BREEZE-UPS

THE 2017 round of breeze-up sales were memorable for many consignors but this year the going was altogether tougher. A level of trade that looked decidedly selective, the absence of several major contributors to the previous year’s market and the ongoing issue of Brexit all took their toll on this niche market.

As ever the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale was the centrepiece of this year’s two-year-old auctions and of the 142 horses offered 94 were sold to produce a clearance rate of 66%.

The insatiable demand for members of Scat Daddy’s last crop was in evidence with the much missed sire responsible for the three highest priced lots of 900,000gns, 800,000gns and 775,000gns. Nonetheless it was tough going for pinhookers with just 46 of the 110 pinhooks offered showing a profit.

SCANDINAVIAN

The final figures for the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale also took a hit but not a dramatic one and the clearance rate of 76% was respectable. The numer of six-figure lots actually increased by one to 13 and the sale benefitted from a significant input from Scandinavian buyers.

The breeze-up circuit began on a sombre note at the Tattersalls Ireland Ascot Sale where just 50% of the offered lots finding buyers. A turnover of just short of £1.5 million representerd a drop of 30% and the average fell by some 21 points to £24,117.

As the season neared its conclusion there was some better news for consignors and the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale in May matched last year’s clearance rate of 75%. An average of €130,675 fell by just 5% on last year’s record breaking tally and similarly the €80,000 median represented just a minor drop on 2017.

GORESBRIDGE

Given the selective nature of the market there were fears that the largest sale of all, the Goresbgridge auction (which will take place under the Tattersalls Ireland banner from 2019), could suffer badly but an 83% clearance rate was testament to the sale’s enduring appeal. Furthermore, a new record price was on the offing for this sale as Stephen Hillen paid €315,000 for the Frankel filly East who went on to win at Group 3 level in France and finish second at the Breeders’ Cup.