Mixed Fortunes as Tattersalls December Foal Sale Ends

Breeders endured mixed fortunes at Tattersalls during the fourth and final session of the December Foal Sale Nov. 30 as the most sought after offerings brought eye-catching sums, but 83 of 198 offered lots failed to sell, leaving a clearance rate of just 58%.

Other stats for Day 4 made for sobering reading, too, with the average and median both down 17%, the former at 17,465 guineas and the latter at 12,500 guineas. The aggregate also dropped 34% to 2,008,300 guineas, albeit from an offering that was down by 37 lots.

The sole six-figure lot of the session went the way of Ross Doyle, who gave 110,000 guineas (US$149,363) for a Farhh colt offered by Jamie Railton as Lot 1139.

"He's a very good-moving horse. He's one of the best movers I've seen this week," the agent said. "He's got a great frame to fill into as well. He looks like a real athlete.

"The sire is obviously very capable of getting good horses. I know Richard Hannon holds King of Change in extremely high regard, and Sean Levey's been quoted as saying he's never had as good a feel off a horse.

"He's been bought for Pier House Stud, who'll resell him next year. Brendan Morrin was very keen on the horse."

Doyle and his father, Peter, were busy throughout the sale and walked away from Park Paddocks as the leading buyers by aggregate, having signed for 22 lots at a total outlay of 1,415,000 guineas.

Reflecting on the four days of selling, Doyle said: "Trade has been great and stallion power has been huge here this week. We saw that in a big way on Friday, though there was some lovely foals with good pedigrees coming from good homes, so they deserved to get well paid."

The session topper is out of Duchess of Fife and was bred by Colin and Melba Bryce's Laundry Cottage Stud, which also topped Thursday's session of the December Foal Sale with the Bated Breath colt bought by Doyle for 185,000 guineas ($250,753).

"It's great. We're very lucky," said a delighted Colin Bryce. "We bred the mare Duchess of Fife, and this was always a fabulous foal, a great walker. It was Melba who decided on Farhh. She loved him when she saw him at Darley. Duchess of Fife is in foal to Unfortunately and is due to be sold here next week (as Lot 1,983)."

Bryce added: "We've had a bit of bad luck throughout the year, so this helps enormously with this stupid business that we're all so attached to."

Railton also offered a Caravaggio colt out of Swept Away on behalf of the Bryces, with Camas Park Stud signing for the youngster at 80,000 guineas ($108,628).

"I love the sire," said the stud's Tim Hyde. "His progeny are full of quality and have good actions."

Final Figures

The Tattersalls December Foal Sale concluded with an improved clearance rate of 72%, up from 70% in 2018, as 663 of 921 offered lots changed hands. However, all other market indicators went in the opposite direction.

The aggregate was down 16% to 29,338,300 guineas, the average dropped 14% to 44,250 guineas, and the median was 22,000 guineas, having been 25,000 guineas 12 months ago.

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said: "A sale average of almost 45,000 guineas, second only to last year's wide-margin record, combined with an improved clearance rate and turnover well in excess of any other European foal sale, are all positive indicators, yet again reinforcing the status of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale as the premier fixture of its kind in Europe.

"Demand for quality British, Irish, French, and German foals has been unrelenting, and while we should continue to recognize the selective nature of the current market, we have had more than 70 foals selling for 100,000 guineas or more this week, as well as an impressive 14 foals breaking the 300,000-guineas mark and international buyers making a significant impact at all levels of the market.

"Following on from their prolific buying at Books 1 and 2 of our October Yearling Sales, it was particularly encouraging to see American buyers continuing to make their presence felt alongside buyers from throughout Europe, the Gulf region, and Japan, all of whom have also made a major contribution to this week's sale.

"While the Tattersalls December Foal Sale has enjoyed a spectacular year of racecourse achievement in the shape of classic and group 1 winners Blue Point, Magna Grecia, Phoenix of Spain, and Star Catcher, it is, of course, primarily the domain of the pinhookers, who as ever have worked tirelessly throughout the sale.

"Their commitment to the Tattersalls December Foal Sale is driven by consistent success, and we very much look forward to seeing their expertise and judgment being handsomely rewarded at next year's Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, where so many of their purchases will reappear.

"In the meantime, we look forward to welcoming buyers from all over the world to the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, which begins on Monday and is the annual showcase for the very best breeding stock to be found in Europe."