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Aggregate, average and median all down on 2019 figures
The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale drew to a close with a fourth and final session on Thursday that saw demand continue unabated, resulting in a clearance rate just shy of 90 per cent.
Over the four days of trade, 971 lots sold for 21,735,100gns at an average of 22,384gns and median of 9,000gns. The aggregate represented a 14 per cent decrease from the 2019 sale when 985 lots sold for 25,393,400. The average fell 13 per cent down from 25,780gns a year ago whilst the median was down 25 per cent.
Amando Duart, Ballymore Stables and Paul Moroney Bloodstock finished the sale as the leading buyers having spent 1,475,000gns on three lots headed by the record-breaking sale of three-year-old colt English King (Camelot) for 925,000gns. The Castlebridge Consignment were the leading vendor having sold 58 horses for 1,722,400gns.
There was strong international demand, with buyers from more than 30 countries and a succession of six figure lots purchased for Australia, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the USA and the UAE.
At the conclusion of the 2020 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;
"The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale is a uniquely international fixture and to stage it amidst such widespread global travel restrictions was a daunting prospect, but yet again the industry has risen to the challenge.
"The sale understandably lacked some of its customary vibrancy with so many of our regular overseas buyers unable to travel, but the market has again held up remarkably well, particularly at the top end where we have seen a record sale price for a colt of 925,000 guineas and double last year's number of lots sold for more than 300,000 guineas. It is a similar scenario to the recent Tattersalls October Yearling Sales. Quality bloodstock remains a coveted commodity and the status of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale as the premier sale of its type in the world is based on consistent achievement on racecourses throughout the world.
"It is no coincidence that the most notable feature of the international influence this week has been the contribution from Australian and Saudi Arabian connections. The inaugural $30 million Saudi Cup night in February this year saw the connections of two Autumn Horses in Training purchases standing proudly in the Winners' Enclosure and there have been four individual Australian Group 1 winners from the sale since 2019. Success driven demand is the key to so many sales at Tattersalls and it has been especially evident at all levels of this year's Autumn Horses in Training market.
"Equally important has been the role of the live internet and telephone bidding facilities which have both played a crucial part in enabling participation from buyers unable to attend the sale in person. We all crave the return of some semblance of normality to everyday life, but in the meantime we are having to explore all possible ways in which to facilitate business and the live internet and telephone bidding platforms have been vital innovations which have proved particularly well suited to this sector of the bloodstock market.
"As ever in this turbulent year we must also express our thanks to everyone who has participated in the sale this week. The challenges we all face show few signs of abating, but yet again everyone has conducted themselves with commendable patience and determination. We continue to be enormously grateful for this collective spirit of cooperation and now look forward to the December Foal and Breeding Stock Sale, incorporating the Cheltenham December Sale, which will bring the 2020 Tattersalls sales season at Park Paddocks to a conclusion."
