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Aggregate, average and median show gains on 2020 figures as Book 1 concludes

Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale concluded on Thursday with three lots selling for 1,000,000 guineas or more and turnover above 30,000,000 guineas for the second day in a row. Sale turnover, average and median all showed increases on last year as did the clearance rate of 83%. 

A total of 375 of the 452 lots offered this year sold for a total of 86,369,000 guineas, up 5 per cent from 82,385,000 guineas in 2020 when 369 yearlings sold. The average was up 3.2 per cent to 230,317 while the median rose 23 per cent to 160,000 guineas. 

The top priced lot on the final day of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale was the Sea The Stars (Cape Cross) filly out of the Exceed And Excel (Danehill) mare Best Terms who realised 1,500,000 guineas to the bid of Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin. The filly was consigned by Newsells Park Stud on behalf of breeders Robert and Ann Barnett, who were at Park Paddocks to see their filly sell. 

"We have always loved this filly," reported Barnett. "The family has been good to us, and it goes a long way back now. Best Terms boards at Newsells and she was great fun on racecourse. 

"She is the most athletic yearling we have had for quite some time, you see her walking around the ring and she really has a very athletic walk. She has a lovely attitude, she is very laid back, she didn't fidget at all in the chute but when she gets going she gets going!" 

He added: "There seems to be a good trade for well-bred fillies and breeders are buying them to race and breed from, which is nice to see."

Buyer Anthony Stroud said: "Needless to say she's from a very good farm, and she's just very athletic. Godolphin has had a lot of success buying fillies from this sale and she looks like one who could run well over a mile and a half and is the type we are looking for. I think this catalogue has been a bit short on fillies, and this was probably our pick. 

"Coolmore was the underbidder, and I believe Juddmonte was in, and they are both fantastic judges which shows how valuable these fillies are. We've pulled up on a few horses this week by Frankel, Sea The Stars and Kingman, but sometimes you have to put your head down and go for it." 

Best Terms was the Champion two-year-old filly in England in 2011 following a pair of Group Two victories. Her progeny include the Listed winning filly Star Terms (Sea The Star) who is also Group One placed and Listed winner Fresh Terms (New Approach). 

The fireworks during the third and final session started with the very first lot in the ring, the Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) half-sister to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Waldgeist. The Newsells Park Stud consigned filly was offered on behalf of a partnership between the farm and co-breeders Gestut Ammerland. 

Interest in the regally bred filly came from all corners of the ring with Oliver St Lawrence and Bertrand Le Metayer both making bold plays, but as the price passed 1,000,000 guineas it was left to Baroda Stud's David Cox and Juddmonte Farms' Simon Mockridge to battle it out with the former successful with a winning bid of 1,250,000 guineas on behalf of Al Shira'aa Farms. 

Al Shira'aa Farms is a wide-ranging equine concern founded by Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan from Abu Dhabi. Its base in Ireland is at Meadow Court Stud, formerly part of Abbeville Stud and bought by the new owners in 2016. 

"She is by Dubawi and I'm delighted to get her," said Cox. "She is going to Meadow Court and they are looking forward to racing her and breeding from her in future. The Sheikha is very keen to extend the broodmare band and these Group One families are difficult to get into." 

Crispin de Moubray, speaking on behalf of part-breeder Ammerland, said: "We are delighted that she sold so well. We obviously felt that she deserved to sell well as she is a very sweet filly from a wonderful family and a wonderful mare. If you were looking for a mare to start a big breeding operation, a Dubawi out of a Monsun mare and a half-sister to an Arc winner is an obvious place to start! We wish them every luck." 

The top priced colt during the final session was a Galileo (Sadler's Wells) colt out of Anthem Alexander (Starspangledbanner) who realised 1,100,000 guineas to the bid of MV Magnier. He was sold by Noel O'Callaghan of Mountarmstrong Stud from a long-term family developed by the farm. 

"He is a proper horse, let's hope he is very lucky for his new people. He is going to a proper trainer and has every chance," said O'Callaghan. 

Magnier secured the colt after seeing off underbidder Oliver St Lawrence and a persistent online bidder.