By Emma Berry
Tattersalls is offering for resale 17 juveniles bought at last year's October Yearling Sale for 11,055,000gns. Payment has yet to be received for the group headed by a colt by Frankel (GB) out of Bold Lass (Ire), who was sold for 2,000,000gns by Watership Down Stud.
The yearlings were bought by bloodstock agent Richard Knight for an undisclosed client, who was believed to be returning to the sport having previously enjoyed Classic success as an owner in Britain and Ireland.
An email sent out by Tattersalls on Friday read, “We are emailing you as a purchaser at Book 1 of last year's Tattersalls October Yearling Sale to advise that owing to non-payment of sums owed we will be offering 17 two-year-olds for resale either by private sale by immediate effect or at sale/sales to be confirmed.”
The email also advises potential buyers that the horses, 16 of which were bought at Book 1 and one from Book 2, have been broken in and are in pre-training with Classic-winning jockey Adam Kirby and his partner Megan Evans at their Vicarage Farm just outside Newmarket.
As well as the purchases at Tattersalls, Knight also bought three yearlings from the Goffs Orby Sale for a total of €2,980,000, including the €2,600,000 top lot, a full-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never). The agent also signed for five yearlings at the Arqana August Sale for €1,980,000, and six at Keeneland's September Yearling Sale for $4,875,000. Collectively, the purchases amount to just over £20 million.
“This is a regrettable situation,” said Jimmy George, marketing director for Tattersalls. “We are working with all parties to try to reach a satisfactory conclusion, and in the meantime we have taken steps to reoffer the two-year-olds in question for sale.”
Speaking on behalf of Goffs Group, chief executive Henry Beeby, said, “Goffs' policy is that we never comment on such matters, either to confirm or deny. The Goffs Conditions of Sale clearly state that vendors are paid their sales proceeds after 35 days following each sale and that was, of course, the case following the 2022 Orby Sale.”
A statement from Keeneland similarly indicated that the company does not comment on the private business of clients but that all vendors have been paid, as per normal.
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