THE location of Tattersalls has undoubtedly been one of the keys to the success of the Somerville Yearling Sale, sharing its home with a number of buyers at racing’s ‘headquarters.’
Horses needn’t have as attractive a page to tempt Newmarket trainers away from their armchairs, when the journey is so short, but one would imagine that Anthony Bromley would travel far and wide to attend this week's Somerville Sale, considering the success he’s enjoyed with his purchases.
At the inaugural edition in 2021, the Highflyer Bloodstock agent, along with former trainer Harry Dunlop, unearthed Bradsell from the Bearstone Stud draft for a mere 12,000gns. The son of Tasleet went on to win three Group 1s and is one of two top-flight winners to have been offered at the Somerville Sale, along with Avenue Bloodstock’s 26,000gns purchase Anisette, a three-time Grade 1 winner.
Bromley stretched to 58,000gns for a Kodiac filly the following year and, subsequently named Relief Rally, Knockatrina Stud’s offering rewarded him with a Group 2 win. The Lowther Stakes winner’s subsequent sale for 800,000gns was reportedly part of the inspiration behind Simon Munir and Isaac Souede’s new trading venture in the National Hunt sphere.
Two Year Old Trophy victor Candy (28,000gns from Kildallan Farm) followed and Havana Hurricane became a fourth stakes winner bought from each individual renewal of the Somerville Sale when landing the Windsor Castle Stakes. Bought with Eve Johnson Houghton from Norris Bloodstock for 9,000gs, the Havana Gold colt was last seen taking third in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes.
Anthony Bromley’s record makes a strong case for simply shadowing him as a buying strategy this week, but there are plenty of others who have unearthed stars there, too. From four editions, the Somerville Sale has produced 28 stakes winners, which is particularly impressive considering that three of those renewals were one-day sales.
Bargains aplenty
The sale’s popularity saw Tattersalls increase numbers year-on-year, ultimately becoming a two-day sale with 466 lots catalogued 12 months ago. Demand failed to match supply and figures fell, with Tattersalls reacting strongly by streamlining this year’s catalogue to 272 lots – the lowest in the sale’s short history.
Condensing the catalogue is hoped to improve the 2024 figures, when the average price was 28,252gns and the median 22,000gns.
Three yearlings fetched six-figure sums, led by a Havana Grey filly from Whitsbury Manor Stud, bought by Alex Elliott for 140,000gns. Elliott was involved in purchasing three of the top four lots and ended the sale as leading buyer.
Back then, 316 of the 426 lots offered found a buyer, generating a clearance rate of 74%. Vendors reassessment of the stock following unsuccessful trips through the ring saw 20 private sales completed, in comparison to two the previous year.
The figures were no reflection on the ability of the horses offered, with the 2024 graduates now including Queen Mary Stakes second Flowerhead and four individual stakes winners to date, including Royal Ascot hero Havana Hurricane.
Last Monday, Ashbrooke Stud’s offering, Anaisa, became the latest blacktype graduate when landing the Listed Ripon Champion Two Year Old Trophy.
St Hugh’s Stakes winner Hollywood Treasure was bought by Alex Elliott from Rathasker Stud for 32,000gns, while French listed scorer Wor Faayth was bought by Fairgreen Stables from Whatton Manor Stud for just 10,000gns.
Profit makers
Justin Rea’s Fairgreen Stables made a profit when reselling Wor Faayth and is one of many breeze-up consignors to source profit makers and blacktype performers at the Somerville Sale.
Perhaps the most high-profile example is Arabian Dusk, who was bought by Mags O’Toole and Oak Tree Farm from Whistbury Manor Stud for 80,000gns. Reoffered by Katie Walsh’s Greenhills Farm at the venue’s Craven Breeze-Up Sale, the Havana Grey filly resold for 525,000gns and justified that price with a Group 2 win and Group 1 placing.
Her sire, Havana Grey, has 10 lots catalogued this week, while other leading sires represented include Acclamation, Blue Point, Dark Angel, Spirit, Kodiac, Mehmas, Oasis Dream, Showcasing, Sioux Nation, Starspangledbanner and Too Darn Hot.
Leading freshman sire Starman has six lots featured alongside the first yearlings by Baaeed, Bayside Boy, Caturra, Dubawi Legend, Minzaal, Naval Crown, Perfect Power, Persian Force, Space Traveller and State Of Rest.
All yearlings catalogued in the Tattersalls Somerville Sale are eligible for the £200,000 Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes, as well as the £200,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes held five weeks later. The Archie Watson-trained Sioux Perfect repaid his yearling price of 55,000gns when winning the valuable contest last weekend, while 5,000gns buy Kesta continued a busy campaign in third.
Lot 39: Havana Grey own-sister to a Group 3 winner, and a half-sister to a listed winner
Lot 57: Soldier’s Call half-sister to Wateen, a Somerville graduate who finished third in a listed race last time out
Lot 73: Havana Grey half-sister to a stakes winner, out of listed winner and Group 3 runner-up Miss Work Of Art
Lot 74: Tasleet half-brother to listed scorer Baileys Jubilee, whose multiple group placings include a third in the Cheveley Park Stakes
Lot 77: Belardo half-brother to Somerville graduate Shine On Me, who was beaten a neck in a listed race and finished fourth in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes
Lot 80: Dandy Man half-sister to recent Group 2 winner Waardah, previously successful at listed level
Lot 145: Havana Grey filly is a full-sister to Group 3 winner Eddie’s Boy, himself bought at the Somerville Sale for 45,000gns
Lot 151: Sioux Nation half-sister to multiple stakes winner Wakanaka, who was also twice Grade 1-placed
Lot 170: Lope Y Fernandez half-sister to two dams of stakes horses, out of a blacktype mare
Lot 197: Shaman half-brother to Group 3 winner Zannda, herself the dam of a Group 3 winner
Lot 205: Minzaal half-brother to a stakes horse, and to the dam of group performer Alakazi. Out of a dual Group 3 and dual listed winner
Lot 267: Perfect Power half-sister to Group 2 scorer Prize Money
Lot 271: Cotai Glory half-sister to Grade 2 winner and Cheveley Park Stakes second The Mackem Bullet