Darley stallions on top at Tattersalls

A very strong three days of trading during the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Part 1 concluded on Thursday and the Darley stallions enjoyed a hugely successful week, providing three of the top five lots.

The star of the week was undoubtedly Dubawi, who posted an average of no less than 654,500 guineas - higher than any other stallion who had more than one yearling to go through the ring. His highlights were a 1.6 million-guinea colt out of G1 winner Crystal Music from Watership Down Stud, and The Duke Of Roxburghe’s impeccably-bred colt out of Comic who was bought for 1.4 million guineas.

Shamardal was responsible for the second highest price of the entire sale, courtesy of his colt (pictured) out of G1 producer Cassandra Go who was bought by John Ferguson for 1.7 million guineas. His average of over 375,000 guineas is almost ten times the fee at which these yearlings were conceived.

The first yearlings by Poet's Voice have been tremendously well received, with all seven offered finding new homes and averaging an astounding 22.5 times his 2012 covering fee of £12,000. The final day of the sale was his strongest, with Al Shaqab Racing going to 700,000 guineas to secure his daughter of Perfect Spirit, already successful with Dubawi courtesy of Group winner Perfect Tribute. Al Shaqab also took home a son of Poet’s Voice out of Past The Post for 475,000 guineas. The mare is a half-sister to no fewer than seven Black type winners, including G1 winner Bakharoff.

Authorized and Iffraaj were also among the most profitable stallions to be represented at the sale, averaging 19.5 and 18.7 times their covering fees respectively.