Tattersalls: Four-day December foal sale ends with record figures

Tattersalls concluded its four-day December foal auction on Nov. 30, and a strong and consistent presence from some of the European bloodstock market’s biggest players – led by Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum – propelled the auction to records in gross, average, and median.

Tattersalls reported 740 weanlings sold over the four days for gross revenues of 31,420,400 guineas (about $53.9 million in U.S. funds). Measured in guineas, the overall gross marked a 30 percent increase compared with the 2012 auction. The 2013 sale’s average price of 42,460 guineas (about $73,000) jumped 25 percent compared with last year’s average, and the median of 23,000 guineas (about $39,500) rose 15 percent. The buyback rate finished at 22 percent, compared with 17 percent in 2012.

A weanling daughter of Irish classic winner and Darley Europe stallion Dubawi became the sale topper during the auction’s third session on Nov. 29, helping to establish a European record for single-day gross receipts at a foal sale. John Ferguson, agent for Sheikh Mohammed, bought the filly for 450,000 guineas (about $773,250) from the consignment of West Blagdon Stud. The Irish-bred filly is out of the Group 3-winning and English Oaks-placed High Chaparral mare High Heeled. Her second dam is multiple Grade 2 winner Uncharted Haven, by Turtle Island. Just the Judge, winner of last spring’s Irish 1000 Guineas and second in the English 1000 Guineas, is a close relative.

Ferguson, representing Sheikh Mohammed, was the auction’s leading buyer with 20 purchases totaling 3,209,000 guineas (about $5.5 million). The Castlebridge Consignment led all sellers by gross with 39 lots auctioned for 1,725,500 (about $2.95 million). Sea The Stars, Europe’s Horse of the Year in 2009, led all sires by gross with 2,982,000 guineas (about $5.1 million) from 16 lots sold.

The foal sale followed a one-day yearling auction at Tattersalls that also set records. Tattersalls began its four-day mare sale on Monday, concluding on Thursday, Dec. 5.

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