A VINTAGE renewal of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale concluded on Saturday evening with a strong fourth and final session, one which produced increases in aggregate and average. The day’s selling pushed turnover for the sale past 31 million guineas.

Saturday’s trace was led by the 80,000gns sale of an Expert Eye colt to Joe Foley on behalf of Steve Parkin’s Clipper Logistics. The colt is out of the Oasis Dream mare Respondez and was consigned by Paul and Sara Thorman’s Trickledown Stud on behalf of Alvediston Stud.

From the second crop of Juddmonte’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner, the colt is out of a dam bred by Juddmonte and is a sibling to the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes winner Prohibit.

At the conclusion of the sale Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony commented: “The highest-priced foal sold in Europe since 2002, 14 of the 15 highest priced foals sold in Europe this year, turnover in excess of 30 million guineas, and a clearance rate bettered only twice this century are all impressive statistics, reinforcing the status of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale as the premier sale of its kind in Europe.

Highest price

“The obvious highlight was the spectacular sale of the Swinburn family’s outstanding Dubawi colt out of their wonderful mare Madonna Dell’Orto for 1.8 million guineas; the highest price for a foal in Europe and North America this year, but the real feature of the 2021 renewal of Europe’s premier foal sale has been the unrelenting British and Irish demand from start to finish.

“Strong yearling sales drive the foal trade, and the significant rises in all the key indicators this week reflect the extraordinary strength of the market throughout the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and also pay tribute to the endeavours of the pinhookers who have worked tirelessly all week.

“Owners looking for quality foals to race in the future have also made a major contribution to a successful sale but, as ever during the December Foal Sale, Park Paddocks has primarily been the domain of the British and Irish pinhookers, joined by many of their counterparts from throughout Europe.

“The sustained demand at all levels has been notable, and the record number of foals selling for 50,000gns or more has demonstrated a depth to the market which is encouraging as we turn our attention to a quality renewal of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale.”

During the week there were 62 foals that sold for 100,000gns or more, while 28% of the 734 foals traded, 204 to be precise, realised 50,000gns or more. Genesis Green, Barton and Norelands Studs, in addition to The Castlebridge Consignment, sold foals which aggregated a million guineas or more.

By some way the busiest buyers were BBA Ireland, their 25 purchasers costing their clients in excess of one and a half million guineas.