Valuate topped a sober final session of the December Mares Sale at 52,000gns (US$68,735, 1gns=US$1.3218) as the curtain came down on Tattersalls' year.
The Dec. 7 clearance rate of 50% was further evidence of the challenges breeders and consignors face at the lower end of the market, against a background of prize money and affordability check woes, plus a generally grim economic climate.
The session saw 69 lots from 137 offered sell for a turnover of 413,000gns ($545,918), down 19% year-on-year, an average of 5,986gns ($7,912), down 8%, and a median of 3,000gns ($3,965), down 29%, was recorded.
Overall, the four-day sale saw 630 lots sell for a total of 67,752,800gns ($89,557,989), down 16% over 2022, an average of 107,544gns ($142,155), down 8%, and a median of 30,000gns ($39,655), down 6%. Tuesday's session had been the third-highest-grossing day in European sales history, underlining the polarization of the market.
Indian buyers have been a notable presence at Park Paddocks this week, and the well-related Valuate is bound for Kunigal Stud in Bangalore after selling to Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla's representative Zeyn Mirza.
Consigned by the National Stud, the daughter of Shamardal is carrying to St James's Palace Stakes (G1) winner and Newsells Park Stud sire Without Parole. She is out of Valeur, a daughter of Rafha, meaning she can count Invincible Spirit, Kodiac, Massarra, and Acts of Grace among her siblings.
Mirza said: "She has a great pedigree and I'm glad I've waited for the last day. She'll ship straight away and needs to do a month's quarantine in the UK and then another month in India."
The 7-year-old could be set for a date with either Chindit—who is in quarantine bound for stallion duties in India—or Baratti, a son of Frankel who won the Prix Lord Seymour and was second to Alpinista in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1). The Juddmonte-bred horse stands at Poonawalla Stud Farms alongside other familiar European names Roderic O'Connor and Excellent Art.
Reflecting on the four days, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said: "International demand is the feature of so many sales at Tattersalls, but few can match the global appeal of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, which annually draws buyers from every continent, united in a quest to acquire some of the finest bloodstock to be found anywhere in the world.
"In only their second year the two showcase Sceptre Sessions again produced some spectacular theater played out in front of a packed sale ring, with the highlight being the outstanding group 1-winning sale-topper Teona, who became the third-highest priced broodmare ever sold at the December Sale when selling for 4,500,000gns to Juddmonte Farms.
"The supporting cast of British-trained group 1-winning fillies, Cachet, Lezoo, Poptronic, Prosperous Voyage, and Via Sistina all also provided memorable sales for their connections, averaging almost 2,000,000gns apiece and adding to a day which produced turnover exceeded only twice in Tattersalls history."
