Tattersalls Book One drew to close on Thursday evening and despite wider challenges, the demand for the highest quality yearlings was and presumably always will be strong due to the more secure financial nature of their purchasers.
A considerably different, tougher picture may be painted when the sale continues into Book Two and Three as the quality and commerciality varies somewhat. But for now, we are here to discuss the big stories, big pedigrees and big spending within Book One.
Overall, 369 yearlings sold in the ring at Newmarket this year for an average of 223,266gns (down 13% from last year).
And the highlight of the sale was, as expected, the daughter of Galileo and stakes-placed Shastye (Danehill).
Now the most expensive yearling purchase in the world this year, it took a bid of 3.4million Guineas from M.V Magnier to secure her future in Coolmore from underbidder Qatar Bloodstock.
A full-sister to Japan, Mogul, Secret Gesture and Sir Isaac Newton, the progeny of Shasyte have now earned a cool 18million in the sales ring. Secret Gesture was in foal to War Front when sold for $3.5million in 2016, but the other eight transactions were all as yearlings.
While the colts have extra pressure to prove themselves on the racetrack and earn the right to a career as a stallion, a Galileo full-sister to two Group One winning colts with future stallion potential, who is out of a half-sister to Arc winner Sagamix, will retain her value as a future broodmare no matter how she fares on the racetrack herself.
Last year, ten individuals made seven figures in Book One with Godolphin responsible for purchasing half of them as well as the top two. This year, nine lots made over 1 million Guineas and Godolphin still bought five of them, but it was Coolmore that signed for the most expensive pair this time around.
The second highest priced lot was another Galileo filly that commanded 2.8million Guineas. This one does not have elder siblings to live up to, however, as she is the first foal out of the dual Grade Two winning mare, Prize Exhibit (Showcasing), which is also the family of this year’s thrilling Sussex Stakes winner, Mohaather.
Juddmonte’s prospering young sire Kingman was right behind with the third highest priced yearling of the week (2.7million guineas) who is a half-brother to the 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes winner Galileo Gold.
His dam is by Galileo and is a half-sister to dual Group One winning sprinter Goldream. It is also the family of that brilliant racehorse and sire, Montjeu. The colt was bought by Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock on behalf of Fawzi Nass and Bahraini interests who also made their presence felt spending big money in France’s premier yearling sale too.
The late Duke of Roxburghe’s Floors Stud offered just six yearlings for sale in Book One and two of them became two of the most expensively priced of the week.
The first was the Frankel colt out of the uniquely-actioned five-time Group One winning homebred Attraction. He is also a full-brother to Group Two winner Elarqam and it took 1.1million Guineas to buy him.
Later on, a Dubawi colt out of Attraction’s Group Three placed daughter Cushion, made the fourth highest price of the sale at 2.1million. Godolphin signed for the pair.
A Frankel half-sister to Epsom Derby and Arc hero Golden Horn as well as Listed winner Eastern Belle was another big purchase for Godolphin at 2million Guineas and Sheikh Mohammad’s operation was unquestionably the leading purchaser yet again, spending a total of 16.43million Guineas on 22 yearlings over the three days.
Coolmore were second on that list, purchasing fourteen lots for a combined total of 9.78million, with US agent Mike Ryan, Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock, SackvilleDonald and Shadwell all following behind.
With regards leading sires, Galileo topped that list with 14 of his yearlings selling for an average of 829,296gns, while Dubawi had the same number sell for an average of 568,214.
Kingman’s average selling price of 547,462gns is almost ten-times that of his 2018 covering fee of £55,000. Likewise was No Nay Never’s average of 206,183gns are bred off a fee of €25,000.
The average price of a Wootton Bassett yearling in Book One last year was 52,500gns. Two new Group One winners and one of the most prolific proven stallion purchases ever witnessed later, his new average is almost 200,000gns. One of his fillies sold for 600,000gns and they are all bred off the same €20,000 fee as the previous year.
Another notable result was for Lanwades Stud’s German Derby winner Sea The Moon, the sire of Group One Coronation Stakes winner Alpine Star who has stood for £15,000 since his inception. Sea The Moon had two yearlings, both colts, sell this week for 480,000gns and 180,000gns.
In the freshman sire sphere, Almanzor topped the table with averages for those who had more than two yearlings sell. Nine of his yearlings ended up selling for an average of 141,667gns, bred off his initial fee of €35,000.
He was followed by Churchill whose thirteen yearlings sold averaged 123,615gns from the same fee, with Ribchester close behind averaging 121,375gns for eight yearlings bred off a €30,000 covering fee. Richester also had the most expensive yearling sell for a freshman sire at 350,000gns.
But impressively, seven-time Group One winner Highland Reel who stood for €17,500 in 2018, had two yearlings sell in total, one of whom made 320,000gns.
Likewise, a colt by Cotai Glory who stood for just €6,000, made 180,000gns (a half-brother to this year’s Group Two Richmond Stakes winner Supremacy), and El Kabeir, who stood for €8,000 in 2018, had two yearlings sell, one also making 180,000gns.
There is little time for reflection on the fireworks, however. The real work is now immediately under way to unearth the value and raw potential amongst the 1,499 yearlings in Book Two and Three that begin selling on Monday.