The highest price for a yearling anywhere in the world this year and the second highest priced yearling filly ever sold at public auction were two of the notable benchmarks set when the GALILEO filly out of the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup winner DANK sold for 4,000,000 guineas on the final day of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
Business continued in remarkable fashion with a further five lots realising million guineas sales, taking the sale total to 17 – almost double last year's total. Sale turnover was an unprecedented 102,290,000 guineas, up 16% on last year's record whilst average and median rose 29% and 27% to 293,095 guineas and 165,000 guineas respectively – both records.
The star turn on the final day was the GALILEO filly out of dual Grade 1 winner DANK who realised 4 million guineas to the bid of trainer John Gosden on behalf of Godolphin.
The regally bred filly is out of DANK who won both the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and the Grade 1 Beverley D Stakes for breeder James Wigan. The daughter of DANSILI is also a half-sister to the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup winner EAGLE MOUNTAIN. Consigned to the sale by Liam & Jenny Norris' Norris Bloodstock, interest in the filly came from all quarters of the ring and included David Redvers, Kerri Radcliffe and Crispin de Moubray but it was MV Magnier and John Gosden who took up the reins as bidding passed 2 million guineas. With Gosden raising the bar to 4 million guineas his final bid secured the filly who has already been named GLOAM.
Following the purchase, Gosden said: "She is from a proper owner-breeder and was clearly an obvious one to go for, and obviously lots of people wanted her: fillies do have both racing and breeding options.
"She is an outstanding filly and to produce one like her - particularly a first foal – is an incredible achievement, it is not easy to do."
It is the second year in a row that the Norris's have sold the sale-topping yearling at Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale following on from the DUBAWI colt out of FALLEN FOR YOU who realised 2,600,000 guineas last year. Subsequently named GLORIOUS JOURNEY, he is in training with Charlie Appleby and is the winner of the Group 3 Prix la Rochette and entered in the Dewhurst Stakes and 2018's Classics.
Following the sale, breeder James Wigan commented;
"She is a beautiful filly and has been from the start. I am delighted where she has gone.
"As she was so lovely from the beginning we decided to sell her as a yearling because you are limited to how much they can ever make if you sell as a foal," he added, West Blagdon usually selling its stock as foals.
"Dank has had another filly by Galileo this spring and we also wanted to make sure that she arrived fit and healthy before selling Gloam. This spring foal will not be sold!"
Of the decision to sell as a yearling through a consignor, Wigan said: "It is a different matter selling yearlings to foals. Jenny and Liam do a wonderful job, they are close by us and have produced her in superb order."
Fillies with outstanding pedigrees have accounted for 10 of the 17 million guineas lots and few have better than the INVINCIBLE SPIRIT filly out of the Group 2 King's Stand Stakes winner CASSANDRA GO who realised 1,600,000 guineas to the bid of MV Magnier.
Consigned to the sale by James Hanly's Ballyhimikin Stud on behalf of owner Trevor Stewart, the filly is a half-sister to the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner HALFWAY TO HEAVEN, dam of the Group 1 winning RHODODENDRON and the Group 1 placed MAGICAL and to Group 3 winner THEANN, dam of dual Grade 1 winner PHOTO CALL.
The underbidder on the filly was Cathy Grassick and following the sale breeder Stewart said: "She is going to Coolmore which is a dream. They exploded the family, and hopefully things will continue."
Another yearling with an outstanding pedigree was the DUBAWI colt out of the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner DANEDREAM who was offered by Newsells Park Stud on behalf of breeder Teruya Yoshida. Despite plenty of resistance from Qatar Bloodstock's David Redvers, the colt was knocked down to Shadwell Estates' Angus Gold for 1,500,000 guineas.
"Obviously he's by one of the world's top stallions," said Gold. "And he's out of a remarkable racemare. I saw him at the farm three weeks ago and liked him then. And I thought he behaved immaculately all the way through here - he has a very classy look about him."
One of the stars of last year's Book 1 sale was the FRANKEL colt out of the dual Guineas winning ATTRACTION which realised 1,600,000 guineas. Subsequently named ELARQAM and winner of the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes last week, he looks a lively 2,000 Guineas prospect for next year for owner Sheikh Hamdan and trainer Mark Johnston. It was therefore no surprise that his DUBAWI half-brother was knocked down to Shadwell Estates' Angus Gold, standing alongside Sheikh Hamdan for 1,350,000 guineas.
"He was an obvious horse for Sheikh Hamdan to buy in light of what his brother has done," said Angus Gold. "At this stage, this horse is not as robust as his half-brother, but he is by an outstanding sire."
Breeder Duke Of Roxburghe of Floors Stud was all smiles and was happily recalling the past endeavours of his wonderful race filly and mare Attraction, as well as of her latest racing progeny ELARQAM.
"It has been a roller-coaster this week," he laughed. "I have not been so nervous about a runner since Attraction ran, but it means to much - not just making money for the farm, which is important, it is also that you want to breed racehorses.
"This horse was not as obviously good-looking as the Frankel as a foal, but he has thrived this summer and through the sale prep. He is a beautiful colt and has been a saint since he has been here, especially as he is on his own without his mates as he is our sole lot here this week.
"Attraction is in very good form. She had a Invincible Spirit filly this year - she has been named Motion and will not be coming anywhere near a sale!
"Attraction is back in-foal to Frankel and is carrying a colt."
At the conclusion of Book 1 of the 2017 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;
"To have broken so many records over the past three days reflects a catalogue of truly outstanding quality and a sale with a global reputation for producing exceptional racehorses year after year. Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale is widely regarded as Europe's premier yearling sale, but even by Book 1 standards we felt that this year's catalogue was a bit special. The sale has produced wide margin records across the board, and first and foremost we must pay tribute to the vendors who have allowed us to produce a truly vintage catalogue which has showcased so many of the finest yearlings to be found anywhere in the world. The quality of stallions currently standing in Europe is at an all time high and there is no doubt that the world's leading buyers recognise this. They want quality and Book 1 of the 2017 October Yearling Sale had quality in abundance.
"The statistics for this week's sale are pretty astounding. Obviously the individual highlight was the 4 million guineas GALILEO filly out of DANK. She was not only the highest priced auction yearling sold anywhere in the world this year, but also the second highest priced yearling filly ever sold at public auction. The sale turnover of more than 100 million guineas is a record for the sixth consecutive year, more than double the level of only seven year's ago, and the average and median have also soared to unprecedented heights. In short, the record books have been completely rewritten.
"Equally extraordinary is that last year's record of nine yearlings selling for 1 million guineas or more has been almost doubled. There have been 17 seven - figure yearlings sold over the past three days and they have been shared between buyers from Dubai, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand and the USA. Many of the leading participants this week are first time buyers in Europe and it has been a genuine pleasure to see so many new faces enjoying the unique atmosphere generated by Europe's premier yearling sale. There is currently a genuine global demand for top class thoroughbreds and nowhere has this been more obvious than at Tattersalls this week.
"Book 1 has kick started the Tattersalls sales season in spectacular fashion and we look forward to sustaining the momentum for Books 2 and 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale next week."
Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale starts on Monday, October 9 at 10am.
