Reflecting on an Incredible Book 1 Sale

Due to the unpredictable nature of this challenging year, there were moments of trepidation leading up to Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. Although turnover was down by 20 per cent this year, horses from the Highclere draft were still in high demand.

A total of 15 Book 1 lots were sold by Highclere Stud, amassing a phenomenal total of 5,369,000gns – 2,319,000gns more than the figure posted in 2019.

Heading our consignment was the lot 225 – a colt by Dubawi who was knocked down to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for Godolphin at 1,100,000gns, making him the highest priced lot on day two.

This special colt was the first foal out of the Group 1-winning mare Intricately, who was purchased in the same ring by John and Jake Warren in December 2017. We are delighted for his breeders Mike and Michelle Morris and can’t wait to see him on the track for his new connections.

Highclere Stud also achieved the highest price for a yearling by a first-crop sire when lot 425, a striking filly by Ribchester (pictured, below), sold to Ben McElroy Agent for 350,000gns.

She is out of the dual-stakes winner Selinka; dam of the consistent stakes performer and two-time Group 3 winner HIT THE BID. Another poignant sale for the stud, as Selinka was purchased by John and Jake Warren for 100,000gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in 2015.

We are very proud of our whole team, both office and outside, as it is their hard work and dedication that helped us achieve such incredible Book 1 results.

Overall our yearlings sold for well above the sale median of 130,000gns at 300,000gns, while they also averaged 357,933gns, considerably more than the sale average of 223,266gns.