Final Book of Tattersalls October Sale Concludes

Throckmorton Court Stud's filly by leading first-season sire Ardad  topped the concluding Book 4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when hammered down to Con Marnane for 18,000 guineas (US$25,986).

Overall, 46 lots sold from 74 offered Oct. 16 for a clearance rate of 62%. An aggregate of 184,200 guineas ($265,456) was an increase of 20% from 153,500 guineas last year, an average of 4,004 guineas ($5,770) was up 10%, and a median of 3,000 guineas ($4,323) was up 20%.

The March-born sale topper (Lot 2004) is out of the winning Rip Van Winkle  mare Belle Dormant, while under the third dam is C. L. Weld Park Stakes (G3) scorer and Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) runner-up Ugo Fire.

Further back in the page, under the fourth dam Fife, is Cabaret, dam of the brilliant St Mark's Basilica  and QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1) hero Magna Grecia , Iveco Daily Solario Stakes (G3) winner Drumfire , and Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup scorer Ho Choi. 

The Castlebridge Consignment's Pearl Secret  filly made the second-highest price of the day when selling to Meah Lloyd Bloodstock on behalf of Howard Duff Racing for 13,000 guineas ($18,768).

The filly (Lot 1963) is out of the Rock of Gibraltar  mare Rocknahardplace, a half sister to the Irish Field Blenheim Stakes third Emperor Hadrian and a granddaughter of German champion older mare Palacegate Episode. 

Duff said of his purchase: "We viewed her yesterday, the market has been very strong all week so we didn't intend to come today as there were only two lots we were looking at. 

"We were impressed with her page, she looked nice physically and she'll go to Far Westfield Farm to be broken in, and then she'll be trained by Simon Pearce."

He added: "She's for a fairly new syndicate, we've now got four horses—two 2-year-olds, we bought a yearling in Book 3, and this filly here."

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony commented at the conclusion of the sale: "Last year's Tattersalls October Yearling Sale was hailed as a story of remarkable resilience in the face of uniquely challenging circumstances. This year it should be hailed for the sustained demand from start to finish at all levels of the market.

"We work hard to attract international buyers every year and the overseas contingent, most notably from America, Australia, and throughout the Gulf region, has made a huge contribution throughout the past two weeks, but without doubt, the most encouraging feature of the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale has been the domestic British and Irish demand, which has been a revelation.

"Book 1 set the ball rolling with a show of strength that saw significant gains in all of the key indicators and gave a hint of things to come with a record number of six-figure transactions which demonstrated the depth and diversity amongst the buyers.

"Books 2 and 3 followed suit with unrelenting competition amongst extraordinary numbers of buyers and records for turnover, average, and median, which can only inspire confidence for the industry going forward. Similar to Book 1, the number of yearlings at Book 2 selling for 100,000 guineas or more was unprecedented, as was the number of yearlings reaching the 50,000 guineas mark in Book 3."

He continued: "We have a magnificent product and the last two weeks at Tattersalls have showcased so many of Europe's finest yearlings to a global audience. The consignors and breeders have shown huge faith in the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and they have been spectacularly rewarded.

"Park Paddocks has been teeming with life over the last two weeks and after the ordeals of the past 18 months, it has been a real pleasure to see the sales grounds, the bars, and the restaurants alive with activity again, reinforcing Newmarket's status as the hub of the European Thoroughbred industry.

"We now have an Autumn Horses in Training Sale of real quality to look forward to, followed by exciting catalogs for both the December Foals and Mares Sales, and after the success of the past two weeks we can approach the remainder of the 2021 season at Tattersalls with a degree of optimism."