$3.2 M for Sadler's Wells filly

A record-setting filly by Sadler's Wells helped Tattersalls avoid any show of weakness for its most prestigious sale, the Houghton yearling sale at Newmarket, England, which ended Thursday night after two days of selling.

The filly, purchased for $3.2 million, was the highest-priced yearling to sell at auction this year, and her price nudged up Tattersalls' numbers so that it could show a slight gain over last year's average price. The average price increased 2.1 percent to $348,199.

With 124 horses sold this year, however, compared with 130 last year, gross fell slightly, from $43.7 million in 2001 to $43.2 million this year.

The Sadler's Wells filly, out of the Great Nephew mare Sharata, also set a record for the highest-priced filly ever sold by Tattersalls. She was purchased by Coolmore Stud out of the Barronstown Stud consignment. The filly is a full sister to Group 2 winner Crimson Tide and from the family of 1986 Epsom and Irish Derby winner Shahrastani.