Tatts Autumn Wraps Up In Newmarket
The Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training sale wrapped up its four-day stand in Newmarket Thursday with statistics taking an overall dive. A total of 1,038 horses found new homes for an aggregate of 20,344,550gns, compared to 922 sold for 24,304,100gns last year. The buyback rate climbed slightly to 14.9%; the average dropped 26% to 19,600gns; and the median was down 23% to 13,000gns. The session’s figures were also down compared to last year’s fourth day: with nearly 100 more horses through the ring, but buyback rate was up seven points to 18.3%, the average was down 21% to 5,462gns and the median fell 11 points to 4,000gns.
“Year after year, the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale attracts a cosmopolitan cast of buyers, and 2015 has proved to be no different, with representatives from more than 40 countries finding their way to Park Paddocks,” said Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony. “This year’s sale featured a record number of lots offered and with the clearance rate of 85% holding up remarkably well, it has resulted in a record number of lots sold for this fixture. However, whilst demand from buyers from Australia, Hong Kong, Dubai and Qatar remained high, it would be fair to say that the quality of horse on offer in the catalogue is below that of previous years. That said, demand at the top remained buoyant with two lots selling for 400,000 guineas or more, a number not bettered for a decade.”
Thursday’s top lot was 1637, the 3-year-old Dalamar (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}), a half-sister to stakes winner Dalkova (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and from the prolific Aga Khan family of Group 1 winners like Darshaan (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}), Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) and Rewilding (GB) (Tiger Hill {Ire}). The bay was consigned by trainer Rae Guest for owner Andrew Tinkler and was purchased by agent Tina Rau for 45,000gns for 14-year-old Moa Sundstrom. Sundstrom, the daughter of Coulonces Consignment principal Anna Drion, made headlines at last week’s Arqana October yearling sale when selling a Le Havre (Ire) colt she had bred for €72,000 (click here), and was quickly re-investing some of those profits yesterday when splashing out for Dalamar in partnership with Coulonces head girl Charlotte Hutchinson.
A pair of lots made 25,000gns, the joint-second highest price. Lot 1643, the 3-year-old Master Zain (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire})–who finished second on his debut at Pontefract earlier this month–is headed for Kuwait after being bought by Saad Al Jallal, and lot 1449, the 2-year-old gelding Nietzsche (GB) (Poet’s Voice {GB}), was picked up by trainer Brian Ellison for owner Dan Gilbert and could stay on the flat or go jumping next year.
The horses-in-training sale was followed by the 47-lot October Yearling Sale Book 4, where 27 yearlings changed hands for 100,200gns, down 46% from the 184,300gns paid for 46 yearlings on this day last year. The average was down 7% to 3,711gns, while the median increased 9% to 2,500gns. The buyback rate was 42.6%, compared to 25.8% last year. A pair of lots sold for 10,000gns to top the table: 2113, an Equiano (Fr) colt picked up by Mick Appleby, and 2171, a Harbour Watch (Ire) filly bought by David Simcock.