Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Sale concluded on Thursday night with overall turnover of 31.03 million guineas making it the second highest-grossing yearling sale in Europe this year.

The four day sale has only been bettered by last week’s Book1 of the October Sale.  Tattersalls reported the clearance rate stood up well at 84% compared with 85% over three days  in 2011.  The average was also down 1% at 39,3990gns.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club topped Day 4 when its representative Mark Richards outbid Tom Goff of Blandford Bloodstock for an 180,000gns son of Sakhee’s Secret.  “This horse just had all the right attributes,” said Richards.  “He looks an absolute athlete, but he also has a wonderful attitude and that’s needed if a horse is going to acclimatise in Hong Kong.

“The cross has already proved successful and this horse looked like a ready-made, fast racehorse – and they cost money!”

Consigned by Mountain View Stud, the colt had been bought by JC Bloodstock for 39,000gns as a foal.  His sire Sakhee’s Secret shuttles to The Oaks Stud in NZ and he’s a mile for the 2012 European first-season winners’ premiership.

Second on the leader-board was a 120,000gns Dutch Art colt purchased by Shadwell Estates agent Angus Gold.  Offered by Cheveley Park Stud, he is out of a half-sister to G2 winner Penitent.  “Some of this week’s trade has been extraordinary for the sharp types, with horses you expect to make between 50,000 and 60,000gns realising 100,000-plus,” Gold said.  “Trade has been phenomenally strong across the board.”