Extraordinary Week for the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale
The Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale has enjoyed an extraordinary run of success in the past week with a Grade 1 winner and a two-year-old Group race double at York’s Ebor Festival in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes and Group 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes, a fortnight out from the 2023 renewal which will take place on Tuesday, 5th September.
ANISETTE began the golden run of form with victory in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks last Sunday for Leonard Powell and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, following up her win in the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes in July. Previously trained by Kevin Philippart De Foy, ANISETTE was bought by Avenue Bloodstock from Manor Farm at the inaugural Somerville Yearling Sale and is the second Group/Grade 1 winner to come from the 2021 sale following BRADSELL’s win in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Success for graduates of the 2022 renewal followed at York’s Ebor Festival with a notable two-year-old Group race double. INDIAN RUN was a dominant winner of the Group 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes on Wednesday for Eve Johnson Houghton and the Steve Parkin led Bronte Collection. The two-year-old colt was purchased by Joe Foley for 75,000 guineas from Castledillon Stud and looks likely to head to the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes.
Thursday saw RELIEF RALLY storm home in the final furlong to add victory in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes for William Haggas and the ‘Double Green’ of owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, following up her win in the £250,000 Weatherbys Super Sprint and heartbreak for her connections when beaten by just a nose in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. She was purchased for 58,000 guineas by Anthony Bromley of Highflyer Bloodstock from Knockatrina House.
The victory of WOODHAY WONDER in Saturday’s £100,000 Somerville Auction Stakes at Newmarket provided a fitting finale to the week, with Tom Ward’s Group 2 placed filly defeating Group 3 placed GEOLOGIST in a thrilling finish to claim the substantial prize money pot for owners Matthew Webber & Toby Ward. She was bought by Tom Ward with Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for 26,000 guineas from Genesis Green Stud and Des Thurlby, and is one of a remarkable 16 Group/Listed performers for the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale in 2023.
This year’s Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale will take place on Tuesday, 5th September with 314 lots catalogued, all of which are eligible for the 2024 £100,000 Somerville Auction Stakes and £150,000 October Auction Stakes. Catalogues are out now and available from Tattersalls and Tattersalls representatives and online at www.tattersalls.com.