YEARLINGS

IT was an autumn that witnessed some excellent trade at the head of the market but it was one that also pointed to a levelling off in growth in the yearling market as the returns of a sparkling 2014 were out of reach match for several of Europe’s key auctions.

After the very trying times of 2008 to 2010, the yearling market embarked on a period of sustained growth but that looked to plateau this year. Furthermore, with the levels of supply to the market place now starting to creep upwards, a greater degree of selectivity was evident at various stages between August and October.

Firstly to Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale whose three-day run produced a turnover of just under 83 million guineas which made it the highest grossing sale in European auction history. The 150,000gns median was a record equalling figure, while the average of 222,431gns represented a drop of six points.

COOLMORE

The sale produced half a dozen seven-figure transactions and the Coolmore team were especially active as they picked up the top three lots. These were headed by a 2.1m gns daughter of Dubawi from the family of Quarter Moon and Yesterday. M.V. Magnier spent just under 9m gns on 10 lots to end the week as leading purchaser.

There were also some landmark transactions at Goffs the previous week as the Orby Sale produced a quartet of seven-figure lots for the first time in its history. Given this historical aspect to proceedings it was appropriate that this year’s sale topper – a €2m daughter of Raven’s Pass bought by Moyglare Stud – should come from Pat O’Kelly’s famed Kilcarn Stud. The half-sister to two previous Orby sale toppers is a granddaughter of Flame Of Tara whose descendants have exerted a profound influence on the track and in this sales ring over the last quarter of a century.

FRANKEL FILLY

Goffs also produced the top priced Frankel yearling of the year, a €1.7m daughter of Alexander Goldrun who came to the sale’s leading purchaser the China Horse Club. She will be trained by Jim Bolger. Even so the country’s premier yearling sale couldn’t quite match last year with the €104,433 average dropping by four points and the €62,000 dropping by 11%.

Back to Newmarket and Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale produced a new record price of 725,000gns which was paid by John Ferguson for a son of Dubawi. Otherwise though the sale lost ground in several key areas, notably during the final day, and two lots made in excess of 300,000gns compared to 11 in 2014.

Between them purchasers Shadwell Estates, John Ferguson and Rabbah Bloodstock accounted for over 10% of those sold, while less than half of the 281 pinhooks offered made a profit.

ARQANA

Earlier in the autumn the yearling season got off to a flying start with Arqana’s August Yearling Sale at Deauville. A €2.6m Dubawi colt from the immediate family of Chicquita became a new record priced lot for this sale when coming to John Ferguson.

A son of Invincible Spirit fetched €1.4m when he was knocked down to Bertrand Le Metayer while Charlie Gordon-Watson spent €1.15m on a Frankel filly. These transactions helped the first two days of the August Sale make sweeping gains on 2014 as well as producing a turnover of just under €42m.

Another sale to make gains in all areas was Doncaster’s Premier Yearling Sale where a £42,731 average represented an increase of 15% while the £30,000 median was up 11 points. Two days of good trade produced 31 six-figure transactions and a top price of £280,000.

TATTERSALLS STRONG

In many ways the accolade of being the strongest yearling sale of the year fell to the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale.

An outstanding 93% clearance rate and excellent demand at all levels of the market were the key characteristics of a sale whose near €10m turnover was a nine year high. The €24,093 average and €18,000 median were both records while the number of lots to make at least €50,000 jumped from 12 to 38.

It was a similar story at the one-day Goffs Sportsman’s Sale the following week where 90% of those offered changed hands and the €24,102 average increased by some 25 points.