‘The pair are pioneers of the European breeze-up scene’ - Mahony hails past masters as Craven Sale market reaches new heights

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony hailed the contribution of two “pioneers of the European breeze-up scene” in summing up a remarkable renewal of the Craven Sale. 

Trade over the two days bucked all expectations, not only in the heights scaled at the top of the market but the depth beneath the upper echelons as well. 

All told 143 juveniles came under the hammer in Newmarket, and 119 found a buyer for a clearance rate of 83 per cent - up from 72 per cent 12 months ago. 

And that was not the only metric to show significant year-on-year improvement. Turnover rose by 29 per cent to 18,804,000gns, and the average price was also up 15 per cent at 158,015gns. Both are new records for the Craven Sale. 

But perhaps the most illustrative market indicator was the median, which rose by 25 per cent to 100,000gns, having been 80,000gns at the corresponding fixture in 2024. 

Back-to-back sessions produced a new Craven Sale record, with Godolphin going to 1,400,000gns for Willie Browne’s Acclamation colt on day one before Amo Racing stretched to 1,750,000gns for a son of boom sire Havana Grey offered by Malcolm Bastard on day two. 

Not only were there two seven-figure show-stoppers, but seven lots fetched 500,000gns or more, one more than in 2024. There were also 27 200,000gns-plus two-year-olds, an increase of seven compared to last year. 

Craven Sale statistics

The acquisition of the top lot helped Amo Racing claim the leading buyer title with seven purchases made for a combined 3,160,000gns. Godolphin’s two buys cost an aggregate of 2,050,000gns. This means the two operations account for eight per cent of sold lots and 28 per cent of turnover. 

Four different vendors left Tattersalls with a seven-figure windfall, headed by Browne’s Mocklershill operation, which sold six lots for receipts worth 1,825,000gns. Bastard sold one for a record 1,750,000gns, Tally-Ho Stud sold eight for a combined 1,580,000gns and Joey Logan’s Grangeclare, a new entrant into the breeze-up market this year, traded four lots worth a cumulative 1,450,000gns. 

“The Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale has enjoyed a remarkable run of success over the last three years with five individual Group 1 winners including two Classic winners and this year’s Classic prospect Hotazhell,” said Mahony. “They have provided the perfect advertisement for the Craven Breeze-Up Sale and this year’s renewal has attracted international buyers in abundance, all of whom have contributed to a record turnover and average along with the two highest prices in the sale’s history. 

“Year after year, consignors continue to support the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up with many of the finest breeze-up two-year-olds in Europe, and it has been fantastic to see their professionalism and confidence in the sale rewarded over the past two days. Special mention must go to Willie Browne and Malcolm Bastard whose Acclamation and Havana Grey colts sold for 1,400,000gns and 1,750,000gns respectively. The pair are pioneers of the European breeze-up scene and it was wonderful to see them so well rewarded.” 

Mahony continued: “As always, we’ve been delighted to welcome a wide-ranging and international group of buyers to Park Paddocks, including representation from Australia, China, Hong Kong, and the Gulf region. Their interest reflects the exceptional results achieved by graduates of the sale at the highest level of competition. We now turn our attention to the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up and Horses in Training Sale, which has also delivered outstanding racecourse success in recent years with 42 individual Group/Listed winners since 2022.”

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