Sales Ring Hot at Tatts February

By Emma Berry 
Freezing conditions in Newmarket were not emulated in the ring at Tattersalls, which saw a lively renewal of its February Sale post record figures for turnover and median and a strong clearance rate of 88%. 

The median rose by 3.7% to 7,000gns, while the aggregate of 2,586,100gns for 240 horses sold represented an increase of 19%. The average fell fractionally (by 2.7%) to 12,256gns, from 12,597gns in 2014.

Commenting on a buoyant start to the sales year in Newmarket, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said, “Since the 2013 February Sale every Tattersalls sale except one has shown growth, and today's sale has continued the momentum with a depth and diversity to the trade that is the hallmark of so many sales at Park Paddocks.” 

He added, “Today's turnover and median are both records for the February Sale, with the significant consignments from Darley, Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell Estates as ever proving popular with buyers at all levels of the market. Above all, the 2015 February Sale has provided a positive start to the year and has demonstrated a market which continues to thrive.” 

The stock of Lope De Vega have been hot property on the track and in the sales ring, and it was a mare carrying to the leading first-season sire of 2014 who was the top pick at 80,000gns. Lot 64, the five-time winner Sutton Veny (Ire)(Acclamation {GB}), has produced one foal to date, a colt by Kodiac (GB), and is due to foal her second offspring in mid-April. David Redvers placed the winning bid on behalf of Qatar Bloodstock and confirmed she is likely to visit Tweenhills' young stallion Havana Gold (GB) later this season. He said, “I think she's great value and she probably would have cost more if she'd been sold here in December. She's in foal to a really exciting stallion– we have four horses in training by him, including Endless Drama (Ire) and Flaming Spear (Ire), and we think a lot of him so we're delighted to have this mare.” 

Out of a half-sister to G1 2000 Guineas winner Mystiko, Sutton Veny, now nine, was trained by Jeremy Gask in the Wiltshire village after which she was named. The grey full-sister to Crew Cut (Ire) achieved a top rating of 88 and proved to be a hardy campaigner with five wins and 10 places from her 37 starts. 

Redvers was back in action later when signing for lot 88, Night Party (Ire), a winning 4-year-old daughter of Dansili (GB) consigned by Darley and sold for 62,000gns. A sister to the listed-placed Dawa (GB), Night Party is a granddaughter of the German champion 2-year-old La Colorada (Ger), later the dam of multiple Group 1 winner Lomitas (GB) among her six black-type performers. 

Darley consigned a large draft to the one-day sale and unsurprisingly topped the vendors' table with 37 sold for a total of 639,500gns. Cormac McCormack secured the second-top pick of the draft, Two Pass (GB) (Mtoto {GB}), a daughter of champion race filly Pass The Peace (GB) (Alzao), for 50,000gns. The unraced 10-year-old mare, whose siblings include group winners Tarfshi (GB) (Mtoto {GB}) and Embassy (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), was sold with an April cover to Dream Ahead. 

Nicky Howarth and Chris Murray of Whitwell Bloodstock have succeeded in their aspiration of improving their broodmare band with the acquisition of the Juddmonte mare Postale (GB) (lot 67) for 72,000gns. The daughter of Zamindar is carrying to Cacique (Ire), who has already clicked with the family to produce G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Mutual Trust (GB), a half-brother to Postale. Now six, the daughter of listed winner Posteritas (Lear Fan) has produced one foal to date, a colt by Cacique's full-brother and fellow Banstead Manor resident Champs Elysees (GB). 

“We moved farms last year and we're now based at Hilborough Stud in Norfolk,” said Howarth. “The plan is to gradually upgrade our mares and this is a lovely young mare from a good Juddmonte family. We'll look at Invincible Spirit line stallions for her.” 

A duo of well-credentialed fillies from James Fanshawe's stable found favor, with lot 231, Bayunah (Medaglia d'Oro), fetching 58,000gns closely followed by lot 232, Wrood (Invasor {Arg}), who was knocked down for 55,000gns. 
Winning miler Bayunah, a daughter of listed winner Damaniyat Girl, is on her way to France, having been bought by Ed Sackville for an undisclosed client, while her former stablemate and relation Wrood, a half-sister to G3 Criterion S. winner Racer Forever (Rahy) was secured by agent Micheal Orlandi for owner Nicky Hartery, who hopes to send her to Kodiac. 

Horses in training also featured among the more expensive offerings of the day, with Tom Goff going to 54,000gns to secure Irish listed winner Einsteins Folly (Ire) (lot 152) for owner Bernt Dahl. A four-time winner for his owner, breeder and trainer Jim Bolger, the 5-year-old son of Whipper will continue his career in Sweden under the care of trainer Jessica Long. 

The handsome grey Stonecutter (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) (lot 221), the winner of his last two starts for Marco Botti including just last week at Chelmsford City, will remain in the UK but switch to the Wolverhampton stable of James Unett. The hammer fell at 52,000gns in favor of Gay Kelleway, who confirmed she had bought the 4-year-old on behalf of her fellow trainer. 

“He will race for Northern Line Racing and will be trained by James,” she said. “I expect we'll see him out again pretty soon, perhaps in the Winter Derby.” 

At the close of the day's trade, Edmond Mahony reflected, “The Tattersalls February Sale will never be the highest profile sale in the calendar, but in its relatively short history it has established a global reputation as a consistent source of quality. The dams of both European champion 2-year-old filly Tiggy Wiggy and leading Oaks contender Together Forever were both purchased at recent renewals of the February Sale, and it is success at the highest level that attracts so many buyers from throughout the world every year.” 

The February Sale is traditionally preceded by the TBA Stallion Parade, which this year drew 15 sires, eight of which are newcomers to the ranks. The first-season stallions on parade included Sheikh Fahad's triple Group 1 winner Dunaden (Fr) (Nicobar {GB}), who is the first G1 Melbourne Cup winner to stand at stud in England since the 1890 winner Carbine.