Record-Breaking Tatts December Foal Sale Concludes

After a session of high-rolling end users drove trade to an unprecedented peak Nov. 29, prices returned to a more prosaic level for the concluding day of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale Nov. 30. Trade still proved solid for the level though, and a logjam of lots at around the 50,000-guinea mark ensured the figures still made for positive reading, even if the vast majority of those buying were doing so with profit margin in mind. A new partnership emerged at the head of Saturday's market, with David Redvers and Hannah Wall of Redwall Bloodstock teaming up with teenage brothers Harry (15) and Oliver (13) Vigors to secure a colt from the debut crop of Perfect Power (IRE) at 72,000 guineas (US$96,480, 1 guinea=US$1.34). Offered by Manor House Farm Stud, the youngster is out of the Oasis Dream (GB) mare Perfect Muse, who has supplied three winners from as many runners. "I've seen a good few by the sire and he's getting very nice stock," said Wall. "It was a bit more than we wanted to spend, but he's a very nice colt and very straightforward. He's a horse we all fell on and were keen to buy. He'll come back to Tweenhills now and then will be sold by the boys next year." Harry and Oliver are the sons of Charlie Vigors of Hillwood Stud. This is the brothers' first pinhooking venture, and given their father's success in this sphere they are surely names to note for the future. Harry said of their purchase: "He's a standout for us today. He's a lovely big, strong colt and is an athletic mover. Oliver and I went down this morning to see him without Dad and we picked him out. We went back later with Dad and he liked him too." Perfect Power, whose 54-strong debut crop was bred at a fee of £15,000, finished the December Foal Sale with an average price of 40,085 guineas for 23 sold. The multiple group 1-winning son of Ardad (IRE) will stand his third season at Dalham Hall Stud in 2025 at a fee of £7,500. Flying Figures Saturday's session ensured the four-day event ended on a positive note, with gains across the full spectrum of market indices. Turnover rose 9% year-on-year to 2,260,500 guineas (US$3,029,070), the average price climbed 18% to 16,870 guineas (US$22,609), while the median was 12,000 guineas (US$16,080), up 33 points from 9,000 guineas on this day 12 months ago. The final day's clearance rate was 77% as 134 foals sold from 176 offered. Underpinned by the remarkable strength of Friday's headline session, which produced turnover in excess of the entire four days in 2023, this year's December Foal Sale ended with new historic high marks set across turnover, average and median prices, each by clear water. Aggregate sales for the four sessions reached 43,504,000 guineas (US$58,295,360), a 46% year-on-year increase despite a smaller catalog resulting in 26 fewer foals changing hands. The vibrancy at the head of the market ensured the average price made the biggest gain, up 52% to 67,660 guineas (US$90,664). The median figure also reflected the depth through the middle market, up 43% to 30,000 guineas (US$40,200). The combined clearance rate was 80% as 643 lots sold from 822 offered. In his end-of-sale address, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony noted the unusually strong contribution made by end users in underpinning record-breaking trade, as well as the ripple effect from a similarly record-busting Book 1. "All week Park Paddocks has been alive with pinhookers from Britain, Ireland and further afield; a combination of veterans who have been plying their trade for many years and hordes of the younger generation whose enthusiasm and commitment provide encouragement to the wider industry looking forward," he said. "Equally notable has been the immense contribution made by owners buying to race. The December Foal Sale will always be dominated by pinhookers, but owners, both domestic and international, have made a huge impact on the sale, particularly those from Australia, China, Japan, and the USA, as well as from throughout Europe and the Gulf region. "Between them all they have contributed to a Tattersalls December Foal Sale which will be remembered for a very long time, not only for Whitsbury Manor Stud's outstanding 2.5 million-guinea Frankel filly foal out of Suelita, who equaled the 27-year European record price for a foal, but also for a sale which produced an unprecedented number of foals selling for 500,000 guineas or more, wide-margin records across the board for average, median and turnover and a massive 32 of the 40 highest-priced foals to have been sold in Britain and Ireland this year. "Not all in the garden has, however, been rosy and the lowest tier of the market continues to struggle, which is a concern, but as we move on to the market-leading Tattersalls December Mares Sale we can reflect on another 2024 Tattersalls sale which has exceeded expectations and again shone a positive light on the industry."