Global Appeal Remains As Tattersalls Goes Virtual

The format may have changed, from in person to online, but the global reach of Tattersalls remained strong through the second session of the February Sale, with the leading lots being bought for owners in America, Italy, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

If the pandemic has taught us anything it is how much we are all able to adapt to new ways of working, and bloodstock sales have been no different. For this virtual version of the February Sale, 250 different bidders were engaged online, casting 1520 bids for the 205 lots sold in that manner, while many more conducted their business over the telephone to members of the Tattersalls team.

All of this activity brought about an encouraging conclusion to the two days of trade, with overall turnover settling at 2,564,000gns, which represented a reduction of 21% but from 45 fewer horses sold than last year. A high number of withdrawals from the published catalogue after the sale was switched online led to 292 horses being offered for sale, with 219 selling at a clearance rate of 75%. This was lifted by a stronger session of trade on Friday, at which the clearance rate was 81% for 101 of 125 lots sold. The single-day average was actually up by 16% at 13,869gns, while for the sale as a whole the average contracted by 5% to 11,710gns. The median was down by 8% at 6,000gns.

Reflecting on the opening two days of Tattersalls' business for 2021, chairman Edmond Mahony said, “Not for the first time in recent months the most important message to convey is one of sincere thanks and gratitude to vendors and purchasers alike for responding so positively to changes and disruptions to the traditional Tattersalls sales format. The collective support we have received throughout the pandemic continues to be an inspiration and cannot be underestimated.”

He continued, “This is the first time we have had to utilise the 'live virtual' format for a sale at Park Paddocks and, apart from fervently hoping it will be the last time, overall the process has worked very well. Feedback from vendors and purchasers has been overwhelmingly positive with the vast majority of buyers using the live internet bidding platform which served us so well last year. Crucially, the quality of the videos and photographs supplied by the vendors has been of a high standard and additional information also available on the Tattersalls website has facilitated the buying process and given the necessary confidence for people to participate from throughout the world.

Demand for horses in training 

The 3-year-old colt Fayathaan (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) has won twice so far in 2021 for David Loughnane and Kulbir Sohi, and he will continue his racing career in Milan under the guidance of Raffaelle Biondi after topping Friday's session.

Bloodstock agent Marco Bozzi, who placed the successful bid of 85,000gns for lot 414, said, “He is for owner Mrs Roveda. This is a nice horse, we vetted him and he ticked all the boxes. He is a good performer, a sharp horse and should suit seven furlongs or a mile in Italy.”

A winner last season for Richard Fahey, Fayathaan then changed hands in October for 40,000gns and has subsequently won twice and placed twice for Loughnane to increase his rating to 86. Co-bred by GHS Bloodstock and Tally-Ho Stud, he is a grandson of the G3 Oh So Sharp S. winner Raymi Coya (Van Nistelrooy) and from the family of The Queen's 2020 G2 July S. winner Tactical (GB) (Toronado {Ire}).

A late offering from the dispersal of Lady Rothschild's Waddesdon Stud was the Sixties Icon (GB) 3-year-old Clay (GB), who has been runner-up on both his starts this year for Richard Hannon, having also run twice and been placed at two. The colt (lot 455), who raced for Lady Rothschild's son Nat, will remain with Hannon after the trainer went to 71,000gns to buy him for John Davies, whose successful previous purchases from the trainer include G1 Stayers' Hurdle runner-up Lil Rockerfella (Hard Spun), who went on to be trained by Neil King, and Group 3 winner Danehill Kodiac (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).

“Richard has been very good to us, and Clay will be staying with Richard,” said the owner. “If Clay continues to progress, and becomes the horse that Richard thinks he will, he should make up into a Saturday horse.”

Out of the unraced Tamso (Seeking The Gold), Clay is a half-brother to the listed Warrnambool Cup winner High Church (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}). His dam's half-siblings include the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches victrix Matiara (Bering) and G2 Richmond S winner Pyrus (Mr Prospector).

At Ease (GB), a winning 4-year-old filly by Oasis Dream (GB) was the pick of the Juddmonte draft and, with a pedigree to make her an enticing broodmare prospect in the future, for now she will carry on with her racing career in the United States. Offered as lot 385, she fetched 70,000gns to a bid from BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe.

He said, “There are no plans regarding trainer as yet. She is lightly raced, she has a U.S. pedigree and her siblings went on from three to four. She looks a good physical, too.”

A winner over a mile last season for Charlie Hills, At Ease is a daughter of Jostle (Brocco), whose six graded stakes victories include the GI American Oaks and GI Alabama S. 

Donohoe added: “Her videos and photos were very good, and Juddmonte, as always, has been very forthcoming with information. You'd always rather see the horse yourself, but we all have to do what we can in current times.”

Oasis Dream is also the sire of Rovaniemi (Ire) (lot 417), who has changed hands but will not be changing trainer. The 4-year-old, bred by Epona Bloodstock and initially raced by Sun Bloodstock, is a winner and multiple place-getter with a rating of 82. He will remain in the Newmarket stable of David Simcock having been bought by Reda Al-Khalaf , who is based in Saudi Arabia.

The horse's new owner said via telephone, “Hopefully, he will be lucky for us, he is the first horse we have in training in the U.K. We will keep him with David Simcock, he knows the horse already. He looks a fast horse and has a good pedigree.”

Rovaniemi is a half-brother to listed winner Cameron Highland (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and to G2 Ribblesdale S. runner-up Field Of Miracles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Their winning dam Landmark (Arch) is a full-sister to the GI Del Mar Oaks and GI EP Taylor S. winner Arravale.

Agent Colm Sharkey signed for six horses during the sale, including 3-year-old colt Stiletto (GB) (lot 453), for  67,000gns. The well-bred son of Frankel (GB) and G3 St Simon S. winner High Heeled (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) has had four runs for John Gosden and co-breeders Jame Wigan and George Strawbridge, finishing runner-up in December over 10 furlongs.

The Andrew Balding-trained Lope De Vega (Ire) 4-year-old Arctic Vega (Ire) (lot 365) will race on on Bahrain for Sheikh Sultan's Almohamediya Racing, who bought the gelding for  60,000gns through bloodstock agent Peter Harper.

“He is a nice, big strong type and should suit racing in Bahrain,” Harper said. “We had him vetted; Andrew Balding's yard was very helpful.”

The grey, who won on debut last February, returned to the winner's enclosure on Jan. 15 after scoring over a mile at Newcastle and is rated 81. A son of the listed Prix Rose de Mai winner Childa (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), his half-brother Chilean (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) was also a stakes winner in France, landing the G3 Prix La Force for  Martyn Meade. 

Concluding his assessment of the sale, Edmond Mahony added, “The February Sale has again demonstrated how readily the Tattersalls worldwide client base has embraced our online services and we will be continuing to develop and invest in the Tattersalls online platforms which have served the industry so well in recent times.

“In recognition of the difficulties which we all continue to face under the current lockdown conditions, we will be staging an additional mixed March fixture taking place March 31 and April 1 here at Park Paddocks, for which entries are now being taken. At this stage the intention is for the Tattersalls March Sale to take place conventionally, in compliance as ever with any prevailing Covid-related protocols, and timely announcements will be made if it becomes necessary to make any changes to these plans.”

The post Global Appeal Remains As Tattersalls Goes Virtual appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Tattersalls To Stage February Sale As Live Virtual Sale

Owing to the increasingly stringent lockdown measures in place in Britain and Ireland, Tattersalls will be staging the forthcoming February Sale exclusively as a live virtual sale taking place on the scheduled dates of Thursday, Feb. 4 and Friday, Feb. 5 with no horses, vendors or purchasers on site. Tattersalls will also hold an additional conventional fixture at its Park Paddocks base in Newmarket on Wednesday, March 31 and Thursday, April 1st.

All bidding at the live virtual February Sale will take place either online through the well – established Tattersalls live internet bidding platform or telephone bidding through members of the Tattersalls team.

Announcing the change of format to Europe's premier midwinter sale, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said;

“The decision to stage the Tattersalls February Sale in a live virtual format has been taken in the best interests of all concerned and reflects our commitment to providing the best possible working environment for participants at all of our sales, in whatever capacity they may be attending. The decision also recognizes the increased difficulties surrounding domestic and international travel and it was felt that the prudent option was to stage the February Sale in a manner which allows vendors and purchasers alike to participate with confidence and in full compliance with prevailing rules and regulations. Our live internet bidding platform proved to hugely popular with buyers throughout last year, particularly at mixed sales similar to the February Sale, and we are confident that this live virtual format is the best option under the current difficult circumstances which we all continue to endure. In addition to promoting the February Sale to as many prospective buyers as possible our bloodstock sales team will liaise with vendors with regard to the requirements of the live virtual sale model.”

Details of the revised Tattersalls February sale format are as follows:

Thursday, Feb. 4 – Friday, Feb. 5, sale starting at 10 a.m. both days.

* All lots to be offered live as cataloged but without being present at Tattersalls Park Paddocks.
* No horses, vendors or purchasers will be present at Tattersalls Park Paddocks.
* All bidding to be conducted live to auctioneers through the Tattersalls live internet bidding platform or telephone bidding via Tattersalls personnel.
* The Tattersalls February Sale catalog can be viewed online at www.tattersalls.com and on the Equineline iPad App.
* All buyers must register for online or telephone bidding prior to the February Sale. Full details can be found at www.tattersalls.com.

Commenting on the additional Tattersalls mixed sale planned for March 31 and April 1, Edmond Mahony added;

“We already have an Ascot fixture scheduled for April 1 which almost certainly will have to be relocated to Newmarket and we felt it best to offer an extra day in recognition of the changes we have had to make to the forthcoming Tattersalls February Sale. As ever our priority is to respond to the requirements of all of our clients as best we can while continuing to provide a safe and vibrant market place.”

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Tattersalls December Market Resilient To The End

NEWMARKET, UK—Tattersalls’ chairman Edmond Mahony was realistic enough to acknowledge that the 2020 December Mares’ Sale “lacked a little of the depth of recent renewals” but, in a surreal year, it is understandable if owners and breeders perhaps decided to hold onto horses rather than enter them for a sale against an uncertain financial backdrop. 

Furthermore, given that at times it looked doubtful that this sale would even be able to proceed during a second English lockdown, that fact that the bloodstock industry has been able to engage in business which has turned over around £77 million in less than a fortnight is, frankly, remarkable. And it is also important. Juddmonte’s Teddy Grimthorpe acknowledged on Wednesday that “without this sale, a multi-million pound industry would have been on its knees” and a statement of that nature coming from a representative of such a major owner-breeder operation highlights how important every sale this year has been to participants at all levels of the market.

“Traditionally at the conclusion of the Tattersalls December Mares’ Sale we would reflect upon the level of trade, both at the December Sales and earlier sales, and also record our thanks and appreciation to all those who have contributed throughout the year,” said Mahony. 

“In this strangest of years our thanks to all concerned is an even more central message, but we should start by expressing heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the wider industry that the 2020 Tattersalls December Sales, Europe’s foremost foal and breeding stock sales, have been able to take place, under strict COVID-related protocols, on the advertised dates and with the minimum of disruption to the established cycle of the bloodstock sales season.”

He continued, “We have been able to bring a testing sales season to a successful conclusion and for that we are enormously grateful. While the usual vibrance associated with this annual showcase of Europe’s finest breeding stock has, by necessity, been lacking, we have again been buoyed by the sustained resilience of the market and the extraordinary determination of buyers from throughout the world who have contributed to yet another 2020 Tattersalls sale which has defied the prevailing social and economic uncertainty.”

Across the last four days, 735 fillies, mares, and the odd colt or gelding, have sold for a total of 43,111,900gns (-25%) at an average of 58,656gns (-32%) and median of 20,000gns (-26%). And, in a consistent trend across the various sales this year, the clearance rate was up at 85%.

A factor which helped this rise was doubtless the promotion of the online bidding platform which was so essential for those unable to attend the sales in person. More than 3 million gns was spent this way during the December Mares’ Sale, with 136 horses sold online to 75 different bidders. 

The final session of mares traditionally brings the December Sale to a more sedate close. There was a high number of withdrawals but, for those who stood their ground, there was again a decent clearance rate of 80%, albeit at more bargain prices. The average of 5,077gns was up by 35% on last year, and the 3,000gns median up by 20%, with the 106 lots sold adding 538,200gns to the overall tally.

If ever there was an advertisement for agents and breeders to remain at Tattersalls for the last day of mares it was that of Shena’s Dream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who sold on Tuesday for 280,000gns having been picked up, in foal, by Sicilian breeder Domenico Zammitti for 1,200gns at last year’s closing session. In the meantime, of course, her Group 2-winning juvenile daughter Miss Amulet (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) had provided the kind of update we all dream about.

It took a pledge of 21,000gns from an absent Geoffrey Howson, bidding through his friend Paul Thorman, to secure the day’s leading light, Banmi (Ire) (lot 2195). The daughter of Kodiac (GB), who is on her way to France, was a winner last year for Mohammed Moubarak and is a half-sister to the listed-placed Moonlit Garden (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). 

Concluding his assessment of the sale, Edmond Mahony said, “In addition to the obvious issues, we were conscious that this year’s December Mares catalogue lacked a little of the depth of recent renewals, but nevertheless quality consignments from Britain, Ireland and France have attracted buyers from throughout the world who have been active at all levels of the market, as ever demonstrating the enduring appetite for quality European bloodstock. While the undoubted highlight of the week was the 2.2 million guineas sale of Highclere and Floors Studs’ outstanding broodmare Beach Frolic to MV Magnier, encouragement can also be taken from the consistent global participation, with buyers from America, France, Japan, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE all featuring amongst the leading buyers alongside new and established British and Irish investors.”

He continued, “Buyers from throughout Europe, the Gulf region, Australasia, India, Kazakhstan, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan and Turkey have also been active and a particular feature of the sale has been the prolific use of the live internet bidding facility which has allowed so many buyers unable to attend in the usual manner to participate successfully. More than half of the lots offered this week have attracted internet bids and it has been notable that the online action has been at every level of the market, including the very top end.

“The implementation of the live internet bidding platform is a perfect illustration of how all involved in this industry have successfully adapted and responded to circumstances outside their control, as is the mutual cooperation with our counterparts at Goffs and Arqana which has allowed us all to adjust sales dates when needed. We have staged an unprecedented 16 sales at Park Paddocks since the end of June and after every one of them we have reflected on the admirable patience and determination which everyone has shown to overcome unprecedented obstacles. The world has been thrown into turmoil, but every single participant at our 2020 sales should be applauded for the manner in which they have accepted the demands presented by the global pandemic. Few will look back on the 2020 Tattersalls sales season with pleasure, but they can look back with pride and our thanks go to each and everyone who has contributed to a Tattersalls sales season of remarkable resilience.”

While Tattersalls has now concluded its sales year, Park Paddocks will return to action next Thursday to host the relocated Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale of 38 point-to-pointers and National Hunt horses in training.

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Tattersalls Confirms December Sales To Take Place As Scheduled

Tattersalls is pleased to confirm that in accordance with government regulations concerning livestock and horse auctions, the forthcoming Tattersalls December Sales will take place in Newmarket as scheduled starting on Monday, Nov. 23 and concluding on Thursday, Dec. 3.

The Tattersalls December Yearling Sale will take place Monday, Nov. 23, followed by the four-day Tattersalls December Foal Sale from Wednesday, Nov 25 – Saturday, Nov. 28. The sale will as ever conclude with the four-day Tattersalls December Mares Sale which will take place Monday, Nov. 30 – Thursday, Dec. 3.

Commenting on the confirmed dates, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said;

“We are delighted and relieved that we have received clarity on this crucial issue and it is clear that the ratified government regulations will allow us to stage the full Tattersalls December Sale on the originally scheduled dates. This is a huge relief for the industry and we are enormously grateful that the 2020 bloodstock sales season in Britain can proceed and conclude as planned. The Tattersalls December Sale is an event of global significance within the bloodstock industry and the possibility of wholesale disruption was a deeply worrying prospect for all concerned.

“As we all know, staging bloodstock sales in 2020 has been challenging to say the least. To be able to hold the Tattersalls December Sales on the scheduled dates will be universally welcomed and applauded not only in Britain and Ireland, but by the wider bloodstock industry and we will continue to do our utmost to bring the testing 2020 Tattersalls sales season to as successful a conclusion as possible.”

The December Sales will be conducted under strict COVID-19 related protocols and attendance will be restricted only to those professionally involved in the sale. Professional participants should submit the official online Medical Declaration Forms to Tattersalls well in advance of the sale and the relevant form will be available on www.tattersalls.com. Live internet bidding and telephone bidding through members of the Tattersalls team will again be available for buyers unable to attend the sale in person and buyers should register online with Tattersalls in advance of the sale.

The catalogs for the Tattersalls December Sales are all out now and also available online.

Full 2020 Tattersalls December Sale Dates:

  • Tattersalls December Yearling Sale: Monday, Nov. 23rd, start time 11 a.m.
  • Tattersalls December Foal Sale: Wednesday, Nov. 25 – Saturday, Nov. 28, start time 11 a.m. each day.
  • Tattersalls December Mares Sale: Monday, Nov. 30 – Thursday, Dec. 3, start time 9.30 a.m. each day.
  • Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale: Thursday, Dec. 3, Park Paddocks, immediately following the conclusion of the December Mares Sale.

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