Gross up but average slips at Tattersalls Book 2

The Tattersalls October sale wrapped up its Book 2 portion Thursday with a higher gross than last year and with median and average prices essentially level.

The four-day auction in Newmarket, England, sold 685 yearlings for a combined total of about $37,132,852, resulting in an average price and median of about $54,209 and $41,738, respectively. Compared year-to-year in the local auction currency of guineas, the gross was up by 8 percent from last year’s total for 606 yearlings. The average dipped 4 percent, but the median remained the same.

The 2010 auction also sold 43 additional yearlings privately outside the auction ring for a total of about $930,110.

The sale-topper this year was a 240,000-guinea Azamour-Flashing Green filly that Dwayne Woods bought from Lodge Park Stud. The filly’s price was about $400,680. The bay filly is a half-sister to stakes-winner and Group 3-placed Flashing Colour and is from the family of champions Croeso Cariad, Mona Lisa, and others.

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony expressed satisfaction with the increased gross but noted, “Nevertheless, the increased numbers cataloged for Book 2 have had an impact on the clearance rate, which has not matched the outstanding level achieved last year. The demand for places in Book 2 was unprecedented and reflects an enormous vote of confidence in the sale, but the sheer numbers have been daunting. The market continues to show resilience considering the prevailing economic climate, but the extra 210 yearlings cataloged has without doubt placed a strain on the lower levels of the Book 2 market.

“This year’s British and Irish foal crop has reduced significantly, which will make the task of managing the numbers less challenging in 2011, and we would be looking to keep next year’s October Book 2 format to its traditional three-day format.”