Tatts Foal Sale Finishes With Record Median

The Tattersalls December Foal Sale reached heights not seen in a decade at the sale's final session Nov. 29 when a Havana Grey (GB) colt brought 170,000 guineas (US$236,300, 1 guinea=US$1.39) to the bid of Hamish Macauley and Yeomanstown Stud. It was the highest price achieved on the final day of the auction since Yeomanstown spent the same sum on a son of Dark Angel (IRE) in 2015. At the close of the trade on Saturday, 125 lots changed hands for 2,395,700 guineas (US$3,330,023), a 6% day-to-day increase on last year's sale, while the average finished at 19,166 guineas (US$26,541), up 14%, and the median was 14,000 guineas (US$19,460), a 17% rise from the corresponding session 12 months ago. After four days of selling, 646 lots sold for 37,893,400 guineas (US$52,671,826), down 13% year on year, while the average finished at 58,660 guineas (US$81,537), also down 13%, but the median came in at 30,500 guineas (US$42,395), a marginal 2% increase on 2024 but nevertheless a record. Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said: "The Tattersalls December Foal Sale has long been Europe's premier foal sale thanks to the unwavering support of British and Irish breeders, and they have been rewarded with a sale that has produced a record median, alongside an average and turnover that have only been surpassed once—by last year's extraordinary results. "We have seen the highest-priced colt and filly sold in Europe this year, including the 1.15 million guineas Frankel colt from James Wigan's West Blagdon Stud. This represents the third-highest price ever achieved for a colt foal in Europe and is a fitting tribute to a consignment that is consistently one of the highlights of Europe's premier foal sale. "The sale's market-leading status is further underlined by eight of the top 10 prices in Britain and Ireland this year, a median that stands 40% higher than that of our nearest competitor, and unrivalled average and turnover figures. The number of lots realizing 50,000 guineas or more has also reached a record level." Offered as Lot 1036 by West Moor Stud on behalf of breeder Simon Chappell, the top lot drew a surge of late inspection ringside and ultimately fell to Macauley, who was emphatic about his purchase. "The best foal here today, he would have stood up well yesterday (premier session)," he said. "He has size and scope and will be reoffered next year. I think a lot of people appeared around the ring in the last 20 minutes before this guy went through! We had that sort of mark on him, and I think the market is unbelievably strong." The colt is out of the listed-placed Exceed And Excel mare Thesme, a three-time winner who never raced beyond 5 1/2 furlongs and hails from a black-type family. West Moor Stud's Kate Sigsworth said that the colt—bred on the same cross as group 1-winning juvenile turned Cheveley Park sire Vandeek (GB)—had done everything right since arriving. "He was bred on the same cross as Vandeek, and he has not put a foot wrong here all week," she said. "He is a young foal so there should be improvement in him still. "I'd like to give a shout out to the stallion owners, Ed Harper has been brilliant with Havana Grey. He made his name with 'smaller' breeders and he really does try and help British and smaller breeders." Attention now turns to the three-day Tattersalls December Mares Sale which starts Dec. 1, with the Sceptre Sessions Monday.