A new top lot on the second day of the Tattersalls Somerville Sale failed to revive statistics, as the extended sale posted falling figures amid seemingly weak demand.

The clearance rate of 74% was particularly telling, no doubted affected by the sale’s offering increasing from 305 lots to 408 in the space of 12 months. Despite an increase in lots offered, the number of six-figure sales dropped from seven to just three, all falling short of the 2023 top price of 155,000gns.

The final median price of 22,000gns (down 19% on 2023) and average price of 28,252gns (down 11%) suggested that many consignors would have struggled to make a profit, whether they be breeding or pinhooking.

AMO make presence felt

Alex Elliott topped the buyers table with a spend of 424,000gns, and when including two purchased in partnership, accounted for three of the top four lots of the whole sale. His most expensive recruit was a Havana Grey filly out of a three-parts sister to Stepper Point, which was sold by breeder Whistbury Manor Stud for 140,000gns.

“She was the stand-out filly for me over the two days,” Elliott noted, after revealing his purchase had been made on behalf of Kia Joorabchian’s AMO Racing. “She could have been offered later in Book 2, but Ed [Harper] does an outstanding job and brought her here to stand out.

“She just has loads of quality and I loved her when I first saw her. We had to take breeze up men out for a long way; it was nice to buy for an end user.”

Elliott was acting on behalf of AMO Racing earlier in the session when going to 90,000gns for Chasemore Farm’s homebred half-brother to the 96-rated juvenile Regal Gem. The bay hails from the second crop of Sergei Prokofiev, responsible for AMO and Adrian Murray’s multiple Group-placed Arizona Blaze.

The agent also buys on behalf of Valmont and Michael Blencowe, for whom he combined with Billy Jackson-Stopps for a Cotai Glory colt for 100,000gns. George Scott will train the chesnut, who was offered by Houghton Bloodstock.

“We are delighted to get him,” Elliott commented. “He has a very fast pedigree and comes from a very good farm. He looks like a type of horse we can really get on with.”

First season sires

Tally-Ho Stud’s new boy Starman took top honours on Monday, and Kildangan Stud’s first crop sire Space Blues was responsible for one of Tuesday’s most popular lots.

Nick Bell signed for Clearwater Stud’s colt, and on the 82,000gns purchase, his father Michael said, “I am a big fan of Space Blues, I think this horse is very athletic and he goes back to a really top class family. Space Blues was a very tough and consistent horse, and as he was a speedy son of Dubawi he has every chance of making it.”

Read our full sales report in Saturday's edition.