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Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Part 1 07/10/05

RECORDS TUMBLE AT TATTERSALLS

The Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Part 1 concluded in robust fashion, with 120 lots selling for 14,302,000 guineas, at an average of 119,183 guineas and a median of 68,000 guineas, taking the four day total to 499 lots sold for 59,635,000 guineas, at an average of 119,509 guineas and a median of 70,000 guineas. The turnover for the four days was up 13% on last year's corresponding figures whilst the average rose 16%. The strength of the sale was reflected by the fact that 99 yearlings sold for 200,000 guineas or more compared with 67 last year, whilst 42 sold for 300,000 guineas or more compared to 28 last year.

Fillies with strong pedigree's have been in demand all week and on the final day it was again a member of the fairer sex who topped proceedings. Lot 659 was such a filly, being the daughter of fourteen-time GB/Ireland Champion sire SADLER'S WELLS out of the Group 3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes winner and Group 1 placed TIME AWAY, herself the grand-daughter of the legendary TIME CHARTER, the multiple Group 1 and Classic winner. Irish-based bloodstock agent Hugo Merry started the ball rolling with an opening bid of 200,000 guineas and was joined in the battle for the regally bred filly by London-based bloodstock agent Charlie Gordon-Watson and Newmarket-based trainer John Gosden. Irish veterinarian Demi O'Byrne, standing alongside Michael Tabor and John Magnier, soon entered the fray as the priced passed 500,000 guineas, but it was Gosden who reigned supreme, making the winning bid of 570,000 guineas. The Jamie Railton consigned filly was purchased on behalf of Stanley and Ira Gumberg's Skara Glen Stables and will be sent to Watership Down Stud before going into training with Gosden next year. The sale completed a wonderful week for consignor Jamie Railton who sold 17 yearlings for 2,650,000 guineas, second only to Timmy Hyde's Camas Park Stud who sold 23 yearlings for 3,910,000 guineas.

The Tattersalls October Yearling Sale featured the last yearlings to be sold at public auction by DANEHILL and the last of his colts through the ring was lot 630, a bay out of the RED SUNSET mare SUNSET CAFE. Consigned from Seamus Burns' Lodge Park Stud, the half-brother to Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner SEAZUN drew interest from Adena Springs' Frank Stronach and Irish bloodstock agents Peter Doyle and Bobby O'Ryan. Stronach along with Anthony Stroud, who he has been purchasing through, have been very active all week, but they were not willing to match Doyle or O'Ryan who bid 500,000 guineas and 520,000 guineas respectively. That pair were in turn unwilling to increase their bids when Coolmore Stud's John Magnier chimed in with a bid of 550,000 guineas. Seamus Burns was another consignor celebrating at the end of the sale, his six yearlings yielding 1,702,000 guineas.

At the conclusion of Part 1 of the 2005 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;

“We have seen a number of individual records broken in the course of the last four days with perhaps the most notable being the record aggregate for a European yearling sale by a very wide margin. In addition the KINGMAMBO colt out of LAST SECOND was a record price for the sale, and at 1,250,000 guineas the highest price for a yearling in Europe this year, while the average has comfortably bettered last year’’s level.

“Most important, however, has been the overall feel to the sale. There has been a genuine buzz around Park Paddocks from start to finish and the sale format has met with universal approval. After last year’’s yearling sales we said that we felt the numbers should be controlled more tightly and the decision to cut the numbers and to catalogue alphabetically by dams name throughout the sale has been the key to attracting a greater number of buyers and to keeping them here throughout the week.

“There is no doubt that the high profile successes of recent sale graduates such as MOTIVATOR, SHAMARDAL and GEORGE WASHINGTON have encouraged buyers, and new faces from throughout the world have had a significant impact on what has been a successful week. Part 2 of the October Yearling Sale starts this coming Tuesday and with FLASHY WINGS, ALWAYS HOPEFUL and SIR PERCY all graduates of Part 2 last year, buyers can be certain that there are still plenty of quality yearlings to come for those who have been unable to fill their orders in the last four days.”

Day 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Part 1 06/10/05

KINGMAMBO COLT TOPS MILLION AT TATTERSALLS OCTOBER YEARLING SALE

A son of KINGMAMBO recorded the highest price for a yearling at auction in Europe during 2005 when he was sold for 1,250,000 guineas on the third day of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Part 1. Selling continued in robust fashion during the day with 129 lots sold for 16,111,000 guineas at an average of 124,891 guineas and a median of 75,000 guineas.

Lot 360, the son of KINGMAMBO out of the ALZAO mare LAST SECOND looked one of the standout lots in the catalogue on pedigree, and recieved a timely catalogue update last week when his half-brother AUSSIE RULES won the Group 3 Somerville Tattersall Stakes at Newmarket. The colt is also a half-brother to the Listed winner APPROACH as well as Sir Mark Prescott's exciting three-year-old filly INTRIGUED, fourth in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac last year. Consigned from Chris Budgett's Kirtlington Stud on behalf of Prince Faisal Salman's Belgrave Bloodstock, the colt is a son of the Group 2 Nassau Stakes winner LAST SECOND, herself a half-sister to the dams of the Group 1 winners ALBANOVA, ALBORADA, YESTERDAY and QUARTER MOON. Blandford Bloodstock's Richard Brown made much of the early running along with Mohammed Jaber, acting on behalf of Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum's Gainsborough Stud and the pair traded bids as the price raced past half a million guineas. Just when Jaber had seemingly secured the colt, Japanese agent Nobutaka Tada entered the fray with a bid of 850,000 guineas. The million guineas barrier was soon breached, but when Jaber bid 1,250,000 guineas, Tada was unwilling to up the ante any further. A decision on who the colt will go into training with will be made at a later date.

Sons of MONTJEU have been in great demand all week following the exploits of his progeny this year, most notably the Group 1 winning trio HURRICANE RUN, MOTIVATOR and SCORPION. Lot 394, by MONTJEU out of the Listed winning MARIGNAN mare MAJINSKAYA was another to attract the attention of buyers with Adena Springs' Frank Stronach and Hirokazu Okada from Big Red Farm in Japan going head-to-head for the half-brother to Listed winner MODEEROCH and Group 2 Lowther Stakes second DANASKAYA. Okada saw off the efforts of Stronach but Coolmore principal John Magnier signalled his interest and the pair took the price past the half million guineas mark. Few are able to outlast the efforts of Magnier and after he bid 570,000 guineas, Okada waved the white flag. Consigned from John O'Conner's Ballylinch Stud, the colt is set to join Aidan O'Brien at his Ballydoyle base.

Another stallion whose progeny have been in great demand this week is PIVOTAL, Cheveley Park Stud's homebred son of POLAR FALCON. Eleven of his sons and daughters have sold for 100,000 guineas or more, with the three highest priced all selling during today's third session. The highest of these was the 430,000 guineas given for Lot 425, a colt out of MODEL QUEEN consigned by John and Lady Caroline Warren's Highclere Stud . The colt was purchased by Darley Stud's John Ferguson after he outlasted Lambourn based trainer Charlie Egerton. Ferguson was also successful in securing Lot 500, the colt out of PRETTY SHARP for 420,000 guineas. Consigned from David Brown's Furnace Mill Stud on behalf of Courtleigh Stud, the half-brother to Group 2 winner TWILIGHT BLUES was the subject of a bidding duel between both Ferguson and Coolmore's John Magnier. Lot 460, the Swordlestown Stud consigned filly out of the Listed winning mare OUT OF AFRICA was the top-priced PIVOTAL filly for the day, having been knocked down Charlie Gordon-Watson for 380,000 guineas. A further seven PIVOTAL's are set to be offered at tomorrow's final session.

Day 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Part 1 05/10/05

FILLIES IN HIGH DEMAND AS TATTERSALLS OCTOBER CONTINUES IN STRONG FASHION

Fillies were in high demand as the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Part 1 continued today in strong fashion on the second day as 132 lots were sold for a total of 15,091,000 guineas, at an average of 114,325 guineas and a median of 75,000 guineas. One of the features of trade on the second day was the clearance rate, which stood at a remarkable 89% whilst fillies filled five of the top six prices for the day.

Cheveley Park Stud, who have enjoyed great success recently with Group 1 victories from NANNINA and PEERESS, purchased multiple Group 1 and Classic winner RUSSIAN RHYTHM in this ring in 2001 for 440,000 guineas and the team, fronted by General Manager Chris Richardson and Stud Manager John Marsh have been on the lookout fillies this week. The pair, who were underbidders on yesterday's top priced MONTJEU filly, had their eye on what looked to be one of the most attractive fillies in the catalogue, Lot 320, a bay filly from the last crop of DANEHILL out of the GENEROUS mare JIVING who hails from one of the best families in the Stud Book. JIVING, a dam of the Listed placed EXCUSEZ MOI, is a half-sister to HASILI, Juddmonte Farms' phenomenal mare who is the dam of Group 1 winners INTERCONTINENTAL, HEAT HAZE and BANKS HILL and DISSEMBLE, dam of multiple Group 1 winner and current favourite for the Breeders' Cup Mile, LEROIDESANIMAUX. Consigned from Eddie O'Leary's Lynn Lodge Stud on behalf of Dr Tony Ryan's Lyon Demesne, the filly saw early interest from Adena Springs' Frank Stronach, who has made several purchases on his inaugural visit to Tattersalls. Worcestershire based bloodstock agent Michael Youngs entered proceeding's along with Richardson and the pair went head-to-head as the price passed the half million guineas mark, finally stopping at 575,000 guineas with Richardson successful.

The second highest priced lot for the day went to another filly, Lot 310, the daughter of SADLER'S WELLS out of the Group 1 winning mare INFAMY who was purchased by Herve Barjot of Pegasus Farms for 475,000 guineas. Consigned by Mark Dwyer's Oaks Farm Stables, the filly is an own-sister to the Group 2 winner MOON QUEEN and Listed winning Group 2 placed ROSTROPOVICH and a half-sister to Group 2 winner INNUENDO and Group 3 winner BARAFAMY. Stronach was again prominent in bidding along with Horse France's Robert Nataf, but the pair were soon eclipsed by Henri Bozo who was standing alongside Lady O'Reilly, and Barjot. It was the latter who finally secured the filly when O'Reilly was unwilling to increase her bid of 450,000 guineas.

One of the best pinhooking efforts for the day came with the sale of Lot 246, a bay colt by MONTJEU out of the SAUMAREZ mare FUNSIE consigned by Voute Sales. Purchased at last year's Tattersalls December Foal Sale for 95,000 guineas, the colt rewarded his owner with a massive pinhooking success after he was purchased by Newmarket based trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam for 400,000 guineas. Chapple-Hyam saw off the efforts of Robert Nataf who was stood with Marc du Chambure and Pau based trainer Jean-Claude Rouget.

Late in the evening, another filly to hit the headlines was Lot 329, the daughter of ALHAARTH out of the THATCHING mare KHAMSEH. The half-sister to Group 3 winner BONUS was consigned to the sale by Timmy Hyde's Camas Park Stud and interest in the attractive filly came from London based bloodstock agent Charlie Gordon-Watson and Shadwell Estate's Angus Gold. The pair traded bids as the price rose past 300,000 guineas and Gold looked to have secured the filly when Gordon-Watson failed to answer his bid of 380,000 guineas, but the pair were usurped by Coolmore's Demi O'Byrne who was successful with his one and only bid

Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Part 1 Starts In Strong Fashion 04/10/05

The Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Part 1 started in buoyant fashion today with 118 lots sold for 14,131,000 guineas for an average of 119,754 guineas and a median of 67,500 guineas.

Direct comparisons with last year's opening day are meaningless due to the change of format this year, but the opening day average compares favourably with last year's four-day average of 102,795 guineas.

The fireworks started early in the day with Lot 1, the half-sister to Group 1 Coronation Stakes winner MAID CAUSEWAY, by sire-of-the-moment MONTJEU. The daughter of VALLEE DES REVES, a half-sister to Group 2 winners VETHEUIL and VERVEINE, herself the dam of Group 1 winners VOLGA and VALLEE ENCHANTEE was consigned to the sale by Lady Joanna Wellesley's Marston Stud. Early interest in the regally bred filly came from Walter Connors and London-based agent Charlie Gordon-Watson and the pair pushed the price towards 500,000 guineas before Cheveley Park Stud's General Manager Chris Richardson entered the fray with a bid of 550,000 guineas. Connors and Richardson continued to trade blows until Connors made the winning bid of 825,000 guineas on behalf of Al Eile Stud in Ireland.

A little more than an hour later, Lot 37, the bay colt by GALILEO out of the CAERLEON mare ZELDA was knocked down to Japanese agent Nobutaka Tada for 800,000 guineas after a protracted bidding duel with Coolmore's Demi O'Byrne and John Magnier. The last time the pair had battled for a top colt was at this sale 12 months ago, when Magnier outbid his Japanese counterpart for the colt who topped the sale at 1,150,000 guineas and who as GEORGE WASHINGTON has won both the Group 1 National Stakes and Group 1 Phoenix Stakes this year. The colt, who was consigned from Brendan Hayes' Knocktoran Stud is a half-brother to a trio of top class sprinters, headlined by the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin winner ZIPPING as well as the Group 3 winning pair of ZELDING and NIPPING.

The phenomenal success of the first crop of MONTJEU this season, highlighted by the win of HURRICANE RUN in the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday ensured that his progeny would be in high demand. As well as the highest priced lot for the day, MONTJEU was also represented by the third top price with Lot 126, the bay colt out of the SHIRLEY HEIGHTS mare BY CHARTER, who was consigned by Jamie Railton.

The half-brother to Group 2 winner FIRST CHARTER and three-parts brother to the Listed winning and Group 1 Italian Derby second PRIVATE CHARTER saw initial interest from Blandford Bloodstock's Richard Brown as well as Berkshire based trainer Charlie Egerton. It was Egerton who won that battle, but he was soon involved in another skirmish, this time with Coolmore's John Magnier who was to prevail after Egerton was unwilling to counter his bid of 625,000 guineas for the lovely moving colt.