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Record-Breaking Tattersalls Dec. Mares Sale Concludes

A best-ever average of 117,147 guineas was up 48% on 2021.

Pulitzer in the ring at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale

Pulitzer in the ring at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale

www.tattersalls.com

Despite quieter trade on the final day of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale Dec. 1, the 2022 edition will go down in the history books as the record total spent had been smashed by the third of the four sessions.

With Sceptre Session leading Tuesday's session to the highest-grossing day in European sales history, it meant that turnover throughout the week came to 80,831,200gns (US$101,758,734), up 30% on last year's sale total and 16% higher than the previous record from 2007. The average and median records were also broken comprehensively.

A best-ever average of 117,147gns ($147,476) was up 48% on 2021 with the median soaring by 23% to 32,000gns ($40,550). Overall clearance rate from 842 lots offered was a healthy 82%.

At the end of play, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said: "Every so often we experience sales at Tattersalls which defy all expectations, but in 2022 it is probably fair to say 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.

"There can be no doubt the eagerly anticipated inaugural Sceptre sessions have added a new dimension to what was already Europe's premier sale of breeding stock. When we launched the Sceptre sessions back in the summer our goal was to create a format which would allow us to showcase elite fillies and mares to the global audience which defines the Tattersalls December Sale."

2022 Tattersalls December Breeding Stock Sale, Lot 1904<br>
Alcohol Free (IRE) 2018 B.F. BY No Nay Never (USA) EX Plying (USA)  <br>
29/11/22
Photo: www.tattersalls.com
Sale-topper Alcohol Free in the ring during Sceptre session of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale

He continued: "The response from breeders and consignors to the new initiative was overwhelmingly positive, and this was widely recognized as an exceptional catalog, but we could not have predicted the extraordinary atmosphere which enveloped Park Paddocks throughout a sale which has seen the record books completely rewritten.

"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 ($6,781,077) 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."

On overall trade, Mahony said: "While the individual highlights will leave lasting memories, we must express our deep gratitude to all who have made 2022 such an extraordinary year at Tattersalls. Sale after sale has attracted buyers from all over the world in overwhelming numbers, and we are enormously grateful for the support we receive from purchasers and vendors alike, all of whom have contributed to a year which has seen our annual turnover exceed 400 million guineas, comfortably exceeding the previous high of 331 million guineas set in 2017.

"These remarkable figures are a massive tribute to the professionalism and commitment of all involved in the bloodstock industry in Britain, Ireland, France, and further afield. It is their consistent support which makes Newmarket such a focal point of the global bloodstock industry and makes the uniquely international Tattersalls December Sale the pre-eminent sale of its type in Europe."

The fourth session was topped by Stetchworth Park Stud's Pulitzer, who sold to Gaurav Rampal on behalf of Indian owner/breeder and stallion owner Tegbir Brar for 50,000gns ($62,964).

Her Night of Thunder colt named Night of Lightning had finished a narrow second on debut in France in October. The juvenile had made six-figure sums from the Tattersalls December Foal and Arqana August Yearling Sales, the latter when sold by Stauffenberg Bloodstock to Daniel Cole for €250,000 ($294,875).

Rampal said: "She's a lovely mare and goes to France—her Night of Thunder 2-year-old, her first foal, has finished second on his only start to date and looks very exciting."

A well-related individual as a winning half sister to group 3 winner Smaih and from the family of grade/group 1 scorers Sabiango and Silvano, the daughter of Kodiac was sold carrying to the National Stud's Time Test.

Whitsbury Manor Stud's excellent fortnight at Park Paddocks came to a productive close when the team sold Puzzled Look for 28,000gns ($35,260) to Blandford Bloodstock's Tom Biggs, who confirmed she would visit Overbury Stud's new sire and Flying Childers Stakes (G2) scorer Caturra.

The 9-year-old's juvenile Showcasing colt Tough Enough provided a timely update when winning at Wolverhampton last month, while she has yearling and foal colts by the red-hot Havana Grey and is carrying to Lope Y Fernandez.

Scene, 2021 Tattersalls December Mares Sale
Photo: www.tattersalls.com

Biggs said of Sakhee's Secret half sister to stakes winner Laugh A Minute: "She's been bought for the stallion's owner, Saeed Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi. He wants to support the stallion with a few mares. Puzzled Look has produced a good 2-year-old, a decent winner last time, and is from a good 2-year-old family. She has a good cover and a couple of Havana Greys to come."