By Emma Berry
NEWMARKET, UK—Following a frenetic final few hours of trade on Friday, the Tattersalls December Foal Sale returned to more of a working man's level for the closing session, with low clearance rate remaining a concerning factor in the lower tier of the market.
A brief foray back into six-figure territory came via two weanlings catalogued only a handful of lots apart and by a stallion whose sales profile is consistently high, Whitsbury Manor Stud's Showcasing (GB).
The first was an attractively marked filly (lot 1161) who drew plenty of admirers as soon as she entered the ring and it swiftly came down to a tussle between Hugo Merry and Timmy Hyde Jr. The latter held sway at 120,000gns for the sister to dual winner Pavillon (GB) out of a grand-daughter of Cliveden Stud's Madame Dubois (GB) (Legend Of France), the dam of Irish 2000 Guineas winner Indian Haven (GB) (Indian Ridge {GB}) and G1 Gran Criterium winner Count Dubois (GB) (Zafonic).
“She owned the ring out there, she's gorgeous,” said Hyde, who will reoffer the filly through his family's Camas Park Stud. “There have been a lot of nice horses this week but there's also been a lot of competition.”
Minutes later it was the turn of lot 1166, a colt out of the listed Beverley Bullet victrix and seven-time winner Duchess Dora (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}), who fetched the same price and will be added to the Yeomanstown Stud team of pinhooks.
The 11-year-old mare was bought by Mark Johnston's Kingsley Park at the December Sale last year for 40,000gns while carrying the colt. The trainer-breeder enjoyed a swift upturn on his investment, selling through Friar Ings Stud.
Completing a trio of six-figure lots for the day was The Premier Consignment's No Nay Never colt (1207) out of the 3-year-old winner Musically (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), who is catalogued as lot 2003 in next week's mares' sale. After Tally-Ho Stud bid 110,000gns, consignor Peter Collier said, “He was bred by myself, Jim Carey and Philip Blake. We have been lucky to hit on the right sire, and the mare is now in foal to El Kabeir to back up the Scat Daddy.”
Overbury Stud is a regular Saturday seller and last year topped this session with a 110,000gns daughter of Iffraaj (GB). The Gloucestershire farm duly led proceedings early on when a colt by Mastercraftsman (Ire) to Cathy Grassick for 65,000gns.
Bred by Derek Boocock, lot 1127 is the second foal of the treble winner Atlantic Isle (Ger) (Tamayuz {Gb}), a great grand-daughter of one of Meon Valley Stud's foundation mares One In A Million (GB).
“It was a late decision to come here with this foal, but he has thrived since coming in to prep. He is so straightforward and he is exactly the type that you want to be bringing here,” said Simon Sweeting of Overbury Stud, who added that the mare is in foal to Zoffany (Ire).
Cathy Grassick, who buys in the name of Brian Grassick Bloodstock, added, “We just loved the horse and we're are big fans of the sire. He's a colt from a good farm—it's so important that you can be confident that these foals are getting a good start.”
Grassick later added foals by Fast Company (Ire) (1213) and Siyouni (Fr) (1176) to her shopping list, the former a half-sister to listed winner Tilly's Chilli (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) bought for 75,000gns from Salcey Forest Stud, and the latter Aston Mullins Stud's first foal of French winner Stacey Sutton (Fr) (Tertullian), bought for 70,000gns.
Though there was still plenty of action during the final session, the clearance rate dropped to 61%, the day's trade adding 3,031.407gns to the tally, down by 14% from last year. At 21,051gns and 15,000gns, the average and median remained largely unchanged.
A bumper Friday session meant that the foal sale as a whole saw record turnover just shy of 35 million gns for 681 weanlings sold at a rate of 70%. The median remained unchanged at 25,000gns and the average was up by 16% at 51,285gns.
At the conclusion of the 2018 Tattersalls December Foal Sale, Tattersalls Chairman
“The world's highest priced filly foal in 2018, new record December Foal turnover of nearly 35 million guineas, as well as an unprecedented number of foals selling for 500,000 guineas or more and also for 100,000 guineas or more are all heartening statistics to be able to take from this week's Tattersalls December Foal Sale,” said Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony at the close of the sale.
“Above all, the December Foal Sale has confirmed that the demand for quality stock remains robust and we must thank the consignors who have presented some truly outstanding foals this week for their confidence in Europe's premier foal sale. All week the buyers have commented on the quality of the foals on offer here at Park Paddocks and despite uncertainties in the market place, the cream of the British and Irish foal crop has been met with enthusiasm by pinhookers and end users alike.”
He added, “While we can reflect on the positive aspects of this week's December Foal Sale and also the record-breaking Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, we should not overlook the challenges that currently exist in certain sectors of the bloodstock market. The overall clearance rate this week has fallen and it is abundantly clear that the current imbalance between supply and demand at the lower end of the market is an issue for all concerned. Nevertheless, we now turn our attention to the Tattersalls December Mares Sale which every year showcases the finest breeding stock to be found in Europe. The December Mares Sale is always an unmissable event for thoroughbred breeders from throughout the world and we look forward to another truly international renewal.”
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