The sales ring is a funny old place. There’s a general consensus that it’s an unforgiving market, steered by fashion, but then every now and then, you get big results that give hope to breeders and leave buyers – particularly the beaten bidders - scratching their heads.

Showcasing is a solid, reliable stallion – he’s sired five Group 1 winners and that’s five more than many – but the bloodstock market doesn’t always react accordingly, and so, his sales averages have gradually cooled since peaking in 2018, averaging £51,655 at the 2025 yearling sales.

Trends went out the window when it came to Ballyphilip Stud’s colt on Wednesday – a physical so impressive that he topped the third and final session of Book 2 at 460,000gns. Paul and Marie McCartan’s homebred chesnut became the seventh purchase this week by Shadwell, bringing their Book 2 spend to 1,815,000gns.

Shadwell have enjoyed success with the Whitsbury Manor Stud stallion before, having bought his top-class son Mohaather at this same sale in 2017 for 110,000gns, while their purchases from Ballyphilip Stud are led by the brilliant sprinter Battaash.

“Of what I saw, he was the best horse here today,” Shadwell’s Angus Gold later declared. “Paul McCartan has worked his magic again – he was born under a lucky star, that man.

“This is a lovely horse. We’ve had luck with Showcasing before with horses such as Mohaather and Tasleet, who were all smaller, neater horses as yearlings. This is a much scopier type; to my eye he didn’t look anything like most Showcasings. He has a lot of class and moved beautifully for a big horse.”

Explaining his approach, Gold continued: “I wanted to buy one nice colt and we’ve been hitting the bar a bit, coming up against the big lads. Richard Brown stole our thunder yesterday, so I thought it was time to put some manners on him and put him back in his box!”

She’s got the look

Wednesday’s top lot is the first foal out of Accept The Outcome, a No Nay Never mare who won in the US, before selling to Paul and Marie McCartan for 90,000gns in 2023 and was covered by Showcasing when he stood for £45,000.

A bit like her Showcasing colt, it seems like the mare wowed with her looks, judging by Paul McCartan’s debrief to the press.

“I bought that mare here – I absolutely loved her and I still love her! I can still see her when I stood her up in the Terrace Yard and said, 'You're coming home with me!' Barry Lynch was the underbidder then.”

Then a full-sister to a stakes performer, she subsequently gained an update when her half-sister won a Group 3 at Leopardstown, McCartan explained. “Sigh No More came up in the pedigree after and it is a great family down the line, with the Group 3 winner Yellow Rosebud. I took great heart from the fact that Sonia Rogers bought a filly foal by Chaldean from the family, too.

“It was all lucky, but I really love No Nay Never as a broodmare sire – he's a broodmare sire of last week's Dewhurst winner. And then you have some Galileo in this pedigree too, and some Mr Prospector... She is just a beautiful mare.”

Ballyphilip Stud’s colt wasn’t the only Showcasing to impress this week, with Norris Bloodstock selling a filly to Stonestreet Stables and Ben McElroy for 260,000gns – a fantastic price for a filly without blacktype under the first dam.

Clive Cox, William Haggas and Sumbe were others to purchase yearlings by Showcasing this week.

Blue Point ended the week as the leading sire of Book 2, with 22 yearlings totalling 4,964,000gns. Nineteen of those sold for six figures and commanded an average of 225,636gns – a figure only bettered by Frankel and Justify, each responsible for just one lot.

The third highest price paid for his stock came on Wednesday, when Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland gave 410,000gns for a colt from Longview Stud. Despite the high price, it seems that the buyers think there might be more money left on the table, as there’s a chance the bay could be offered for resale.

“He has been bought for a new American client, who has horses in training in the US,” Donohoe reported after securing the colt via the online bidding platform.

“This horse might go into training, or he might be re-offered at the Craven Sale, the client is happy to trade. The colt is a fabulous physical, he is from a very good farm, is by Blue Point who does well in the US and is out of a Kingman mare.”

The colt will head to Conor Hoban’s Beechlea Bloodstock operation in Co Kildare to be broken, before long-term plans are finalised.

International buyers

Tattersalls Managing Director Matthew Prior acknowledged American buyers in his post-sale statement, saying: “A notable feature of October Book 1 was the depth of American participation at Park Paddocks, with buyers from the United States purchasing more than 50 yearlings. That momentum has continued into Book 2, with new arrivals joining those who remained from Book 1 to account for a further 24 purchases totalling over 4 million guineas.

“We have made a concerted effort in recent years to attract buyers from North America, and it is particularly gratifying to see that commitment rewarded with such a strong presence at Tattersalls, drawn by the cream of the European yearling crop and the warm welcome and hospitality for which Tattersalls is renowned.

“The Americans were joined by a strong contingent of Australian buyers, led by John Foote, who made seven purchases in his fiftieth year of coming to Tattersalls. Buyers from across the Gulf also made their presence felt, whilst we welcomed purchasers from throughout Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Turkey, alongside a competitive domestic buying bench.

“We must also recognise the tremendous support we continue to receive from so many Irish stud farms and consignors, alongside the very best of British breeders. Their enduring commitment to the October Yearling Sale remains a cornerstone of its success, and we are enormously grateful for their continued support.”

Record returns

Tuesday’s record-breaking session was the highlight of three days of competitive trade during Book 2, which ended with a record turnover of 75,166,000gns, which marked an 8% rise on the previous high set 12 months ago.

There was a marginal increase in yearlings offered, but the average price still managed to climb by 7% to a record 114,757gns. The median price is generally considered the most reliable measure of a sale’s strength, so the fact that 85,000gns marked a 12% increase from last year – itself a previous best – spoke volumes.

The only figure to fall was the clearance rate, though 89% would still be considered very healthy and was only one point down on last year.

Two hundred yearlings sold for 200,000gns or more, and a further 81 lots reached six figures. Blandford Bloodstock signed for two of the top three lots, but the agency still couldn’t top the buyers’ table, with their 4,717,000gns spend only bettered by Godolphin, who purchased 20 yearlings for 5,410,000gns.

The pair finished some way clear of Stroud Coleman at 2,285,000gns, while Alex Elliott dropped one place to fourth at 2,102,000gns. Amo Racing’s spend declined significantly from 3,645,000gns to 1,205,000gns.

It was no surprise to see Ballyhimikin Stud top the consignors table, with 12 yearlings sold for a total of 3,130,000gns, though Barton Stud’s 20 came close at 3,008,000gns, followed by Tally-Ho Stud at 2,978,000gns.

Demand for fillies has been high throughout the week and continued into Wednesday, when Tally-Ho Stud presented the highest-priced filly of the session, bought by Charlie Gordon Watson for 400,000gns.

Tally-Ho’s homebred daughter of Mehmas is a full-sister to Adaay Of Scarlett, who finished second in three Group 2s this season – the Coventry Stakes, July Stakes and Richmond Stakes. Hugo Palmer’s charge is the first foal out of Tally-Ho’s 160,000gns purchase Adaay To Remember, herself a group-placed granddaughter of Kodiac.

It’s hoped that this filly will be as precocious as her brother, according to her new owner, Simon Marsh of Watership Down Stud, who said: “We've been looking for something who could be a two-year-old, and hopefully she can follow in the footsteps of her brother. No training plans have been made as yet.”

The one for Brown

Richard Brown’s most expensive purchase on Wednesday might run at two but it’s safe to say that the Sea The Stars filly will improve with time, given that she shares her page with the Gilltown Stud sire’s champion older horse Crystal Ocean.

After securing Watership Down Stud’s offering for 385,000gns, the Blandford Bloodstock agent commented: “She was one of those where she came up, stood up and walked up and down, and I think I only looked at her for a couple of seconds and went, 'you're the one.'

“Luckily, I had a client who was willing to back my judgment and one who was particularly keen on her. She has great strength - great width of hip and a big hind end on her. I would see her as a summer two-year-old and beyond.”

On his experience as a buyer this week, Brown reflected: “Book 2 has been extremely strong. My market predictions are usually woeful, and they've been woeful again because I thought it might be difficult. It's never straightforward but, considering everything that's going on in the world, it's been tremendous. From Book 1 right up until today, it's been very strong.”