O’Brien at the centre of the huddle alongside MV Magnier. 

While Godolphin’s talent scouts were also busy conducting their due diligence, Sheikh Mohammed was not among those at Park Paddocks. The ruler of Dubai is expected to arrive at Tattersalls on Tuesday. 

Other major operations with boots on the ground include Ace Stud, which stands the Yulong Investments stallions Shaquille and Soldier’s Call, Al Shira'aa Racing, Juddmonte and Sumbe. Sheikha Hissa, head of the Shadwell empire, was also present and was spotted casting her eye over the progeny of her operation’s exciting first-crop sire Baaeed. 

Andrew Balding, John and Thady Gosden, William Haggas and newly minted Group 1-winning handler George Scott were among the trainers doing the rounds. Leading US-based agent Mike Ryan, purchaser of seven Grade 1-winning Book 1 graduates in recent years, was also working his way through the barns alongside Chad Brown.

John Gosden was along the leading trainers doing the roundsCredit: Laura Green

Of course, elite buyers will put their hand in their pocket only for elite-level stock. There is no shortage on this front as the catalogue contains siblings to the likes of Anthony Van Dyck, Battaash, Bayside Boy, Eldar Eldarov, Skitter Scatter, St Mark’s Basilica and Time For Sandals. And they are just a few of the notable pedigrees within the first 100 lots on day one. 

Newsells Park Stud has been the leading consignor at Book 1 for each of the last seven years. With a 28-strong draft that includes a brother to last year’s sales-topper and half-sisters to Waldgeist and Zavateri, the outfit has been the first port of call for many prospective purchasers. 

“Today’s been a lovely day to show horses, but Friday and Saturday were particularly challenging because of the weather,” said general manager Julian Dollar on Monday afternoon. 

“The flow of people has been strong; it’s never been manic and out of control, but good and steady. There have been plenty of the right sort of people looking too.” 

Asked whether he felt the sale could match the giddy highs of 12 months ago, Dollar said: “There were some huge prices last year, of which we were the beneficiaries on a couple of occasions. I think it was this sale last year that really set everything off. It’s not like we're looking at Book 1 wondering if it’ll follow the pattern from the sales this summer and autumn; this is what set the ball rolling. 

"If it matches last year, it will be doing well. I doubt the average and median will match with an extra 70 horses in the catalogue, but at the end of the day the sales companies are interested only in the aggregate, so they should be all right there.”

Julian Dollar: "I don’t see any reason why this won’t be a strong sale"Credit: Laura Green

He added: “I don’t see any reason why this won’t be a strong sale. Every sale we’ve watched in Europe and North America has been exceedingly strong. There are plenty of Americans here, which is good to see because they obviously have a big tax incentive to buy horses. The normal domestic and Middle Eastern clients have been around. I see no reason not to be positive, but we shall see.” 

For now, the racing and bloodstock industry holds its collective breath. We don’t have long to wait to find out which three words best sum up events over the coming three days.

Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 factfile

Where Park Paddocks sales complex, Newmarket

When Three-day sale begins on Tuesday, with sessions starting at 11am

Last year’s stats From 393 offered, 345 lots sold (88 per cent) for an aggregate of 127,823,000gns (up 34 per cent year-on-year), an average price of 370,500gns (up 52 per cent) and a median of 250,000gns (up 39 per cent)

Notable graduates Al Riffa (sold by Kilminfoyle House Stud, bought by Joseph O’Brien for 150,000gns); Camille Pissarro (sold by Clara Stud, bought by MV Magnier and White Birch Farm for 1,250,000gns); Venetian Sun (sold by Tally-Ho Stud, bought by Todd Investments for 240,000gns); Wise Approach (sold by Tally-Ho Stud, bought by Godolphin for 1,000,000gns)

Read more . . .

From Godolphin to Coolmore and Amo: the racing powerhouses who will take Book 1 to another level at Park Paddocks  

‘To have got here is pretty special’ - Katy Nolan hoping to break into the big time with debut Book 1 draft 

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.