A fortnight of selling at Park Paddocks for the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale drew to a close on Saturday morning with a small Book 4 offering. The session added 153,000gns to the coffers for 42 sold (65%). While the average dipped 15% to 3,655gns, the median was up 14% to 2,500gns. A pair of fillies by Equiano (Fr) (lots 2007 and 2030) topped trade at 11,000gns and 10,000gns, respectively, when bought by Nick Bradley Racing/George Boughey and Rabbah Bloodstock.
Tattersalls October Books 1 through 4 cumulatively saw 1,816 yearlings go through the ring, with 1,507 sold (83%, up slightly from last year) for 138,268,200gns (-13%). Unsurprisingly in the midst of a global pandemic, the average dipped 13% to 91,751gns while the median was down 16% at 42,000gns.
The true talking point of the sale was the second week of trade, where Books 2 and 3 were extraordinarily strong considering the circumstances. Book 2 saw figures remain steady with plenty of notable results for pinhookers and breeders alike, while figures rose year-on-year for Book 3.
Upon the conclusion of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said, “If ever there were any doubt as to the unique status of Newmarket as the hub of European racing and breeding it has been dispelled over the past two weeks of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. The heritage of Newmarket is a priceless commodity and has without doubt played a huge part in the strength of the market over the past two weeks.
“This town has an infrastructure and workforce dedicated to the Thoroughbred industry and as such is uniquely placed to cope with the obstacles and challenges thrown at us all by the global COVID pandemic. Ever since the lockdown in March, the industry and the town have worked together in full compliance with all the prevailing rules and regulations to ensure that horses could be cared for at the same time as ensuring safe working environments for everyone at all times.
“Those same principles have been applied at all 11 sales which have taken place at Tattersalls since the end of June and yet again we would like to express our gratitude to every individual who has participated at any of these sales. It has not been easy at times and selling rates have regrettably, but inevitably, been slowed by the new bidding arrangements we have had to introduce, but everybody has shown incredible resolve and they have been rewarded with a market which has displayed remarkable resilience and continued to demonstrate a sustained appetite for the cream of European yearlings in all sectors of the market.
“Similar to Books 1 and 2, Book 3 of the October Yearling Sale has seen a healthy mixture of domestic and overseas competition, albeit at a lower level and we continue to admire the determination of buyers in the face of unprecedented difficulties. The live internet bidding platform has again been invaluable and will no doubt be even more extensively used at the forthcoming Autumn Horses in Training Sale, while buyers in attendance have also worked incredibly hard to assist many of those unable to attend. The spirit of industry-wide cooperation has been outstanding and will continue to serve us well as we endeavour to provide as vibrant a market as possible at both the forthcoming Autumn Horses in Training Sale and the December Sales which will bring an extraordinary Tattersalls sales season to a close.”
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