Matt Prior: 'The industry continues to show how incredibly resilient it is'

The Tattersalls Ascot Yearling Sale has quickly established itself in the calendar. What can we expect from this year’s edition?

Future two-year-old winners! The sale has shown itself to be a proven source of high-class juvenile talent at value prices through the exploits of this year’s Group 2 Lowther Stakes winner Miss Amulet and Group 3 Molecomb Stakes scorer Steel Bull.

We have 257 lots catalogued, all of which are eligible for the £150,000 October Auction Stakes, as well as 49 lots that are registered for the lucrative Great British Bonus.

This year’s sale has moved from Ascot to Newmarket. How difficult a decision was it to relocate?

Having already relocated our Ascot Breeze-Up Sale to Newmarket, and with the continuing challenges presented by Covid-19, it was clear the best path of action was for the Ascot Yearling Sale to follow suit for 2020 ahead of the start of inspections.

It wasn’t easy given the sale has developed its own identity from its Ascot base, however, in these exceptional times we are fortunate to be able to use the Park Paddocks facility, which is second to none.

How have vendors reacted to the sale moving to Newmarket?

Before moving to Newmarket, vendors such as Tally-Ho Stud and Grangemore Stud had already indicated they would be supporting the sale following a strong renewal in 2019.

That said, once we announced the move we received a positive response, and we have been well supported from vendors, with a pleasing step up in terms of quality and sire power.

Can you pick out some of the eyecatching lots from this year's catalogue?

With the sale now in its fourth year, we’re happy to be offering relations to previous black-type winners from the sale. James Kelly’s Linacre House Stud returns with a smashing Gutaifan half-sister to
Flaming Princess (lot 116), herself a graduate of both the Ascot Yearling and Breeze-Up Sale, and who went on to win at Listed level for Richard Fahey.

Ringfort Stud will sell an El Kabeir half-sister to Lowther Stakes winner Miss AmuletCredit: Edward Whitaker

Derek Veitch’s Ringfort Stud, which is enjoying a phenomenal year on the track, is set to offer a daughter of El Kabeir (143) who is a half-sister to Miss Amulet. She's a great example of the value on offer, having been purchased at last year’s sale by BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe for only £7,500.

Ed Harper’s Whitsbury Manor has been a staunch supporter of the sale from the start and returns with his strongest draft yet. Among them are three lots by their own sire Showcasing, who has had an outstanding year with Sussex Stakes winner Mohaather leading the way.

They also offer a colt by leading first-season sire Goken (245), the only yearling by the sire to be offered in Britain in 2020. He's sure to catch buyers' attention, being a brother to two black-type winners.

Houghton Bloodstock should be very busy in Right Yard, with three lots by Darley’s record-breaking Night Of Thunder due to come under the hammer.

From a sales perspective, do you think there are any positives that will eventually come out of the Covid-19 crisis?

I think the industry continues to show how incredibly resilient it is in being able to adapt to times of huge challenges and upheaval. No doubt there will be positives to take away from this period, including how we utilise digital platforms to communicate and showcase bloodstock, but, like everyone, I can’t wait to see some form of normality return.

Online bidding has been a big part of sales in 2020. As an auctioneer, how have you adapted to this change and how do you feel it impacts the dynamics of a sale?

Live internet bidding was reintroduced by Tattersalls in response to the disruptions caused by the pandemic and has played an important role in resuming sales in both Britain and Ireland.

Most recently at the Tattersalls August Sale buyers embraced the technology with around 40 per cent of the lots at the sale being sold or underbid online, with the top lot [Walkinthesand] being purchased online by Ted Voute for 220,000gns.

One can see that, for horses-in-training sales in particular, this technology will prove very important in facilitating trade going forwards. In terms of its impact on the dynamics of the sale, it’s been a hugely positive addition.

We’ve now had the breeze-ups, store sales, horse-in-training and the Goffs UK Premier Sale. What have you made of the post-lockdown market?

The post-lockdown market has stood up remarkably well given the circumstances, and I think there was a shared sense of relief to have been able to hold the various sales in the first place, following the various delays and rescheduled dates.

The usual barometers of success of the sales is somewhat different this year, and my hope for the Ascot Yearling Sale is for a healthy clearance rate.

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