Newmarket, UK (November 28, 2009) - The Tattersalls December Foal Sale finished with a flourish on the fourth and final day with 10 lots selling for 100,000 guineas or more and turnover for the sale passing 20,000,000 guineas. The fourth day saw a total of 124 lots sell for 4,402,900 guineas, at an average of 35,507 guineas and a median of 18,000 guineas, which took the four day total to 618 lots sold for 20,218,700 guineas, a rise of 39% on the 2008 turnover. The average and median also rose by 26% and 52% respectively, to 32,716 guineas and 16,000 guineas.
The top lot on the final day was the Invincible Spirit colt out of the King’s Best mare Liscune. Consigned from Bernie Cooke’s Bryanstown House Stud, the colt caught the attention of London Thoroughbred Services’ James Wigan and Camas Park Stud’s Timmy Hyde, but both had to defer to Shadwell Estates’ Angus Gold who secured him for 250,000 guineas.
Felipe Hinojosa had to go to 220,000 guineas to secure the Danehill Dancer colt out of Spinning World’s Group 2 Cherry Hinton Stakes winner Spinola. The half-brother to the Listed winner Kirrinola caught the attention of agents Hugo Merry and Peter Doyle as well as Ashtown House Stud’s Paul Shanahan, but all were unable to match Hinojosa. The Spaniard indicated that the colt could either return to the sales next year or be kept to race.

At the conclusion of the 2009 Tattersalls December Foal Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said;
“After the successful October Yearling Sales we approached this week’s December Foal Sale with a sense of guarded optimism but I think it would be fair to say that the strength of the trade over the last four days has exceeded our expectations. This year’s foal catalogue was 25% smaller than its 2008 predecessor but it has generated a 26% increase in turnover, and an average up 39% to a figure only bettered twice in 2006 and 2007. Equally encouraging has been the clearance rate of nearly 80% which demonstrates the enduring demand for quality that has been the key to a 2009 Tattersalls sales season which has consistently outperformed expectation. These are still challenging times and it would be wrong to pretend otherwise, but this week’s returns can only help to bring back a measure of confidence to an industry which, like so many others, took a battering last year.
“We have a good, solid breeding stock catalogue to look forward to next week and the usual cosmopolitan crowd should ensure trade to match the vibrant sale we have enjoyed this week.”
The Tattersalls December Mare Sale starts on Monday, November 30 at 10am (NHST) .

Tags: Tattersalls
Permalink| Nov 29, 2009

Comments are closed.