Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2 Concludes with Records Across the Board

Records continued to be broken at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale with Book 2 returning new benchmarks for turnover, average and median and a strong clearance rate of 89%. A record 100 yearlings sold for 200,000 guineas or more as the turnover for Books 1 and 2 surpassed 200 million guineas for the first time.

Shadwell Purchase Showcasing Colt From a Familiar Breeder

Ballyphilip Stud’s SHOWCASING colt was bought by Shadwell for 460,000 guineas. Bred and consigned by Paul McCartan, he is the first foal out of the NO NAY NEVER mare ACCEPT THE OUTCOME, who was bought as a filly in training by McCartan for 90,000 guineas at the 2023 Tattersalls December Mares Sale.

“I absolutely loved the mare when I bought her and I still do!” laughed McCartan. “I can still see her when I stood her up in the Terrace Yard and I thought, you’re coming home with me!”

Explaining his decision to purchase her, McCartan said: “It is a talented family, and I took great heart from the fact that Sonia Rogers bought a filly foal by Chaldean from the family recently. It was all luck, but I really love No Nay Never as a broodmare sire. He’s the broodmare sire of last week’s Dewhurst winner. And then you have some Galileo in this pedigree too, and some Mr. Prospector.”

“I decided on Showcasing as a first cover because I have a share in him”, continued McCartan. “I thought he’d be a good physical match and that he’d be a good stallion to get the mare going.”

Of the excellent price for a first foal, he added: “I would have been happy with anything north of 150,000 guineas. I am disappointed for the underbidder Conor Quirke, because I know he loved the colt and he’s a very good judge. He was all over Fairy Godmother when we brought her here to sell as a yearling and he missed out on her”.

Shadwell’s Angus Gold, who bought the four-time Group 1-winning sprinter BATTAASH from Ballyphilip in October Book 2 for 200,000 guineas in 2015, said: “Of what I saw, he was the best horse here today. Paul McCartan has worked his magic again. That man was born under a lucky star.”

Of trying to buy this week, Gold added: “I wanted to buy one nice colt, and we’ve been hitting the bar a bit, coming up against the big lads. Richard Brown stole our thunder yesterday, so I thought it was time to put some manners on him and put him back in his box!”

Longview Stud’s Blue Point Colt Purchased by BBA Ireland 

Longview Stud’s BLUE POINT colt was bought by Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland for 410,000 guineas. Out of the winning KINGMAN mare DIVINE LIGHT, he hails from the family of four-time Group 1 winner BIGSTONE and the Group 1 placed BLUE CLOUD.

“He has been bought for a new American client, who has horses in training in the US,” explained Donohoe. “He might go into training, or he might be re-offered at the Craven Sale as the client is happy to trade. He is a fabulous physical and is from a very good farm. Blue Point is also doing very well in America right now.”

Of the colt’s immediate plans, Donohoe outlined: “He will go to Conor Hoban’s Beechlea Bloodstock to be broken, we will make some plans after that.”

Donohoe was complimentary of the quality of stock sold throughout the week, saying: “Trade has been very strong throughout book 2, and I do think the selection of horses on offer has been very good.”

Well Related Mehmas Filly Makes 400,000 Guineas

Tally-Ho Stud’s MEHMAS filly was purchased by bloodstock agent Charlie Gordon-Watson on behalf of Watership Down Stud for 400,000 guineas. Out of a Group 3 placed mare, she is an own sister to this year’s good two-year-old ADAAY OF SCARLETT, second in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Group 2 July Stakes, as well as the Group 2 Richmond Stakes since the catalogue was published. 

“We’ve been looking for something that could be a two-year-old, and hopefully she can follow in the footsteps of her brother,” said Simon Marsh of Watership Down Stud. “No training plans have been made as yet.”

The filly hails from the further family of the Group 2 winning and Group 1 placed sprinter STEPPER POINT, as well as this year’s Group 1 Middle Park Stakes winner ORTHODOX.

Blandford Bloodstock Strikes for Watership Down Stud’s Sea The Stars Filly

Blandford Bloodstock’s Richard Brown went to 385,000 guineas for Watership Down Stud’s SEA THE STARS filly. Out of the FRANKEL mare CRYSTAL STARLET, the filly was bred by Natalma Bloodstock in partnership with Sunderland Holding. The filly is a relation to the Champion Group 1 Prince of Wales’ Stakes winner CRYSTAL OCEAN, as well as Grade 1 winner HILLSTAR.

“She was one of those where she came up, stood up and walked up and down and I think I only looked at her for a couple of seconds and thought, you’re the one,'” said Brown. “Luckily, I had a client who was willing to back my judgment and one who was particularly keen on her. She has great strength, with a great width of hip and a big hind end on her. I would see her as a summer two-year-old and beyond.”

Reflecting on the state of the market, he said: “Book 2 has been extremely strong. My market predictions are usually woeful, and they’ve been woeful again because I thought it might be difficult. It’s never straightforward but, considering everything that’s going on in the world, it’s been tremendous. Right from Book 1 up until today, trade has been very strong.”

Managing Director’s Statement

At the conclusion of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Managing Director Matthew Prior commented:

“Following an outstanding renewal of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, it has been particularly encouraging to see the sustained demand for quality yearlings continue throughout October Book 2.

“Records have been established across the board, with combined turnover for Books 1 and 2 exceeding 200 million guineas for the first time. Turnover in excess of 75 million guineas represents a new record for Book 2, once again reaffirming its position as Europe’s second highest-grossing yearling sale behind only October Book 1. The sale of 100 yearlings for 200,000 guineas or more is a remarkable achievement which, coupled with the record average and median, both higher than those achieved at any other yearling sale in Britain or Ireland outside October Book 1, further underlines the unrivalled strength and depth of demand at Park Paddocks.

“A notable feature of October Book 1 was the depth of American participation at Park Paddocks, with buyers from the United States purchasing more than 50 yearlings. That momentum has continued into Book 2, with new arrivals joining those who remained from Book 1 to account for a further 24 purchases totalling over 4 million guineas. We have made a concerted effort in recent years to attract buyers from North America, and it is particularly gratifying to see that commitment rewarded with such a strong presence at Tattersalls, drawn by the cream of the European yearling crop and the warm welcome and hospitality for which Tattersalls is renowned.

“The Americans were joined by a strong contingent of Australian buyers, led by John Foote, who made seven purchases in his fiftieth year of coming to Tattersalls. Buyers from across the Gulf also made their presence felt, whilst we welcomed purchasers from throughout Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Turkey, alongside a competitive domestic buying bench. We must also recognise the tremendous support we continue to receive from so many Irish stud farms and consignors, alongside the very best of British breeders. Their enduring commitment to the October Yearling Sale remains a cornerstone of its success, and we are enormously grateful for their continued support.

“We now look forward to Books 3 & 4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale with optimism, as we welcome buyers from across Europe to Park Paddocks and bring to a close what has already been an outstanding renewal of the most important fortnight in the European bloodstock auction calendar.”

Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale will commence at 9.30am on Thursday, 15th October.