Pletcher buys two yearlings at Tattersalls

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher made his first foray into the European sales market by purchasing two yearlings at the Tattersalls auction in Newmarket, England.

Pletcher said he purchased a filly by Fastnet Rock and a colt by Galileo. The latter is a half-brother to Materiality and My Miss Sophia, both graded stakes winners trained by Pletcher. Materiality won the Grade 1 Florida Derby.

The Fastnet Rock filly was purchased solely by Aquis Farm, the racing operation of Tony Fung, a high-profile owner in Australia who has recently started delving into the U.S. market. Fung teamed with John Gunther to buy the Galileo colt. Gunther bred that colt, who is out of the dam Wildwood Flower, a listed stakes winner Gunther campaigned with Jerry Hollendorfer and Kiaran McLaughlin.

Pletcher said the increased amount of turf racing in the U.S. was a primary factor in his decision to attend the Tattersalls auction. Trainer Chad Brown has been going to Tattersalls for three years and purchased the likes of Newspaperofrecord, Digital Age, and Demarchelier at that auction.

“Even though I don’t think the marketplace has caught up necessarily in terms of stallion prospects – the dirt stallions are sort of still the most valued commodities – but turf racing is more plentiful and the purses are very good. You have to take a look at it,” Pletcher said.

Pletcher said both yearlings will do a short quarantine period before moving on to his father’s farm in Ocala, Fla.