'We've a magnificent product' - Edmond Mahony as October Yearling Sale concludes

Throckmorton Court Stud's filly by leading first-season sire Ardad topped the concluding Book 4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when hammered down to Con Marnane for 18,000gns.

Overall, 46 lots sold from 74 offered on Saturday for a clearance rate of 62 per cent and an aggregate of 184,200gns (an increase of 20 per cent from 153,500gns last year), an average of 4,004gns (up ten per cent) and for a median of 3,000gns (up 20 per cent).

The March-born sale-topper is out of the winning Rip Van Winkle mare Belle Dormant, while under the third dam is Group 3 CL Weld Park Stakes scorer and Moyglare Stud Stakes runner-up Ugo Fire.

Further back in the page, under the fourth dam Fife, is Cabaret, dam of the brilliant St Mark's Basilica and 2,000 Guineas hero Magna Grecia, Solario Stakes winner Drumfire and Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup scorer Ho Choi.

The Castlebridge Consignment's Pearl Secret filly made the second highest price of the day when selling to Meah Lloyd Bloodstock on behalf of Howard Duff Racing for 13,000gns.

The filly is out of the Rock Of Gibraltar mare Rocknahardplace, a half-sister to the Listed Blenheim Stakes third Emperor Hadrian and a granddaughter of German champion older mare Palacegate Episode.

Duff said of his purchase: "We viewed her yesterday, the market has been very strong all week so we didn't intend to come today as there were only two lots we were looking at.

"We were impressed with her page, she looked nice physically and she'll go to Far Westfield Farm to be broken in and then she'll be trained by Simon Pearce."

He added: "She's for a fairly new syndicate, we've now got four horses - two two-year-olds, we bought a yearling in Book 3 and this filly here."

Statement

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony commented at the conclusion of the sale: "Last year’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sale was hailed as a story of remarkable resilience in the face of uniquely challenging circumstances. This year it should be hailed for the sustained demand from start to finish at all levels of the market.

“We work hard to attract international buyers every year and the overseas contingent, most notably from America, Australia and throughout the Gulf region, has made a huge contribution throughout the past two weeks, but without doubt the most encouraging feature of the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale has been the domestic British and Irish demand, which has been a revelation.

Edmond Mahony: 'Park Paddocks has been teeming with life over the last two weeks'Credit: Laura Green

“Book 1 set the ball rolling with a show of strength that saw significant gains in all of the key indicators and gave a hint of things to come with a record number of six-figure transactions which demonstrated the depth and diversity amongst the buyers.

"Books 2 and 3 followed suit with unrelenting competition amongst extraordinary numbers of buyers and records for turnover, average and median, which can only inspire confidence for the industry going forward. Similar to Book 1, the number of yearlings at Book 2 selling for 100,000gns or more was unprecedented, as was the number of yearlings reaching the 50,000gns mark in Book 3."

He continued: "We have a magnificent product and the last two weeks at Tattersalls have showcased so many of Europe’s finest yearlings to a global audience. The consignors and breeders have shown huge faith in the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and they have been spectacularly rewarded.

"Park Paddocks has been teeming with life over the last two weeks and after the ordeals of the past 18 months it has been a real pleasure to see the sales grounds, the bars and the restaurants alive with activity again, reinforcing Newmarket’s status as the hub of the European thoroughbred industry.

“We now have an Autumn Horses in Training Sale of real quality to look forward to, followed by exciting catalogues for both the December Foals and Mares Sales, and after the success of the past two weeks we can approach the remainder of the 2021 season at Tattersalls with a degree of optimism."

More Tattersalls October Yearling Sale news

Rising star pinhooker turns 4,000gns foal into 150,000gns Tattersalls top lot

Monster pinhooking touch sees Time Test colt top Book 2 closer at 400,000gns

Fierce competition continues as Juddmonte outbid Gosden for 525,000gns top lot