Tattersalls: Book 2 section ends with record gross

The four-day Book 2 section of the Tattersalls October yearling sale concluded on Thursday, posting records in gross and median, and recording an all-time best buyback rate as well.

Tattersalls reported 765 yearlings sold for the Book 2 section for total revenues of 36,359,500 guineas (about $61.7 million). Measured in guineas, the gross was up 17 percent from last year’s Book 2 section, which, at the time, established a record of 31,039,000 guineas (about $52.6 million) from 788 lots sold. This year’s Book 2 average of 47,529 guineas (about $80,190) rose 21 percent compared with 2012, while the record median of 37,000 guineas (about $62,780) climbed 16 percent. The Book 2 buyback rate was a strong 13 percent, compared with 16 percent last year.

Sixty-two yearlings sold for more than 100,000 guineas during the four-day Book 2 run, led by a Motivator filly sold to Ross Doyle, agent, during the third session for 320,000 guineas (about $536,000). The filly’s dam, unraced Elegant Beauty, is a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner and sire Grand Lodge. Ross and Peter Doyle’s agency led all buyers in gross with 41 purchases for 3,587,000 guineas (about $6.09 million).

The Castlebridge Consignment led all Book 2 consignors with gross sales of 1,141,000 (about $1.94 million) from 29 lots. Rathbarry Stud’s Acclamation led all sires by gross with 2,266,000 guineas (about $3.84 million) from 38 yearlings sold.

The final Book 2 session concluded with 175 yearlings sold for 7,808,500 guineas (about $13.2 million), a 9 percent increase compared with the final Book 2 session last year. The final day’s average of 44,620 guineas (about $75,700) increased 29 percent, and the median of 35,000 guineas (about $59,390) rose 17 percent. Thursday’s session was led by a Fastnet Rock colt out of the Indian Ridge mare Green Castle, who is the dam of stakes winner and producer Ithoughtitwasover. Charles Gordon-Watson, as agent, landed the colt for 180,000 guineas (about $305,500) from the consignment of Watership Down Stud. This colt is from the family of English Horse of the Year Old Vic.

Tattersalls will hold a single Book 3 yearling session on Friday.

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