THE second session of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale appeared to confirm that the top end of the bloodstock market has fallen by approximately 25% this year.

Although total spending on Wednesday in Newmarket was back by 33% on last year, there were 10 fewer yearlings sold today and it is likely that some well-regarded yearlings are not being offered for sale this year.

The average price paid on Wednesday was down 26% on last year and the median price was just 17% lower than on this day last year.

Demand for yearlings by Dubawi continued unabated during this second session and leading the way was his son of the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Intricately at 1,100,000 guineas.

Consigned by Highclere Stud on behalf of breeders Mike and Michelle Morris, the colt was bought by Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin. Kevin Ryan was the underbidder.

Godolphin signed for seven of the top 11 lots on Wednesday, and after two days Sheikh Mohammed’s organisation has spent 12.7 million guineas on 17 yearlings.

LOPE DE VEGA COLT

Among their purchases on Wednesday was the Lope De Vega colt out of the Teofilo mare Moi Meme, consigned by Charlie and Tracy Vigors' Hillwood Stud and sold for 900,000. David Redvers was the underbidder.

The colt is an own-brother to King Vega who finished second in the Group 2 Solario Stakes in August for trainer Andrew Balding.

"It is beyond our wildest dreams to get a result like that!" smiled a visibly emotional Charlie Vigors.

“We put what we thought was a sensible reserve on him as we knew we had lots of interest in him, and you could see from the live bids around the ring that there were plenty of people on him. There were plenty in up to 400,000gns to 500,000gns and we were hoping to fetch in that range. That is the beauty of public auction, isn't it, when two people then lock on."

Yet another high-priced colt set to carry the Godolphin blue is the Dubawi colt out of Gryada, consigned by Nicholas Jones’ Coln Valley Stud. This one fetched 800,000gns.

Just one lot broke through the million guineas barrier on Wednesday. A Frankel half-brother to top sprinter Marsha, consigned by Furnace Mill Stud on behalf of owners the Elite Racing Club, was led out unsold after bidding stopped at the million mark.

It was reported on Thursday that the colt had been sold to Juddmonte Farms in a private deal for 850,000gns.

The Book 1 sale concludes on Thursday with the third and final session.

DAY 2 STATISTICS (2019 IN BRACKETS)

Catalogued: 182 (184) -1%

Withdrawn: 28 (27) +4%

Offered: 154 (157) -2%

Unsold: 35 (25) +40%

Sold: 119 (132) – 10%

Aggregate: 21,377,000gns (31,958,000) -33%

Median price: 125,000gns (150,000gns) -17%

Average price: 179,639gns (242,106gns) -26%

Clearance rate: 77% (84) -7%

SUBSCRIBE TO THE IRISH FIELD & READ ALL OUR PREMIUM CONTENT