THE Tattersalls December Mares Sale came to a close on Thursday with the four-day sale aggregate reaching 80,831,200 guineas, up 30% on last year’s sale total and 16% higher than the previous record set in 2007.

Add in last week's Foal Sale and the total comes to 120,587,750 guineas, up 22% and also a new benchmark, whilst the annual turnover at Tattersalls breached 400 million guineas for the first time, a wide margin record.

Pulitzer Prize for Rampal

Indian buyers have made a significant impact on the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, buying more than fifty lots in total, and it was agent Gaurav Rampal who signed for the session topping mare on the final day.

The seven-year-old Kodiac mare Pulitzer was knocked down to Rampal for 50,000 guineas on behalf of Indian owner-breeder and stallion owner Tegbir Brar, bought with his brother Harsimran.

"She is a lovely mare," said Rampal, who was about to jump in a car and get to the airport. "She goes to France - her Night Of Thunder two-year-old Night Of Lightning, her first foal, has finished second on his only start to date and looks very exciting."

Pulitzer, who was sold by Stetchworth Park Stud, is a winning half-sister to the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes winner Smaih and was offered in foal to exciting young stallion Time Test.

Astonishing

At the conclusion of the sale, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony commented: “Every so often we experience sales at Tattersalls which defy all expectations, but in 2022 it is probably fair to say that each successive sale here at Park Paddocks has achieved levels of trade which even the most optimistic observers would have deemed unlikely, culminating in a Tattersalls December Mares Sale which at times has been truly astonishing."

“Turnover, average and median have all soared past the previous record levels and to see the packed sale ring as the succession of outstanding fillies and mares took to the stage will live long in the memories of all those present.

"The huge number of overseas buyers here at Park Paddocks for the duration of the December Sale reflects the incredible support we have received from the vendors who entrusted us with such an illustrious cast of race fillies and broodmares.

"Every one of the 11 fillies and mares who sold for one million guineas or more was special and the 5.4 million guineas sale of the gorgeous Alcohol Free was not only the highest auction price in the world this year for a filly in training, but also a wonderful reward for her owner Jeff Smith, her trainer Andrew Balding and all associated with one of the great race fillies of recent years."