Superpowers set to collide as Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale begins

There's a distinctly timeless feel to the hours leading up to Book 1, the first and most prestigious instalment of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Year in, year out there is a sense of calm before the storm, as prospective purchasers scour the grounds, carefully and closely examining hooves, hocks, hips and heads, looking for any of the subtle tells that the unbroken yearling stood in front of them could be a champion in waiting.

It is a routine that has been the same for decades but, on Monday, a dank day of inspections also brought together many of the players who sit at the peak of the global bloodstock pyramid in 2019.

View full Tattersalls October Yearling Sale catalogue

John Magnier was in Newmarket and spent the day flanked by key members of the Coolmore camp - including his son, MV, and Aidan O'Brien - as he scrutinised a select bunch among the 552 catalogued yearlings.

The Coolmore crew's march between barns was only briefly interrupted when stopping to exchange pleasantries with the likes of Juddmonte racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe, who was back from seeing Enable run a most valiant second in her historic Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe bid.

With Coolmore having picked up the likes of Japan, Ten Sovereigns and Australia at past editions of Tattersalls' flagship yearling sale, it will be fascinating to see which lots will be heading to Ballydoyle to begin their racing careers.

Coolmore are not the only outfit to have enjoyed success buying at this sale, and were far from the only operation to park their tanks on the Park Paddocks lawn.

Magnier's old sales ring and racecourse adversary Sheikh Mohammed and his entourage, including Charlie Appleby and Anthony Stroud, were also in attendance late in the afternoon.

With 25 lots by Dubawi, including colts out of The Fugue and Speedy Boarding, and a half-sister to his beloved Blue Point in the catalogue, there was plenty for the ruler of Dubai to feast his eyes on. Having acquired the likes of Blue Point and Line Of Duty here, he seems unlikely to have merely been window shopping.

Hamdan Al Maktoum was present too, and was spotted taking a close interest in the full-brother to Elarqam, who comes on the market late on in the opening session.

Peter Brant, whose Sottsass also ran a brave race in the Arc to be third, headed a notable US contingent, with prominent Stateside trainers Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher also busy combing the grounds for ammunition to aim at the growing US turf programme.

There was, of course, a strong representation of British and Irish owners and trainers, including John Gosden, William Haggas, Charlie and Barry Hills, Roger Varian, John Oxx and Ger Lyons.

David Redvers, buyer of last year's 3,500,000gns top lot, was also here, as was just about every bloodstock agent worth their salt.

While the superpowers may have exchanged handshakes and pleasantries outside of the ring, vast sums of money will soon be on the line when they meet inside it. Things may just be about to get rather more exciting.

Given the catalogue features siblings to a staggering 59 Group/Grade 1 winners, including the likes of Advertise, Al Kazeem, Battaash, Golden Horn, Magna Grecia and Ten Sovereigns, to name just a few, there is plenty of get excited about. So please take your seats. The biggest show in town is about to begin.

TATTERSALLS OCTOBER SALE BOOK 1 FACT-FILE

Where Tattersalls, Park Paddocks, Newmarket
When Three-day sale begins on Tuesday, with sessions starting at 11am
Last year's stats From 456 offered, 392 (86 per cent) lots sold for turnover of 106,503,000gns (up four per cent); an average of 271,690gns (down seven per cent) and a median of 167,500gns (up from 165,000gns)
Notable graduates Blue Point (consigned by West Moor Stud, bought by John Ferguson for 200,000gns in 2015); Fairyland (Tally Ho Stud, bought by MV Magnier for 925,000gns in 2017); Japan (Newsells Park Stud, bought by MV Magnier for 1,300,000gns in 2017); Phoenix Of Spain (Kilminfoyle House Stud, bought by Howson and Houldsworth for 220,000gns in 2017)

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