Three colts by Rathbarry Stud’s resident stallion Acclamation dominated the opening session of Book 2 at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale on Tuesday.

A total of 210 lots were sold for 8.71 million guineas and the average of 41,514 guineas was up 27% on the corresponding session in 2010  Another impressive statistic was the clearance rate which jumped 15 points to 85%.

Day 1 of Book 2 also saw a 19 lots sell for 100,000 guineas or more, up from only 9 on the opening day last year.

Acclamation has received quality books of mares since his first crop began racing in 2007.  That crop was headed by Group 1 winning colts Dark Angel and Equiano.

Dark Angel won the G1 Middle Park Stakes and is among the leaders for the European first-season sires’ premiership this year.

Equiano was a dual winner of the G1 King’s Stand Stakes and is currently serving his first book of mares at Swettenham Stud.

Acclamation’s current crop of two year-olds is highlighted by no less than six Group winners including Harbour Watch, Talwar, Alsindi, Angels Will Fall and Lilbourne Lad.

Lilbourne Lad will stand alongside Acclamation at Rathbarry in 2012 after his final assignment in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs next month.

It was no surprise to see Acclamation’s yearlings in such great demand at Tattersalls on Tuesday.  Topping the bill was his colt out of the Theatrical mare Intrepid Queen consigned from Castlebridge.

He was knocked down to Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Estates for 180,000 guineas at the expense of underbidder Mark Richards from the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

“Acclamation is a great stallion, who had to do it the hard way and is getting the better mares now,” Shadwell spokesman Angus Gold said.  “John Gosden loves the horse but it will be up to Sheikh Hamdan to decide who trains him.  He should not take too long and is a two-year-old type.”

Earlier in the day, Rathbarry Stud sold the Acclamation colt out of Anabaa mare Grand Slam Maria for 165,000 guineas.

Agent Charlie Gordon-Watson also signed for a high-priced Acclamation when he bought the colt out of the Seeking The Gold mare Gold Hush for 160,000 guineas.

“These horses are hard to buy,” said Gordon-Watson.  “This colt is by a very good stallion and is a nice horse with a good pedigree that traces back to Lammtarra and Saytarra. He would not have looked out of place in Book 1 and will be going to Luca Cumani.”

Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continues on Wednesday.

Hoofnote:

Sheikh Hamdan paid for 140,000 guineas for a Dark Angel colt during Book 2 at the 2010 Tattersalls October Sale and that looked like money well spent at Pontefract in August.

Heeraat (2c Dark Angel – Thawrah by Green Desert) won the Hatfields Jaguar Stakes by 11 lengths at his second start.  He comes from a family that includes Sheikh Hamdan’s G1 Golden Jubilee Stakes winner Malhub.