The four-day Tattersalls Horses-in-Training Sale concluded in muted fashion on Thursday following the highlight provided on Wednesday by the sale of English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) to Australia for 925,000gns.
It took just 37,000gns to top the final session, that price being bid by Nick Bradley of Glebe Farm for the New Approach (Ire) 3-year-old Citronella (GB) (lot 1405) from the celebrated family of High Hawk (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}).
The strong clearance rate which had been the hallmark of the October Yearling Sales at Park Paddocks continued throughout this week, with 88% of the 1,105 horses offered being sold. This was down slightly from 90% in 2019 but was still an impressive figure given that many of the sale's regular international buyers were unable to travel this year, a factor which was remarked upon by the company's chairman Edmond Mahony in his closing statement.
He said, “The Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale is a uniquely international fixture and to stage it amidst such widespread global travel restrictions was a daunting prospect, but yet again the industry has risen to the challenge.
“The sale understandably lacked some of its customary vibrancy with so many of our regular overseas buyers unable to travel, but the market has again held up remarkably well, particularly at the top end where we have seen a record sale price for a colt of 925,000gns and double last year's number of lots sold for more than 300,000 guineas. It is a similar scenario to the recent Tattersalls October Yearling Sales. Quality bloodstock remains a coveted commodity and the status of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale as the premier sale of its type in the world is based on consistent achievement on racecourses throughout the world.”
Overall the sale's key indicators dipped, with the aggregate of 21,375,100gns being down by 14%, while the average fell by 13% to 22,384gns and the median by 25% to 9,000gns.
Despite the travel restrictions, there was notable participation from Australian trainers, with New Zealand-born Michael Moroney buying three lots through his brother Paul and their agent on the ground in Newmarket, Armando Duarte. The trio accounted for 1,475,000gns of the sale's turnover, while fellow New Zealander and Sydney's leading trainer Chris Waller, acting through John Ferguson, bought five horses for a total of 935,000gns. Ciaron Maher and Annabel Neasham were also active, along with syndicators Australian Bloodstock, Dynamic Syndications and Darby Racing.
New Saudi Arabian venture Najd Stud was also one of the sale's leading buyers with four horses purchased through Ted Voute for 935,000gns.
Mahony continued, “It is no coincidence that the most notable feature of the international influence this week has been the contribution from Australian and Saudi Arabian connections. The inaugural $30 million Saudi Cup night in February this year saw the connections of two Autumn Horses-in-Training purchases standing proudly in the winner's enclosure and there have been four individual Australian Group 1 winners from the sale since 2019. Success-driven demand is the key to so many sales at Tattersalls and it has been especially evident at all levels of this year's market.
“Equally important has been the role of the live internet and telephone bidding facilities which have both played a crucial part in enabling participation from buyers unable to attend the sale in person. We all crave the return of some semblance of normality to everyday life, but in the meantime we are having to explore all possible ways in which to facilitate business and the live internet and telephone bidding platforms have been vital innovations which have proved particularly well suited to this sector of the bloodstock market.”
As French sales company Arqana announced on Thursday that it is reviewing its remaining sales for the year in light of a new month-long lockdown in France, Mahony expressed his gratitude that the Horses-in-Training Sale had been able to take place in Newmarket.
He added, “As ever in this turbulent year we must also express our thanks to everyone who has participated in the sale this week. The challenges we all face show few signs of abating, but yet again everyone has conducted themselves with commendable patience and determination. We continue to be enormously grateful for this collective spirit of cooperation and now look forward to the December Foal and Breeding Stock Sale, incorporating the Cheltenham December Sale, which will bring the 2020 Tattersalls sales season at Park Paddocks to a conclusion.”
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