World’s Best Slated For Tatts Book 1

Each October, Tattersalls assembles a catalogue of some of the best-bred yearlings in the world for the three days that comprise Book 1 of its October Yearling Sale. Book 1 has risen to the top of the global yearling sale tree, having recorded the highest average of any yearling sale the last two years–converted to U.S. dollars, $348,600 in 2013 and $396,000 last year.

Tattersalls Marketing Director Jimmy George is under no illusions that this year’s Book 1–set for Oct. 6 to 8 with 513 lots set to go under the hammer–has a tall task ahead following three record-pulverizing years for the sale, but he noted, “all the ingredients are in place” for a successful sale.

One of those ingredients is a high concentration of yearlings by the world’s best sires, and this year the current top 10 sires in Britain and Ireland make up 30% of Book 1, with the current two top, Dubawi (Ire) and Galileo (Ire), accounting for 36 yearlings between them.

“That is a very sound gauge of the quality of Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale,” said George. “It is the number one yearling sale in Europe and I think that’s what buyers have come to expect in recent years; it’s the place where you’ll find the highest concentration of the best-bred yearlings in Europe year-after-year.”

George pointed out it’s not just the numbers by the leading sires that count, but also the quality of those sires on a global scale.

“The quality of stallions standing in Europe is equally key,” he added. “I don’t think there are too many people that would disagree with an assessment that puts Galileo and Dubawi as the two best stallions in the world at the moment, certainly if you just take them in the turf category, and we have nearly 40 yearlings by those two stallions alone. By that very nature those are going to be outstandingly bred.”

And the leading sires have delivered results with their progeny sent through the Tattersalls ring. Last year’s G1 2000 Guineas winner Night Of Thunder (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and G1 Epsom Derby winner Australia (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) are both Book 1 graduates, a fact that Tattersalls shoppers are well reminded of.

“You walk into the ring now and you see pictures of recent Classic winners from Book 1,” George said. “Last year the Guineas winner by Dubawi was from Book 1, as was the Derby winner by Galileo, and that sums it up. Obviously it’s not just the Galileo and Dubawi show, but I think that’s key to Book 1 in recent years; the high regard that the best stallions standing in Europe are held in by the leading buyers throughout the world.”

Since the turn of the century, Tattersalls can lay claim to having sold seven Epsom Derby winners; no other auction house has sold more than one. While that Classic fell to the homebred Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) this year, Book 1 graduate Legatissimo (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) snatched Classic glory in the G1 1000 Guineas, and that proved to be just the beginning of her story; the 350,000gns purchase finished a short-head second in both the G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 Pretty Polly S. before smashing her opposition in the G1 Nassau S. and G1 Matron S.

Legatissimo’s half-sister by Redoute’s Choice (Aus) (lot 24) is one of 37 siblings to Group 1 or Classic winners in this year’s catalogue. That group also includes a full-brother to four-time Group 1 winner Al Kazeem (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) (lot 264); and another Dubawi colt, this one a half-brother to G1 Pretty Polly S. winner Chinese White (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) (lot 123). Galileo is represented in this category by full siblings to two previous Book 1 toppers: lot 43, a full-brother to the G1 Epsom Oaks winner Was (Ire) and Al Naamah (Ire), the record-setting 5 million-guineas sale topper here in 2013; and lot 377, a full-brother to last year’s 2.6 million-guineas sale topper and a half to G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. winner Harbinger (GB) (Dansili {GB}). First-season sire Sepoy (Aus) is represented by three siblings to Group 1 winners: lot 436, a half-brother to Rizeena (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}); lot 225, a half-brother to Seal Of Approval (GB) (Authorized {Ire}); and lot 156, a half-sister to standout sprinter Sole Power (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}). Other first-season sires with siblings to Group 1 winners catalogued include Casamento (Ire), who has a half-brother to this year’s G1 Dubai World Cup winner Prince Bishop (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (lot 358) and Nathaniel (Ire), who is represented by (lot 367), a half-sister to G1 Sun Chariot S. winner Spinning Queen (GB) (Spinning World) who was picked up for 300,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale last year. Another classically bred colt is an Oasis Dream (GB) half-brother to G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains and GI Shadwell Turf Mile winner Aussie Rules (Danehill) (lot 287), and Sea The Stars (Ire) is represented by the well-related lot 440, a half-brother to G1 Yorkshire Oaks and G1 Prix Vermeille winner Shareta (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}). Hot sire Fastnet Rock (Aus) is represented by a half-sister to G1 Gold Cup victor Colour Vision (Fr) (Rainbow Quest) (eldlot 218).

The catalogue also includes a healthy dose of progeny of Group 1-winning mares, including a Sepoy (Aus) colt out of GI E.P. Taylor S. winner Fraulein (GB) (Acatenango {Ger}), already the dam of two stakes winners (lot 209); a Nathaniel colt out of Kinnaird, the dam of G2 Royal Lodge S. winner Berkshire (Ire) (Mount Nelson {GB}) and the second dam of the talented Ivawood (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) (lot 267); a Fastnet Rock filly out of Luna Wells (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) and therefore a half-sister to Group 3 winner Cat Junior (Storm Cat) (lot 307); a Raven’s Pass filly out of G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 353); and a Galileo daughter of another Irish 1000 Guineas winner in Saoire (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) (lot 425). The standouts will also include the first foals out of dual Group 1 winner Izzi Top (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), a colt by Oasis Dream (lot 254), and G1 1000 Guineas winner Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), a Galileo filly(lot 234).

A key element to this year’s yearling sales–in both Europe and America–has been the first offerings by unbeaten champion Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), the highest-rated horse by Timeform in its 68-year history. Frankel is the runaway leader among first-season sires by average thus far this sale season with eight sold from 10 through the ring for an average of $634,632.

Tattersalls has catalogued 18 yearlings by Frankel for Book 1, and while each of them would be standouts on paper in any catalogue, some of the highlights include a grandson of the impeccably bred Group 1 winner Quarter Moon (Ire), whose page has been enhanced this year by her Group 1-winning daughter Diamondsandrubies (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) (lot 23); the first foal out of dual Group 3 winner Chrysanthemum (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who was purchased for 800,000gns by Eaton Sales while carrying this colt at Tattersalls December two years ago (lot 125); a colt out of triple Group 1 winner Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) (lot 148); a filly out of dual Grade I winner Dynaforce (Dynaformer), whose Giant’s Causeway yearling filly made 325,000gns here last year (lot 174); a colt out of GI Personal Ensign S. winner Icon Project (Empire Maker), whose War Front filly was a 950,000gns purchase by John Ferguson at this sale last year (lot 241); a son of Model Queen (Kingmambo), the dam of Group 1 winner Regal Parade (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Group 3 winner Entifaadha (GB) (Dansili {GB}) (lot 339); and a colt out of a half-sister to Group 1 winners Peeping Fawn (Danehill) and Thewayyouare (Kingmambo) whose third dam is the exceptional producer Blush With Pride (Blushing Groom {Fr}) (lot 404).

“Frankel is hugely exciting; there will be a lot of expectation and interest in the first crop of Frankel yearlings,” George noted. “Because of his stature he received some outstanding mares in his first crop and subsequent crops, so their natural spot is Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. We’re delighted to have 18 of them.”

This year’s first-season sire cast, however, boasts depth beyond just Frankel. In addition to the likes of Nathaniel and Excelebration (Ire)–who made names for themselves chasing Frankel before achieving Group 1 glory themselves–this year’s freshmen include four from Down Under–sprint champion Sepoy (Aus), 10-time Group 1 winner So You Think (NZ) and Group 1 winners Helmet (Aus) and Foxwedge (Aus)–not to mention Redoute’s Choice (Aus), Australia’s three-time champion sire who has enjoyed excellent results at this year’s yearlings sales with his first Northern Hemisphere-sired crop. Redoute’s Choice has eight catalogued in Book 1, including the half-sister to Legatissimo.

“In that respect, it’s a global sale,” George said. “You look through the stallion index; the current lineup of top sires in Europe is the envy of the rest of the world at the moment, but the young sires starting out are a very intriguing bunch. It isn’t just the Frankel show when you’ve got horses like Sepoy and Redoute’s Choice. You have this international element that is very intriguing, and another angle that could attract buyers from all over the world.”

While the pendulum in Europe has swung back largely to locally based stallions, some U.S. sires have continued to enjoy success in both the sales ring and on the racetracks in Europe, and Book 1 includes a solid selection of American-bred or -sired youngsters. Those include the progeny of Artie Schiller, Broken Vow, Distorted Humor, Elusive Quality (3), Exchange Rate (3), Kitten’s Joy (4), Lemon Drop Kid, former reverse-shuttler Lonhro (Aus), Scat Daddy, Speightstown, Stay Thirsty, Street Cry (Ire) (3) and War Front. Many of these sires have already been well received in Europe, including Kitten’s Joy, whose lone yearling to sell here last year made 390,000gns (about $624,713), the sire’s third highest-priced yearling anywhere in the world last year. The four Kitten’s Joys on offer by Voute Sales this year mark a continuing experiment by Ken Ramsey to sell the progeny of his homebred stallion at Europe’s best sales.

“We have a really good cross-section of yearlings by American-based sires in the book,” George pointed out. “We’re thrilled Mr. Ramsey has sent four really smart Kitten’s Joy yearlings to us again; he sent us one last year, and that result no doubt encouraged him to give it another go. And they’re well-bred Kitten’s Joys; these are out of some smart mares, and he’s a leading turf sire, so he would make perfect sense to the buyers at Book 1.”

Tattersalls Debuts Book 1 Bonus…

A longstanding staple of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale has been its valuable sales races designed to reward buyers for shopping at Book 1. Tattersalls has been running a sales series in some form since the 1980s, and most recently that has been the Tattersalls Millions, five races for 2- and 3-year-olds worth a total of £1.3 million. Tattersalls recently revealed, however, that series would be scrapped in favor of a new scheme: the £25,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus. Any horse that goes through the ring at Book 1, whether sold or not, is eligible for the bonus, which will pay out £25,000 to Book 1 graduates that win any class two, three or four 2-year-old maiden in the UK or any open maiden in Ireland (excluding auction maidens and median auction maidens). There will be an estimated 300 races of that variety carded next year, and George explained that, with regular purses and Plus 10 bonuses taken into consideration, Book 1 maidens will be running for more purse money than juveniles in most parts of the world next year.

“The prize money in most cases will be superior to any 2-year-old maiden prize money in the world, much less Europe,” he explained. “A lot of these horses will be Plus 10-eligible, so if they won a Class 2, 3 or 4 maiden in this country or an open maiden in Ireland, they get [£10,000, and €12,500 in Ireland]. Then you add the Book 1 bonus and the actual prize money of the race and pretty well every single one of those horses will be winning £40-50,000 in win prize money. Whatever level of 2-year-old maiden prize money you have on the pedestal, these horses, in most cases, will be winning more than that.”

Buyers of this year’s Book 1 yearlings can sign their purchases up by paying £1,000 anytime between the time of purchase and Mar. 1, 2016. Qualifying maidens will be spread throughout the season, with opportunities for earlier types as well as later-developing Classic types.

“I think the beauty of it is that it doesn’t matter if you have a very precocious 2-year-old, or a 2-year-old that comes to hand in the middle of the year or the autumn; they still have the opportunity to run in a qualifying maiden, and to win this huge prize money,” George said. “It doesn’t matter if they’re winning over five furlongs or eight or nine furlongs at the back end of the season. These races are out there for them. It’s extremely lucrative, it’s very simple and it provides opportunities for horses of every conceivable type.”

Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony pointed out that recipients of the Book 1 Bonus could cover a year’s training fees with a single win.

“Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale will now not only be an owner’s best chance of buying a European Classic winner, but also probably the only chance for an owner to buy a horse which could pay for a year’s training fees by winning a maiden,” he said. “Prize money is the lifeblood of the sport and we are proud to be introducing a scheme that looks set to capture the imagination of owners, trainers and consignors.”

The Book 1 Bonus has thus far been met with support from many industry participants. Bill Dwan, whose Castlebridge Consignment is perennially a leading seller at Parks Paddocks, said, “I honestly believe the new £25,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus is a superb incentive scheme. It will be simple, affordable, and above all massively rewarding for owners. The best yearlings in Europe deserve to be running for serious prize money, and the Book 1 Bonus achieves this objective in a manner that no other scheme ever has.”

Trainer Ed Dunlop said, “I have been lucky enough to have campaigned a number of horses that have earned huge amounts of prize money on the world stage, but prize money here at maiden level has always been an issue, and the prospect of an owner covering a year’s training fees by winning a 2-year-old maiden is a very powerful incentive. This is a great scheme and I will be encouraging my owners to buy as many yearlings at Book 1 of this year’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sale as possible.”

To view the future winners of the Book 1 Bonus, visit www.tattersalls.com for the Book 1 catalogue. Book 1 takes place Oct. 6 to 8, followed by Book 2 Oct. 12 to 14 and Book 3 Oct. 15 to 16. Book 4 takes place later in the month Oct. 29.