Buyers Arrive in Droves For Tattersalls Somerville Sale

Tattersalls is an organization steeped in tradition. It was established by Richard Tattersall in 1766, has held yearling sales at Park Paddocks in Newmarket since 1958, and still sells in guineas, a unit of legal tender that was once equal to 21 shillings but is now worth £1.05 (US $1.20).

This week sees another big nod to the past, as the Sept. 6 Somerville Yearling Sale takes its name from Somerville Tattersall, the final member of the eponymous family to head up the auction house. However, while the Somerville Sale may be named after a significant figure from the past, the event is very much one for the future as a sale on a steep upward curve.

This is the second renewal of the Somerville Yearling Sale, which was launched in light of the success the Ascot equivalent enjoyed when it was forced to relocate to Park Paddocks in 2020 amid heavy COVID-19 disruption.

The Ascot Sale laid some firm foundations, having produced talents such as Miss Amulet , a £7,500 ($9,259) BBA Ireland buy who went on to win the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes (G2), and the Markel Insurance Molecomb Stakes (G3) winner Steel Bull , who was pinhooked by Kilbrew Stables at £15,000 ($18,518). Other notable graduates whose achievements far exceeded their purchase price include Liberty Beach  ($20,840), Shadn  ($54,705), and Summer Sands  ($2,605).

But the Somerville Sale has rather elbowed its way to prominence among an already busy auction schedule courtesy of some even more eye-catching early results, both on and off the track.

Last year's inaugural edition saw turnover reach 4,952,000 guineas ($7,194,872), which was more than double the corresponding figure from the final renewal held under the Ascot banner, while average and median prices took similarly sizeable leaps, up to 21,345 guineas ($31,012) and 16,250 guineas ($23,610) respectively. The top lot fetched 120,000 guineas ($174,351) when Adam Driver of Global Equine Group landed Petches Farm's Twilight Son  colt (Lot 206).

Arguably even more impressive has been the caliber of animal that has graduated from last year's sale, with the likes of Coventry Stakes (G2) hero Bradsell  and Eddie's Boy , winner of the valuable Weatherbys Super Sprint and third in the Windsor Castle Stakes, among the 232 Lots that sold in 2021.

Those two names were consigned by Terry and Margaret Holdcroft's Bearstone Stud, which is back in town with a nine-strong draft this year, including a half sister to Eddie's Boy (Lot 66).

"We've had a great time this season with Eddie's Boy, who was very unlucky in the (Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes), and then we've had Bradsell as well, who flew the flag for us this year," said Bearstone's long-serving stud manager Mark Pennell.

"We've got a lovely draft of nine yearlings here, they all look like sharp 2-year-old types so hopefully, we can find someone another Bradsell or Eddie's Boy."

Bearstone was among the auction's supporters during its time at Ascot, where they sold the smart Ventura Rebel , winner of the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club Renaissance Stakes (G3) and a neck runner-up in the Norfolk Stakes (G2), to Federico Barberini for £28,000 ($36,470).

"We've consigned some nice horses at this sale in both locations and always supported it very well at Ascot," said Pennell. "We felt there was a good opening for a new sale for these early 2-year-olds, but now that it's moved to Newmarket, it's become an even bigger sale.

"All the important people are here and there are a lot of people in Newmarket who wouldn't travel to Ascot, but they're all here now. There have been some very good 2-year-olds coming out of the sale, and people are really noticing that."

A deep and diverse buying bench ensured there was a vibrant atmosphere on the Park Paddocks grounds during last year's Somerville Sale, and all the indications are that the buzz will be even more noticeable at this year's edition.

"Last year was a busy sale—the weather was good, which always makes a difference—but this year has just been phenomenal with the interest we've had in the horses," said Pennell. "We've never stopped and from half eight right through to five o'clock yesterday the horses were never in their stables.

"There has been massive interest. We've targeted horses here who look like they'll be precocious and people buying here want an out-and-out 2-year-old. That's what we try to produce at Bearstone as we're all about speed."

Expanding on the notable lots among Bearstone's draft, Pennell said: "We have a half sister to Eddie's Boy by Washington DC ; she's a really nice, good-walking filly.

"We also have a very nice Havana Grey  filly out of Yearbook (Lot 105), so it's the same family as group 1 winners Hearts of Fire , Spanish Fern, and Lord Shanakill . It's a very good pedigree, and there are a lot of good fillies breeding on the page too; this pedigree always produces a good filly.

"We've got a cracking colt by Mayson  (Lot 218) who's a half brother to Ventura Rebel, he's a great-walking colt and a really good individual, and he's another who's going down really well."

https://twitter.com/BearstoneStud/status/1566710081676263424?s=20&t=9DpG...

The Shropshire operation also has a well-related filly by the same sire as last year's star graduate Bradsell, and Pennell added: "We've also got a nice Tasleet  filly (Lot 311) whose 2-year-old half brother Prairie Falcon won a class 2 race at Goodwood this year. We retained Prairie Falcon and we think he's going places as he's improving all the while.

"We're expecting a very good sale as we've got some nice, early 2-year-olds who'll make really nice trainers' horses. We handpicked these for this sale, so we're very hopeful."

The sire profile of this year's 313-Lot catalog is a mix of new and proven names. Leading first-season sire Havana Grey is the most represented stallion with 21 offerings, while the likes of Ardad , Bated Breath , Dandy Man , Dark Angel , Kodiac , Mehmas , New Bay , Showcasing , and Zoffany  all have progeny entered.

Advertise , Calyx , Eqtidaar , Inns of Court , Invincible Army , Land Force , Magna Grecia , Masar , Phoenix of Spain , Soldier's Call , and Ten Sovereigns  are among the first-crop sires with lots due to come under the hammer.

The catalog's emphasis is very much on conformation and precocity, but there are a host of well-bred lots among the bunch nonetheless, not least Mickley Stud's Showcasing colt out of 2015 Langleys Solicitors E.B.F. Marygate Fillies Stakes winner Delizia  (Lot 184), while Barton Stud offers the Dark Angel filly out of dual listed scorer Regatta  (Lot 29). In total 43 of the lots, so 14%, are out of mares who achieved black type during their own racing careers.

Selling begins at 10 a.m. local time.