Tattersalls Book 3 draws to a record close

Outstanding trade

So it was with Book 3 of the October Yearling Sale, which just about equalled last year's figures in one single day following a bullish session on Thursday. Trade dropped another notch during the graded second session, but its own returns were still way in advance of the corresponding day last year and helped to create record figures for Book 3.

A final-day aggregate of 3,324,350 gns (AU$6.4 million) pushed the Book 3 total to 10,593,150 gns (AU$20.4 million), which was more than 3,000,000 gns (AU$5.7 million) beyond last year's total with just 12 more horses being sold this time around.

Over the two days, 471 yearlings changed hands, bringing a fractionally improved clearance rate of 86 per cent. Significant gains were made in both the median and average, with the former being up 64 per cent at 18,000 gns (AU$34,000), while the average of 22,491 gns (AU$43,000) represented a rise of 40 per cent.

Passing the Test

The British sire ranks have been given a major boost this season with some notable success for first-season sires Ardad (Ire), Time Test (GB), who shuttles to Little Avondale Stud, and Ulysses (Ire) in particular, and those results on the track have been reflected in the ring through Books 2 and 3.

While a pinhooked Ulysses colt topped the first day of Book 3 at 150,000 gns (AU$288,000), it was Nicky Welby's Time Test colt from the family of Bill Gredley's outstanding mare User Friendly (GB) (Slip Anchor {GB}) who headed the final day.

Lot 1745 sold for 95,000 gns (AU$182,500) to Montgomery Motto. The son of the unraced Shamardal (USA) mare Purest (GB) was consigned for the breeder by Whatton Manor Stud.

“All of the credit must go to Nicky,” said Whatton Manor's Ed Player. “She hasn't had the easiest time as her head man was injured, but Nicky and her team have done a great job and the colt turned up here looking fantastic and just tucked straight into his hay.”

A former trainer at Calder, Florida, Motto is assembling a team of horses to race in Ireland.

“This is one of the best athletes I've seen here and he has a lovely temperament to match. It's hard to go wrong with a Shamardal mare and she has produced a useful runner abroad,” Motto said.

“I went a bit higher than planned, but the money nearly always finds the horse. He will go to Richard Brabazon for breaking and we will make plans from there.”

Time Test had 15 second-crop yearlings sold through Book 3 for an average of 39,667 gns (AU$76,000) from a covering fee of £8500 (AU$16,500).

More Power to Fahey

Overbury Stud's Ardad has also been punching high this year, with the G1 Middle Park S. and G1 Prix Morny winner Perfect Power (Ire) as his foremost flagbearer, and the stallion's leading player in Book 3 will be going to the same trainer, Richard Fahey, after Robin O'Ryan outbid Nancy Sexton at 85,0000 gns (AU$163,000).

Sold as Lot 1723 by Peter Balding of Throckmorton Court Stud, who bred the colt in partnership with Lady Whent, he is out of the treble winner Night Affair (GB), a Bold Edge (GB) half-sister to the top sprinter and young stallion Twilight Son (GB).

O'Ryan was acting on behalf of owner Steve Bradley, who was standing with him in the gangway and said after signing the ticket, “I think the breeze up boys were in competition with us. This colt looks a nice early type, these boys recommended him, there is Twilight Son on the page, hopefully he is lucky for us.”

New boys star

Emma Foley and Damian Flynn of Redgate Bloodstock started the week well with all three of their yearlings sold for decent sums at Book 2 and that success rolled over into Book 3, with another three sold.

That trio included one of the early leaders, a filly by Coolmore's first-crop sire Sioux Nation (USA), who was bought by Federico Barberini for 50,000 gns (AU$96,000) on behalf of Clipper Logistics.

“We were all here yesterday and saw her a few times and I've bought her with Joe Foley for Clipper,” said the agent. “She is out of a mare who has already produced a good winner and is from a good farm. Damian and Emma Flynn do a great job.”

Out of the winning Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) mare Gregoria (Ire), Lot 1644 is a half sister to the 93-rated To Glory (GB) (Toronado {Ire}), who was twice a winner this year in Ireland for Ger Lyons before being sold to race on in Hong Kong.

Sioux Nation's nine yearlings to sell at Book 3 returned an average of 32,333 gns (AU$62,000).

The first European yearlings of Zoustar, who shuttles from Widden Stud to Tweenhills, have also been popular at Tattersalls over the last fortnight and his Book 3 offerings included two fillies from Andrew Black's Chasemore Farm, both of whom are out of mares by Red Clubs (Ire) and featured among the leading lots on the days.

A daughter of the Listed-placed The Gold Cheongsam (Ire), catalogued as Lot 1812, will be going into training with Mark Loughnane, having been bought for 50,000 gns (AU$96,000). She is a half-sister to the 2-year-old Qipao (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), who is trained for Andrew Black by Mark Johnston and won her first two races this season before running fourth in the Listed Star S.

Bloodstock agent Hamish Macauley was also in pursuit of a Zoustar yearling on behalf of Tally-Ho Stud, with the team there planning to breeze Lot 1759 after Macauley was the successful bidder at 77,000 gns (AU$148,000). Also from Chasemore, the filly is a half-sister to three winners and is out of the G3 Firth of Clyde S. victrix Roger Sez (Ire).