If anyone thought the market would cool after a record-breaking Book 1, the first two days of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale have put that idea to bed. Tuesday’s session set new single-day records for both average and turnover in the history of the sale.
In total, 442 yearlings have changed hands for 52,658,000gns across Monday and Tuesday. With the final day getting under way at Park Paddocks at 10am today, here are the top five lots so far, along with the ones worth keeping an eye on today.
The top five lots so far
1. Lope De Vega – Silk Bow colt: 650,000gns
Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock signed for his second Book 2 top lot in as many days when going to 650,000gns for Yeomanstown Stud’s Lope De Vega colt on Tuesday. The colt’s dam, Silk Bow, has produced Sharadd, who is two from two for William Haggas and already rated 99. “I thought he was an outstanding individual walking around the outside ring,” said Brown. Yeomanstown’s David O’Callaghan admitted: “We thought he’d sell very well, but I didn’t think he’d reach those heights.”
2. Blue Point – Floriade colt: 600,000gns
Monday’s top lot was a Book 2 wildcard. Ballyhimikin Stud’s Blue Point colt was originally catalogued for Book 1, but he was withdrawn after suffering from travel sickness, and Brown snapped him up for 600,000gns instead. He is a half-brother to Flotus, a Group 3 winner who was placed three times at Group 1 level. “It has all worked out in the end and perhaps it all happened for luck,” said Jack Hanly of Ballyhimikin.
3. Blue Point – Shapes filly: 600,000gns
Blue Point’s second 600,000gns yearling of the sale is heading across the Atlantic. American agent David Ingordo signed for Croom House Stud’s filly alongside Determined Stud’s Matt Dorman, and she will be trained by Cherie DeVaux. She hails from the family of Dewhurst and Lockinge winner Belardo.
4. Lope De Vega – My Eyes Adore You filly: 550,000gns
Anthony Stroud went to 550,000gns for Hillwood Stud’s Lope De Vega filly on behalf of Peter Harris. She is the first foal of Listed winner My Eyes Adore You and comes from the family of Cheveley Park Stakes winner Serious Attitude. Stroud was keeping his cards close to his chest about Harris’ buying strategy. “He has specific criteria and one is that the individual has to be by a proven sire,” he said. “I won’t tell you anything else, it is a top secret!”
5. Lope De Vega – Tickled Pink colt: 525,000gns
Ballyhimikin’s excellent week continued when Rabbah Bloodstock paid 525,000gns for their Lope De Vega colt out of dual Group 3 winner Tickled Pink. That makes him a half-brother to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Victoria Road, as well as Joseph O’Brien’s talented Andab, himself placed in Group company.
Lots to look out for on day three
Lot 1048: Sea The Stars – What A Home colt
The Castlebridge Consignment’s Sea The Stars colt has a page that is very much on the up. This colt is a full brother to The Lion In Winter, while a Sea The Stars sister out of the same mare made 425,000gns to Paddy Twomey in Book 1 last year, and his second dam, Venus De Milo, is the dam of Amelia Earhart, who was third in the St Leger last month.
Lot 1110: Lope De Vega – Archer’s Dream filly
Ballyhimikin have already sold two of the top five, and their Lope De Vega filly could make it three. She is a half-sister to a Frankel colt who cost Juddmonte 700,000gns in Book 1 in 2024, and the success of Lope De Vega this week, with three of the top five lots, is unlikely to do her price any harm.
Lot 1163: Kingman – Bufera filly
Brian O’Rourke Bloodstock’s Kingman filly comes from a family that has been no stranger to big prices. Last year, a No Nay Never filly out of the mare made 540,000gns to David Ingordo for Determined Stables in Book 1, while a Dubawi colt was led out unsold at 900,000gns in 2022. It would be little surprise to see Ingordo back in for this one.
Lot 1259: Night Of Thunder – Elshaadin filly
Houghton Bloodstock’s Night Of Thunder filly is an own sister to Controlla, who won as a two-year-old this season and was second in the Listed Legacy Stakes at Dundalk. Cheveley Park’s Chris Richardson believes Night Of Thunder is “probably going to fill the shoes of Dubawi”, so expect plenty of interest when she enters the ring late in the session.