Europe’s strongest ever yearling sale

A number of Darley stallions made quite a splash during a record-breaking Book 1 of Tattersalls October Sale, at which Authorized’s three-parts-brother topped trade at 2.5 million gns and the aggregate achieved for the three sessions exceeded any other European yearling sale on record.

The first day sales-topper was a colt by Raven's Pass out of the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Nightime, who was bought for 800,000gns by John Ferguson.

Commenting after buying the colt on behalf of Sheik Mohammed, he said: “Raven’s Pass has done very well and not only have we been delighted with [G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes winner] Steeler but there are lots in the pipeline coming through and showing all the right signs.

“On top of that you have a breeder like Mrs Weld, who has consistently produced top horses over the years and she must be congratulated for that. We’ve seen this horse at home and he has thrived and thrived over the summer.

“To have a Raven’s Pass out of a Guineas winner from a top breeder, this just made sense – he’s an outstanding individual.”

Raven’s Pass’s five yearlings sold during the three days fetched an average of 239,000gns, while his fellow first-season sire New Approach had 19 sell for an average of 138,316gns. Top price among those was the 400,000gns given for lot 331, the Rabbah-bred filly out of Oaks d’Italia runner-up Wadaat (Diktat), who was bought for Sheikh Joann Bin Hamad Al-Thani by Mandore International Agency.

Dubawi had a whopping 25 yearlings sold at Book 1 for an average of 162,720gns. Jehan Malherbe of Form Bloodstock, who also bought an expensive Dubawi yearling in Deauville, added another by him to his list of purchases in Newmarket, when paying 470,000gns for a colt out of Manoeuvre (lot 106) from the family of Dubawi’s G3-winning sprinter Astrophysical Jet.

Shadwell Estates Company went to 600,000gns for lot 84, for a half-brother to Shamardal’s G3 winner Dunboyne Express by Teofilo, whose 16 at the sale sold for average of 124,563gns.

Shamardal himself set an average of 107,000gns for 16 sold, with 300,000gns being paid for a full-sister to his G3-placed daughter Sharnberry (lot 352).

Cape Cross, sire of one of the most exciting young stallions around, Sea The Stars, continues to hold his own among the elite sires of Europe and this week saw 16 of his yearlings change hands for an average of 106,688gns. The highlight was Corduff Stud’s Cape Cross half-brother to multiple Listed winner Dunelight, who sold to Shadwell for 240,000gns (lot 412).

Exceed And Excel, whose G1-winning son Excelebration retires to stud in 2013, continues to be popular with agents and trainers alike and he had 15 sell at Tattersalls for 83,467gns. Carmel Stud’s colt out of Gower Song was the top price at 200,000gns and was sold to Charlie Gordon Watson.

Authorized’s younger brother certainly caught everyone’s attention when becoming the most expensive yearling sold at auction anywhere in the world this year and Authorized himself had eight of his yearlings on parade in Newmarket, where they achieved an average of 65,188gns. A filly out of the G3 winner Welsh Diva caught the eye of John Warren and sold to the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing supremo for 180,000gns.

Manduro had two yearlings find new homes at Tattersalls, selling for 430,000gns (lot 333) and 135,000gns (lot 468) to John Ferguson and Blandford Bloodstock respectively.