NEWS
Tattersalls foal sale ends with sharp increases
Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009 4:44 PM
by Carl Evans
Invincible Spirit, the stallion whose colt topped the final session of the Tattersalls Ltd. December foal sale on Saturday, has a name that embodied trade throughout the four-day event.
Confounding many forecasts, there were sharp rises across the board, albeit from a smaller catalog.
No less than 78% of the horses offered changed hands, total sales rose 39% to $34,976,433 (20,218,700 guineas), the median went up sharply to $27,671 (16,000 guineas), an increase of 52.4%, while the average figure of $56,581 (32,716 guineas) beat last year’s mark by 26.4%.
Large numbers of people attended the sale, vendors reported record numbers of shows, many to new faces, and a final-day clearance of 85% illustrates there was no slackening in trade as the sale wore on.
“There have been some particularly nice foals at this sale, and the market has been helped by a number of exciting new stallions and some very good proven sires,” stud owner and agent Luke Lillingston said.
Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said that after the successful October yearling sale, the sales company approached this week's foal sale with a sense of cautious optimism.
“But I think it would be fair to say that the strength of the trade over the last four days has exceeded our expectations,” Mahony said.
Angus Gold of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Shadwell Estates bought the session-topping Invincible Spirit colt with a bid of $432,365 (250,000 guineas).
Offered by County Kildare, Ireland-based Bryanstown House Stud, the March-born colt was produced by the winning King’s Best mare Liscune, a dual winner from a family of stakes performers. Second dam Royal Lorna finished second in the 1984 Premio Lydia Tesio (Ity-G1) and has produced five winners, while other stellar names on the catalog page include 1989 Gold Seal Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1) winner Snow Bride and her son Lammtarra, a European champion and sire; plus European champions Hector Protector and Bosra Sham. Her yearling filly by Oasis Dream (GB) sold for $285,700 when bought by John Ferguson at the Arqana Deauville August yearling sale.
Sir Eric Parker’s Crimbourne Stud in Sussex, England, was considering selling the 11-year-old Indian Ridge mare Coyote at the upcoming Tattersalls December mares sale, which begins Monday, but she was withdrawn having been accepted to visit Europe’s recently retired champion Sea The Stars at the Aga Khan’s Gilltown Stud next year.
Another reason to retain Coyote was evident when her filly foal by Darley newcomer Authorized was knocked down to British Bloodstock Agency (Ireland)’s Patrick Cooper for $294,008 (170,000 guineas) on Saturday.
“We have tried very hard to buy a nice filly for an undisclosed client,” said Cooper, who held off Cathy Grassick in the quest to sign the bay filly. “She will be kept to race and go into training with Ralph Beckett.”
Timmy Hyde, Paul Shanahan, and M. V. Magnier, whose father, John, heads Coolmore Stud, worked in unison throughout the sale, and they bought a son of Darley stallion Teofilo, also from the Crimbourne Stud consignment.
Paddy Twomey registered an interest in the April foal, but Hyde’s $242,124 (140,000 guineas) bid sealed the deal for a son of 2002 Kerry Group Ballyogan Stakes (Ire-G3) winner Jessica’s Dream, by Desert Style. Her yearling, a colt by Galileo (Ire), brought $499,975 when bought by Demi O’Byrne at the Deauville August yearling sale.
Coolmore Stud interests in the name of Balmerino Bloodstock were involved in the breeding of a son of Danehill Dancer, produced in conjunction with Felipe Hinojosa’s Spain-based Yeguada de Milagro and produced by the Spinning World mare Spinola, winner of the 2002 Kleinwort Benson Private Bank Cherry Hinton Stakes (Eng-G2).
Hinojosa’s bid of $380,481 (220,000 guineas) secured the colt outright and meant he will be reoffered as a yearling from his owner’s English base, Chevington and Loughtown Studs in Newmarket and County Kildare, respectively.
For complete sales results, click here.
Carl Evans is a British-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent
