Big Stories Brew Ahead of Tattersalls October Sale

Masks are on, temperatures have been checked, and hands sanitized ahead of the annual talent search at the Oct. 6-8 Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Few would have foreseen the accoutrements prospective purchasers would require to keep the yearling sales show on the road, but no crystal ball was needed to predict that the standard at this year's Book 1 would be extremely high.

A solitary wildcard entry takes the catalog to 548 lots before withdrawals. Almost one in 10 of those lots is a sibling to a group 1 winner. There are 16 yearlings by the perennial champion sire Galileo, 19 by his great rival Dubawi, the same number by Kingman, 31 by Frankel, and 30 more by Sea The Stars.

Siyouni, sire of Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) hero Sottsass, has 20 lots due to come under the hammer.

Such strength in depth duly saw a strong cast of potential buyers braving the element at Park Paddocks on Monday. Some 12 months ago Godolphin secured 19 lots for a total outlay of 17,575,000 guineas, including the sales-topping half brother to Barney Roy at 3,600,000 guineas (US$4,645,966).

Although the operation has played a smaller part in this sales season, there was a palpable bristle of excitement as the news spread that Sheikh Mohammed himself had paid a fleeting visit to Tattersalls to cast his eye over a few choice lots in the Solario Yard. 

Book 1 has also been a happy hunting ground for the Coolmore partners, with the likes of Australia, Camelot, and full brothers Japan and Mogul having been sourced from Newmarket's flagship yearling sale.

Key members of the Irish outfit—including Aidan O'Brien and M.V. Magnier, who signed for 6,985,000 guineas worth of yearlings last year —were busy scrutinizing the lots on offer on Monday.

Key Figures

United States-based buyers have also played a leading role in recent editions of Book 1, and the likes of Mike Ryan, who last year signed for 24 lots for a variety of clients at a total outlay of 6,205,000 guineas, Justin Casse, and Ben McElroy were on the ground.

"Last year was huge as we found Campanelle here," said McElroy, who paid 190,000 guineas ($243,774) for the unbeaten Darley Prix Morny (G1) and Queen Mary Stakes (G2) winner. "She was bought for Barbara Banke of Stonestreet Stables, she loves coming to Royal Ascot every year and she wanted to buy two or three fillies who could run there.

"Campanelle looked like she'd fit the bill and she did. After that success, the plan is to come back again to try to find similar types."

Despite the fact more than 2,800 of America's best yearlings having just been offered across the key auctions in Kentucky, McElroy said he and other American-based buyers have a whole host of good reasons to venture across the world in search of future stars.

He said: "There are some interesting pedigrees here, there are some great farms in Ireland and Britain who raise some top-class horses, and there are also some really exciting stallions such as Kodiac, Invincible Spirit, and Kingman who Americans keep a close eye on.

"The world is getting smaller and turf racing is becoming more prevalent in the U.S. There are good purses on offer so it makes sense to come here and look for those types, as even if they don't make Royal Ascot there's plenty of other racing for them in America."

Pragmatism Abounds

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated financial downturn, Brexit, and the ongoing paucity of prize-money have, among other things, brought about a marked drop in bloodstock valuations this year.

Vendors seemed only too aware of the prevailing market conditions during inspections on Monday, but with so many well-credentialed lots due to come under the hammer sellers were maintaining a pragmatic outlook.

Newsells Park Stud has been leading consignor by aggregate sales at the last two renewals of Book 1, and when asked for his expectations for the upcoming sessions of selling, general manager Julian Dollar said: "There's a degree of anxiety about how the sales will unfold given the current situation, but in fairness there are plenty of people here and we've been busy showing, which is encouraging.

"How that translates into sales, it's hard to say. But certainly to begin with we'll be being exceedingly realistic in terms of reserves as we're here to sell these horses. We have to try and be optimistic."

On Newsells Park's 24-strong draft, which is headed by a Galileo sister to Japan and Mogul, Dollar added: "The horses we have here are every bit as good as any draft we've brought here before. In fact, in some respects I'd like to think they're even nicer.

"It's disappointing we find ourselves in a situation where the likelihood is prices will be down. But at the end of the day, making good money is part of it, but winning good races is much more important and I hope there are a good few group winners among our draft."

Dollar also noted that a drop in prices should be a positive for buyers, saying: "We found there were good opportunities during the last recession to buy into nice pedigrees, so if this presents value to buyers and people get in because of that, then that's a good thing in the long term."

Those sentiments were echoed by Adrian O'Brien of Hazelwood Bloodstock, who sold the top lot at Book 1 in 2019, the 3,600,000 guineas Dubawi half brother to Barney Roy.

"I think the general feeling is one of trepidation," said O'Brien. "It's a unique year and we don't quite know what to expect. I don't think we'll know how strong the market is until the horses go into the ring.

"Last year was a phenomenal year and although we'll continue trying to repeat it, I think market forces might conspire against us. It's a time of nervous anticipation at the moment."

Hazelwood presents a four-strong draft, with a pair of well-related Frankels, a filly out of Astrelle, and a colt out of Dolled Up, joined by an "outstanding" Lope de Vega half brother to Mayhem, Memphis Tennessee, and Royal Bench. "He moves beautifully and he's a gorgeous horse; he's just an absolute dude," enthused O'Brien.

"We finish off with a Dark Angel filly out of a full sister to Hermosa and Hydrangea. Fillies from this family don't come to sale very often so it's almost a unique opportunity for breeders to get into this family."

Although the health of the market remains to be seen, there is no doubt that Book 1 is a unique opportunity indeed.