The Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale finished in Newmarket on Thursday after two nights that will provide encouragement if not overconfidence to European vendors in the months ahead. The average of 79,755gns average was up 7% and the clearance rate fell two points to 69%.
A son of Elusive Quality stood out during the second and final session of the sale on Thursday evening. The colt sold for 400,000gns to a client of Bahrain-based trainer Fawzi Nass. He had cost vendor Willie Browne US$150,000 as a yearling.
“He was the standout here,” agent Oliver St Lawrencesaid. “We were bidding on behalf of one of Fawzi’s clients in Bahrain and he will be staying in training in England.”
Eddie Stobart CEO Andrew Tinkler was the under-bidder. He had topped Wednesday first-session when buying a Shamardal colt for 210,000gns and he was back in action on Thursday night when paying 215,000gns for a colt by Speightstown.
Trainer Paul Cole went to 190,000gns for a Montjeu colt from the family of Passion For Gold for Dubai-based Jim Hay. “Jim wants to compete at the top level and he was the one I liked,” Cole said. “He is by one of the great stallions in the world at present.”
But perhaps most encouragement for vendors was fact that Sheikh Mohammed looked to have added a significant number of additions to his 2010 juvenile string.
Dick O’Gorman, an integral member of the Darley buying team, bought three six-figure lots while several of the many other agents used in past years by Sheikh Mohammed at this sale were also in action. Among them was Richard Frisby who went to 180,000gns for a colt by Darley second-season sire Shamardal.
“The final figures compare very favourably with last year’s sale,” Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented. “The market has been selective at times but we have seen plenty of international competition at the top end and the success of recent graduates of the sale has clearly not gone unnoticed.
“Alongside the positive aspects, however, the prevailing economic uncertainties continue to have an impact on the European bloodstock market and the domestic demand, with a few notable and welcome exceptions, remains tentative.
“The recent income tax rise in Britain, combined with the usual pre-election caution, have not inspired renewed confidence and while the weakness of sterling has definitely helped our overseas buyers, we continue to face challenges on the home front.”
1 guinea = 1.74 AUD