Top-class graduates lighting the way for buyers at Tattersalls Book 2

There will be no sense of complacency around Tattersalls this week, with six consecutive sessions through Book 2 to 4 of the October Yearling Sale expected to prove even more indicative of general market health.

Many global bloodstock superpowers emerged from relative aestivation for the elite pickings during last week’s Book 1. Almost 800 individuals will be offered in the three sessions of Book 2, where there is the potential for further six-figure deals.

"It would be fair to say that Book 1 went an awful lot better than people either feared or expected," said Tattersalls marketing director Jimmy George.

"It was 20 per cent down on turnover which, by global standards, is a huge result compared to what we’ve seen so far, and the average and median were down less than that, to levels of 2015/2016.

"I think it was a measure of the quality of the horses, the reputation of the sale in terms of being targeted specifically by buyers who were restricted, or felt restricted in the number of sales they could attend, and various factors at play.

"There were new and relatively new buyers making a proper impact, and the influence form the Gulf region should and can never be underplayed. In addition to the support of the Maktoum family it was great to see buyers from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia making a big contribution.

"The Americans were fantastic again and that’s success driven - as is the focus of Australian interests, who were very busy through the week, and that will hopefully filter into Book 2 as well."

While Book 1 essentially sells itself, there have been a number of recent Book 2 success stories which could encourage buyers into the arena. With heavy support from the likes of the Maktoums, turnover has approached the 50 million mark in the last three years.

"The great thing is there’s quality and value for money in every sector, it’s got an amazing track record for producing top-class performers year after year," said George.

"This one has been a banner year in some respects with the likes of Mohaather and Battaash coming out of Book 2, and two individual Group 1 winners in Australia this year in the shape of Addeybb and Fifty Stars. That, in addition to Russian Camelot flying the flag for Book 1, is a good focus for Australian buyers.

Gimcrack winner Minzaal was from last year's Book 2 intakeCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"It didn’t quite pan out for Chindit in the Dewhurst but he looks a horse with a bright future, as does Minzaal, who has been flying the flag for the two-year-olds."

He continued: "It’s obviously a slightly different sale but, equally, it attracts a huge number of buyers, some of whom may have found they were unable to get what they wanted in Book 1, and others that may not even have been there at all.

"It's a very wide cross-section of buyers, and it’s very much the staple yearling sale for an enormous number of trainers, owners and bloodstock agents from Britain and Ireland, and further afield. I think it’ll be a busy week and the success of Book 1 will certainly have been beneficial."

The later sessions of largely lower-profile prospects in Books 3 and 4 could be where trade is particularly sticky.

"We’re hugely conscious of the challenges out there facing our industry and the wider world, and these have been readily apparent for all of us for some time," admitted George. "Like in every walk of life, we're doing our utmost to make it possible to conduct business in a manner as conventional as we possibly can.

"Just for people to be able to attend and buy and sell to the level that they have been is some achievement in itself. This is not a time for taking anything for granted, there are a huge number of obstacles out there, and our job is to try to minimise them."

TATTERSALLS OCTOBER SALE BOOK 2

Where Park Paddocks, Newmarket, CB8 9AY

When Monday to Wednesday, sessions start at 10am. Books 3 and 4 continue until Saturday

Last year's stats From 730 offered, 620 sold (85 per cent) for turnover of 48,499,000gns, an average of 78,224gns and a median of 55,000gns

Star graduates Battaash (sold by Ballyphilip Stud to Shadwell Estate Company for 200,000gns); (Camas Park Stud, Charlie Gordon-Watson Bloodstock, 200,000gns); Mohaather(Hillwood Stud, Shadwell Estate Company, 110,000gns)

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