Buyers Search for Next Battaash at Tattersalls Book 2

An intriguing subplot at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale this week will be whether total turnover reaches 50 million guineas for the first time, with the auction beginning its three-day run at Park Paddocks Oct. 14. 

Last year, 631 yearlings changed hands for total receipts of 48,458,500 guineas, and aggregate sales amounted to just over 48 million guineas the previous year, while some 791 youngsters have been listed for this year's sale before withdrawals. 

Shadwell has become synonymous with Book 2 and sourced star sprinter Battaash from Ballyphilip Stud for 200,000 guineas (US$321,930) at the 2015 renewal, with the son of Dark Angel chalking up a second group 1 triumph in this year's Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes in record-breaking time. 

Hamdan Al Maktoum's buying team splashed out 6.87 million guineas on 40 new recruits last year, amounting to 14% of the total turnover.

Another elite sprinter to emerge from the sale is Ten Sovereigns, who added a second group 1 to his haul in this year's Darley July Cup.

The son of No Nay Never struck in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (G1) last season and was sourced by the Coolmore partners through Charlie Gordon-Watson Bloodstock for the same sum as Battaash in 2017.

Charlie Gordon-Watson and M.V. Magnier also signed on the dotted line for Tango last year, with the No Nay Never filly another to have changed hands for 200,000 guineas. Tango recorded her first stakes victory when she ran out an easy winner of the Legacy Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday, having finished fourth to Millisle in the Cheveley Park Stakes in her previous start. 

Fellow Book 2 graduate Tropbeau finished one position ahead of Tango in the Cheveley Park Stakes, with that bit of group 1 form adding to her success in the Prix du Calvados (G2) over the straight seven furlongs at Deauville in August. 

The Showcasing filly was sold by Highclere Stud for 60,000 guineas ($83,066) last year, and the same vendor will present her February-foaled yearling half brother by Iffraaj (Lot 984) among its Book 2 consignment of 14 yearlings. 

Newsells Park Stud achieved the rare feat of being the top vendor by aggregate at Books 1 and 2 last year. The Hertfordshire operation finished at the top of the Book 1 table again last week and has assembled a 25-strong draft for Book 2.

Among the standout lots are a January-foaled Zoffany filly (Lot 728) who is the first foal out of Wooing, an unraced Galileo full sister to champion racehorse and sire Rip Van Winkle, and a March-born Oasis Dream colt (Lot 832) who is a half brother to QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes (G1) scorer Librisa Breeze. 

They will be joined by a January-foaled Kendargent filly (Lot 1296), whose dam, Queen Margherita, is an unraced half sister to Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes (G1) winner Spinning Queen, and a March-born Exceed And Excel filly (Lot 1298) who is the first produce of Queen Philippa, an unraced Henrythenavigator sister to the ill-fated Pedro the Great and half sister to Ultimatepoker.com Two Thousand Guineas (G1) hero and sire Footstepsinthesand. 

Book 2 follows on from another buoyant renewal of Book 1, which surpassed 100 million guineas for the third year in a row.