Tattersalls October Yearling Sale day three highlights

A filly and colt by Champion sire Frankel were the star turns on the third and final day of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, selling for 1,600,000 guineas and 950,000 guineas respectively. The sale topper was by Frankel and the first foal out of champion two-year-old filly G.1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Millisle. She was bought by Shadwell Estate Company and sold by Watership Down Stud on behalf of breeder Francis Jennings of Stonethorn Stud. Angus Gold, racing manager for Sheikha Hissa, said outside the sale ring: "She is a lovely first foal, I saw her on the farm and loved her. I loved her every time we saw her here as did Sheikha Hissa. We knew she'd make a lot of money, but we need some fillies for the stud and a first foal out of Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) winner and by a great stallion, it was sort of fairly self-explanatory. She seems very athletic, very well-balanced and has a very good mind, so now she has got to be able to run! It is period of rebuilding, it is long term project for Sheikha Hissa. We have been lucky this year with the older horses, and Sheikha Hissa is happy to take a different route to her father Sheikh Hamdan who did not like to keep the older horses and she is prepared to if we think there is more to come, and she has been rewarded with a Group 1 winner. It is exciting times for the stud, but you have to keep regenerating." Gold added: " Sheikha Hissa has loved coming here, I think she could stand looking at the horses all day if someone did not come and move her! She loves coming to see the yearlings , we saw them all on Monday and she has been back over the three days to see horses again. She is picking it up very quickly, like her father, and really enjoys the business."

The sale hasn't been quite as spectacular as last year with the final stats below with a percentage comparison to last year. Godolphin were the biggest spenders followed by Blandford Bloodstock with a certain M V Magnier in third; Frankel, perhaps unsurprisingly was the leading sire. 

Chairman's Statement

At the conclusion of Book 1 of the 2023 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;  

“Book 1 of last year’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sale produced some outlandish figures which will most likely remain in the record books for many years to come and it is no surprise that this year’s renewal has not matched the extraordinary 2022 returns which saw a year on year rise in turnover of almost 40 million guineas. Nevertheless Europe’s premier yearling sale has enjoyed plenty of memorable moments very much reflecting the quality of the yearlings which have been on show throughout the past three days.  

“Year on year the consignors show enormous faith in Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale with the sale showcasing the very best that Europe has to offer and yet again we have seen so many of the world’s leading owners competing for the finest turf bred yearlings to be found anywhere in the world. Amongst them have been a greater number of yearlings selling for 1 million guineas or more than all other European yearling sales combined, Europe’s highest priced yearling yet again and 40 yearlings selling for in excess of 500,000 guineas which similarly is more than all other European yearlings sales to date this year.  

“As ever Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale has attracted buyers from throughout the world, so many of them drawn annually to Park Paddocks by the consistent success of Book 1 horses at the highest level on the global stage. In the course of the past three days buyers from Abu Dhabi, Australia, Bahrain, China, Dubai, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the USA have all made significant contributions at all levels of the market confirming the unparalleled esteem in which the finest European yearlings are held and specifically those found annually at this particular sale. This is a sale that produces stallions and breed shaping broodmares on an annual basis and it is the sale's unrivalled reputation which annually makes this fixture an unmissable event for so many of the most influential thoroughbred owners in the world.  

“Amongst the success stories and numerous pinhooking triumphs, there has nevertheless been a selectivity to the market which we must recognise. Last year’s game - changing October Book 1 was always going to be a challenging target, and so it has proved with the sale turnover some way short of the massive 2022 total, but the median has held up well, second only to last year’s record level, the average of almost 250,000 guineas is an impressive figure and the clearance rate in excess of 80% is a solid number. We extend our gratitude as ever to the consignors and purchasers alike whose support is what makes Newmarket and Tattersalls a true hub for the European bloodstock industry and we look forward to seeing this year’s crop of October Book 1 yearlings competing globally at the highest level as well as earning their owners in Britain and Ireland yet more lucrative £25,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonuses.  

“In the meantime, we now turn our attention to Books 2, 3 and 4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale which commences on Monday 9th October with a quality three day catalogue for Book 2 which is a sale with a rich history for producing outstanding racehorses including the likes of 2022 Derby winner DESERT CROWN, EMILY UPJOHN, Hong Kong superstar ROMANTIC WARRIOR and this year’s outstanding two year olds BIG EVS and IBERIAN."  

Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale starts at 10am on Monday 9th October.