Record Breaking Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale

The Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale saw trade soar with two lots equalling the sale record price of 160,000 guineas and a record average of 34,254 guineas. Ten lots realised 100,000 guineas or more and the clearance rate was an excellent 90%.

Norris Bloodstock’s Havana Grey Filly Realises 160,000 Guineas

Buyers would have been well-advised to pay close attention to Norris Bloodstock’s Somerville consignment with Windsor Castle Stakes winner HAVANA HURRICANE purchased for just 9,000 guineas from their 2024 draft, and their well-related filly by outstanding young sire HAVANA GREY certainly didn’t fly under the radar when selling for a joint sale topping 160,000 guineas.

Rabbah Bloodstock’s Jono Mills saw off the attentions of Richard Hughes and a persistent online bidder to secure the March-foaled filly, who was bred by Lord Margadale out of the multiple black type producing SAKHEE’S SECRET mare JOSEFA GOYA.

“She is a very nice horse, by a very exciting stallion, reared by a great farm and near the pick of the fillies today,” commented Jono Mills. “She is a balanced, attractive horse, and we are hopeful she will be a proper two-year-old.”

The daughter of HAVANA GREY continued a fruitful association for both her consignor and breeder with the Somerville sale. Norris Bloodstock sold the filly’s half-brother WINDSTORMBLACK for 17,500 guineas when the then Tattersalls Ascot Yearling Sale moved to Park Paddocks in 2020, and the BRAZEN BEAU colt went on to be the first Group winning graduate of the rebranded Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale.

A smiling Jenny Norris said: “She has been extremely busy, we have had plenty of vets which gives you confidence, and she vetted clean. It is lovely for Lord Margadale, he was not going to give her away, he has had the whole family and it is close to his heart, but I said we could be brave as she has been very popular. We sold Francisco’s Piece as a foal here and Windstormblack at this sale, it is a lovely family.”

She added: “We did not expect her to make quite that much, but we had targeted this sale to be a standout. The pedigree is strong enough to go later, but the pedigree has done so well here that we thought we’d keep that trend going. It’s a good start to the Tattersalls season for us – let’s hope she goes on to become a Royal Ascot winner!”

JOSEFA GOYA is also the dam of Listed Prix La Flèche winner FRANCISCO’S PIECE and is herself a half-sister to Group 3 Hackwood Stakes winner INTREPID JACK.

Highflyer & Cunningham Strike For Dark Angel Colt

Highflyer Bloodstock’s Anthony Bromley has made no secret of his affection for the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale and for good reason – from the sale’s five renewals to date the agent has purchased the three-time Group 1 winner BRADSELL, Royal Ascot winning two-year-olds HAVANA HURRICANE and CHIPOTLE, Group 2 Lowther Stakes winner RELIEF RALLY and the Listed winner CANDY, for a combined total of 117,000 guineas.

The latter was purchased on behalf of Phil Cunningham, and agent and owner combined to secure the joint top lot at this year’s sale for 160,000 guineas. Consigned by Grangemore Stud, the DARK ANGEL colt is the first foal out of the dual Listed winner and Group 1 Commonwealth Cup third MEASURE OF MAGIC.

Cunningham pointed out the colt’s January 3rd foaling date and laughed; “I think this is the earliest foaling date of one I have seen! The optimistic trainer tells me he will be our first runner next year.”

Trainer Richard Spencer concurred, adding: “He looks an early, fast sort. He is from a fast family, we have had luck with the sire, and hopefully we can get him out early.”

Of his current buying policy, Cunningham said: “We have got some more expensive horses, and more precocious types to crack on with and it seems to be going well – as long as they keep winning, we will keep buying!”

Highflyer and Cunningham secured six colts and a solitary filly for a total outlay of 677,000 guineas, adding Plantation Stud’s well-related colt by leading young sire TOO DARN HOT for 135,000 guineas and sons of MEHMAS, ARDAD, SIOUX NATION and COTAI GLORY for 100,000 guineas, 75,000 guineas, 65,000 guineas and 42,000 guineas respectively, and a COTAI GLORY filly for 100,000 guineas.

Highflyer Bloodstock’s Anthony Bromley was the sale’s leading purchaser, buying 27 yearlings for an aggregate spend of 1,218,000 guineas on behalf of several different clients.

Powerstown Stud Secures Tally-Ho’s Starman Colt

Tally-Ho Stud has a well-deserved reputation for excellence across all aspects of the bloodstock industry and their talents as both a breeder and producer of stallions were on display at the Somerville Yearling Sale when their colt by leading first season sire STARMAN realised 145,000 guineas to Powerstown Stud.

STARMAN is the odds-on favourite to follow in the hoofprints of fellow Tally-Ho residents MEHMAS and COTAI GLORY as Champion first season sire with VENETIAN SUN, a 240,000 guineas Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase also bred by Tally-Ho Stud, becoming the son of DUTCH ART’s first Group 1 winner two weeks ago in the Prix Morny.

Powerstown Stud’s Tom Whitehead revealed; “He’s going breezing. The stallion is flying and this is a nice horse. I’ll probably bring him back here [for the Craven] if the wheels stay on the wagon. Hopefully he’ll be lucky! The market seems to be strong here today.”

A half-sister to the black type sprinters HARRY’S BAR and MAZZINI out of the Listed winner and Group 2 placed FIRENZE, POOKY was a 17,000 guineas purchase by Tally-Ho Stud at the 2021 Tattersalls July Sale.

Plantation Stud Pair Realise 135,000 Guineas

Plantation Stud is no stranger to success at the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale, consigning the sale topping lot in 2022, and enjoyed another good renewal with three lots sold for a total of 320,000 guineas.

In addition to the aforementioned TOO DARN HOT colt secured by Highflyer Bloodstock & Phil Cunningham, Plantation Stud sold a filly by hot first season sire PALACE PIER for 135,000 guineas to Ted Durcan who commented:

“The sire is red hot, I am over the moon to have her. I am not sure who will train her yet.”

Another smart recruit to Darley’s Dalham Hall Stud stallion ranks, PALACE PIER has enjoyed a fine first season and is already the sire of two Group winners in Group 2 Lowther Stakes winner ROYAL FIXATION, purchased at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 180,000 guineas, and the Clive Cox trained Group 3 Solario Stakes winner A BIT OF SPIRIT, who was bought at last year’s Somerville Yearling Sale for 75,000 guineas by Kevin Ross for owners Paul and Clare Rooney.

The filly is out of the Listed winning SHOWCASING mare SWEET GARDENIA who was also fourth in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes.

Chairman’s Statement

At the conclusion of the 2025 Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;

“This is the fifth year of the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale, and it has proved to be a record-breaking edition, with a joint record top price, a record number of six-figure lots, a new benchmark for the average, and a clearance rate of 90%. The sale has quickly established itself as an important fixture in the European yearling sales calendar, and there has been plenty of positive feedback from consignors regarding the high level of inspections over the past couple of days.

“With racecourse successes such as Royal Ascot winner Havana Hurricane, purchased for just 9,000 guineas last year, and Group 3 Solario Stakes winner A Bit Of Spirit – two of 41 Group or Listed performers since 2023 – it is no surprise that the sale has produced such strong results. Combined with the prize-money increases for both the Somerville and October Auction Stakes, each of which will be run for a minimum of £200,000 in 2026, it is clear that the Somerville Yearling Sale continues to go from strength to strength.

“We made a conscious decision this year to reduce the number of lots in the catalogue, shortening the sale from two days to one, a move that has been met with numerous positive comments. We now look forward to Books 1 – 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and to showcasing the cream of the European yearling crop.”