Tattersalls session led by Galileo fillies

Wednesday was a big day for Galileo fillies at the Tattersalls October sale’s Book 1 segment in Newmarket England. Galileo daughters took the second session’s four highest prices, led by a $2.5 million full sister to 2012 Epsom Oaks winner Was.

The sale session ended with 140 yearlings sold for about $42,036,960, for an average price of $300,264 and a $189,000 median. Compared year-to-year in the local auction currency of guineas, gross rose 58 percent and broke Tuesday’s record gross, while the average and median prices increased 39 percent and 13 percent, respectively. The 17 percent buy-back rate was level with last year.

Nicholas de Watrigant of Mandore International Agency bought the session-topping (and sale-leading) Galileo filly, a Feb. 10 daughter of stakes-placed Alluring Park, by Green Desert. John Magnier of Coolmore, which stands Galileo, was underbidder when the hammer fell at 1.5 million guineas, about $2,520,000.

Three other Galileo fillies also brought hefty prices. Camas Park Stud sold a full sister to Grade 1 winner Together and a three-quarter-sister to Group 1 winner Jan Vermeer to Coolmore for 1.3 million guineas, about $2,080,000; American bloodstock agent David Ingordo was the underbidder. A full sister to Group 1 winner Roderic O’Connor consigned by Voute Sales, was the session’s third most expensive yearling on a 925,000 bid ($1,554,000) from Blandford Bloodstock. The fourth-highest price of 900,000 guineas ($1,512,000) was for Witch of Fife’s daughter, a full sister to group winner Cabaret that Paul Fudge’s Waratah Thoroughbreds bought from Croom House Stud. The three-day Book 1 portion of the sale was to conclude Thursday.