John Magnier and Sheikh Mohammed among those preparing for a Book 1 feast

Despite the obvious differences between the fare on offer, there is a clear parallel between the restaurant scene and the world of bloodstock sales.

Both industries comprise a broad spectrum of outlets that cater for diverse tastes and needs: there are the cheap and cheerful, the trendy and the Instagramable, and then there are the classics, the high-end Michelin-starred affairs that serve those with the most refined palates - and deepest pockets.

If Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale was a restaurant it would be very much in the latter category. In all likelihood it would not have one Michelin star, it would have three.

View full Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale catalogue

This is where the most acclaimed chefs would skilfully combine the finest ingredients to produce something that would have the critics chucking the superlatives around like confetti at a wedding.

This year alone, seven Book 1 graduates have gone on to strike at the highest level, including bona fide turf celebrities Campanelle, Hurricane Lane, Palace Pier and St Mark's Basilica.

St Mark's Basilica: Book 1 graduate wins the Coral-EclipseCredit: Alan Crowhurst

This calibre of animal tends not to come cheap, and last year's sale duly saw turnover of 82,385,000gns topped by the most expensive yearling filly sold anywhere in the world in 2020, the 3,400,000gns Galileo sister to Japan and Mogul bought by MV Magnier.

In 1936 the Michelin Guide first published the criteria for its ranking system, with three-star establishments defined as "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey."

Given the rarified air that Book 1 occupies, Park Paddocks is not always packed to the rafters on inspection days. But that was not the case on a bright and breezy Monday afternoon as the sales grounds buzzed with activity as agents, owners and trainers made their assessments of the stock on offer, including a handful of names who had made their own ‘special journey’.

Sheikh Mohammed and his entourage were in town, and stopped by the Newsells Park Stud consignment to offer the operation's new owner, Graham Smith-Bernal, some pre-sale words of encouragement. Meanwhile the Coolmore buying team, joined by John Magnier, Aidan O'Brien and Georg von Opel, were busy casting their expert eyes over the lots on offer.

Sheikh Mohammed deep in conversation with Newsells Park Stud owner Graham Smith-BernalCredit: Laura Green

There was also a diverse cross-section of trainers on the hunt for future talent, including the likes of John Gosden, Andrew Balding, Roger Varian, William Haggas, Owen Burrows and Richard Fahey. Mark Johnston wasn't sighted, but the unmistakable blare of Slade's Get Down And Get With It was emanating from another of the yards.

As that is the record-breaking trainer's ringtone of choice, one can only assume he was in action too.

US-based buyers have had an increasing impact at Book 1 in recent years, both in terms of financial firepower and the sale's roll of honour on the track. No-one has achieved more on this front than Mike Ryan and Chad Brown, who have sourced Grade 1 winners Digital Age, Domestic Spending and Newspaperofrecord.

This prolific pair have been joined by the likes of Ben McElroy, who secured Campanelle on behalf of Stonestreet Stables, and Liz Crow who, with Bradley Weisbord, unearthed Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Aunt Pearl in 2019.

Ryan, Brown and Crow were among the crowd working the Tattersalls sales ground on Monday, and Crow confirmed it was not the British food that had drawn her back to Newmarket.

Liz Crow: 'Hopefully all the hard work will be worth it'Credit: Paul Buckley

"Some of the best turf horses in the world come out of this sale," she said. "There's certainly more depth to the pedigree pages, at least in terms of turf performers, than we have in America.

"We've put together a specific venture for this sale, as we did in 2019, and we've organised a separate amount of money so we're looking to buy anywhere from six to nine fillies, and we might look to buy some colts in Book 2 next week. We're hoping to go home with somewhere between eight and 12 horses."

On her Tattersalls missions, she added: "I look forward to the experience of searching through all the real quality fillies and trying to pluck a couple out. It's hard work though, I think I work harder at this sale than I do at most American auctions.

"I don't have my whole team, it's just myself, Jake Memolo and Bradley Weisbord, and that makes it a little harder to get through all the horses. Hopefully all the hard work will be worth it anyway."

It is little wonder that prospective purchasers have travelled from far and wide to be part of Book 1, as this year's menu is well up to standard. When the catalogue was released the offering featured siblings to no fewer than 47 Group 1 winners.

Lot 336: Newsells Park Stud's Dubawi half-sister to WaldgeistCredit: Laura Green

Considering the catalogue comprised 502 lots prior to withdrawals, that means close to one in every ten yearlings who enters the Park Paddocks sales ring this week can count a top-flight winner among their immediate relations. Moreover, 21 Group 1-winning mares are among the dams with progeny due to come under the hammer.

While the catalogue may be something of a beanfeast for potential purchasers and pedigree purists alike, it represents a significant test for the humble sales correspondent.

No sooner do you think you have have mentioned all the headline acts - the likes of the Kingman half-brothers to Ghaiyyath (Lot 178) and Snow Lantern (274), the Frankel half-brother to Blue Point (257), the Dubawi half-sister to Waldgeist (336), the Dark Angel brother to Battaash (379) and Palace Pier's Almanzor half-brother (405) - then you realise you have overlooked the siblings to Advertise (39), Subjectivist (231), Broome (305), Golden Horde (10), Bolshoi Ballet (369) and the rest.

The final few hours before the three-day auction kicks off at 11am on Tuesday will be an anxious period for vendors, who have to watch on as the fruits of months of hard work, and often considerable investment, come under harsh scrutiny.

Charlie Vigors: 'It's a nervous time for us vendors now'Credit: Laura Green

Among those keeping everything crossed for a fruitful few days was Charlie Vigors of Hillwood Stud, whose eight-strong draft features no fewer than five by Lope De Vega, including the sister to last year's 900,000gns Godolphin purchase King Of Conquest.

"It's a nervous time for us vendors now as you've done all the hard work, you've raised them, cared for them, prepped them, and it's all slightly out of your control now," said Vigors. "It's up to other people and what they think of your yearlings now."

On the view from the sales ground, Vigors added: "There's been plenty of traffic and we've done plenty of shows, certainly on a par with other years, now we just need to see how that converts into money being spent in the ring.

"The market has probably held up better than anyone expected and, with the cream of the European yearling crop being on offer here, hopefully that'll be reflected in the results. You have to be optimistic in this job, but it's set up to be a good sale and if you've got what everyone wants then there should be a good, healthy trade."

There has plainly been no loss of appetite among the buying bench this year, as the key European dates have seen some 2,669 yearlings presented and 2,283 find a new home at a clip of 86 per cent.

For many, Book 1 represents the main course of the global yearling sales season. Based on the evidence from the sales ground, it promises to be an event well worth savouring.

Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 fact-file

Where Tattersalls sales complex, Newmarket
When Three-day sale begins on Tuesday, with sessions starting at 11am
Last year's stats From 466 lots offered, 369 (79 per cent) sold for turnover of 82,385,000gns (down 20 per cent year-on-year), an average of 223,266gns (down 13 per cent) and a median of 130,000gns (down 13 per cent)
Notable graduates Domestic Spending (sold by Highclere Stud, bought by Klaravich Stables for 300,000gns); Hurricane Lane (sold by John Troy, agent, bought by Godolphin for 200,000gns); Palace Pier (sold by Highclere Stud, bought by John Gosden for 600,000gns); St Mark's Basilica (sold by Norelands Stud, bought by MV Magnier for 1,300,000gns)

More from Book 1:

Siblings to Palace Pier and Snow Lantern setting Highclere standard once again

'He's very like Galileo' - blue-chip colt the star of the Cumanis' Book 1 draft

Aughamore Stud's Michael and Laurence Gleeson look ahead to Tattersalls