Each of the last few years, American buyers have flirted with setting new benchmarks when they participate in the opening book of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
With the 2022 sale serving as the gold standard, it's taken some time, but the record for how much was spent in whole or in part by American interests toppled near the conclusion of Book 1.
When Repole Stable purchased Lot 435, a Lope de Vega colt for 450,000 guineas, it put this year's collection of buyers ahead by 50,000 guineas. Then, Corbin Blumberg, agent, for Emcee Stables went to 220,000 guineas for Lot 446, a filly by Too Darn Hot that created breathing room.
Overall, American buyers spent a collective 20,270,000 guineas (approx. US$28,132,105; 1 guinea=US$1.39).
In terms of number of lots bought, this year matched the record of 45 set in 2022 and 2025.
"I think that a lot of U.S. people are coming here because I think the U.S. right now is so focused on dirt and classic distances," Mike Repole said. "And even though the dollars in purse racing—a $1 million purse race pays the same amount as a $1 million dirt race—as the purses in turf racing become bigger, (there is growing interest)."
But there is also the access to runners by European sires, many of whom provide greater value.
"When you see the Europeans come here, whether it's the Breeders' Cup races or when you look at a grade 1 or 2 in turf racing, many of the stallions are European," Repole added. "It's working. I also think there is more value out there. The one thing I'm a little discouraged by in the United States is it's the top six sires and first-year sires. When you look at the European sires, of course they have their top six ... but when you look at No. 6 to No. 30, they have a deeper roster of stallions. I like the diversity of stallions that are between $15,000-$40,000 that can get you a grade 1 winner."
Matt Dorman of Determined Stud began his Tattersalls journey bidding online. Then last year, he made the decision to attend Book 1 in person. Now, he's taking it a step further by returning to Newmarket for Book 2 Oct. 12-14.
The action in the sales ring has been positive, a continuation of what is being seen at sales in the States. He acknowledged there were concerns whether that carryover would be achieved. But he credited Tattersalls for putting together a high-quality catalog.
"I think it's a combination of really good physicals and really good pages, as well as at home," Dorman said. "There's a very strange, good business environment. If you're buying horses, personally, I think it's a fragile economy. But right now, it's going full bore, and so I think you've got a lot of outfits that did really well sales-wise, which then fuels them to come back and buy."
He said that United States President Donald Trump's so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill" is driving a lot of the action. The bill included restoration of 100% Bonus Depreciation, which allows buyers to deduct the full cost of a horse in their first year of ownership.
"I'm a fan of the benefits of horse racing," Dorman added. "I'm not a fan of it in terms of the national debt, and from a big picture, global picture, some concerns."
Trail Blazers
How this sale became a go-to auction for turf runners from mostly European bloodlines goes back a decade. That's when Mike and Mary Ryan, along with trainer Chad Brown, would come over on behalf of Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stable.
"It's created a competitive environment. ... It's made it more difficult," Brown said. "But it's great for Tattersalls and it's more competitive now because of the success we had. So we're a victim of our own success, really, in terms of how crowded it is now bidding on horses. But that's the way it goes."
Real Talk
Trainer Miguel Clement added two to his stable Oct. 7 during the second session of Book 1. One of those was a 450,000 guineas Lope de Vega filly (Lot 239) for an undisclosed partnership.
While some don't like to share their insights toward what goes into their approach at a sale such as Tattersalls, Clement had no such concerns. He said if both the sire and the dam had previous success with runners in the United States, it raises the confidence that the yearling will follow suit.
But that doesn't mean taking shortcuts. He will still do a deep dive into the catalog.
"You already have your biases, and you tend to favor the ones that you're more familiar with, that you're more confident in. ... We're given more confidence by the fact that siblings did very well in the States, and it's by a sire that has been very successful in America," Clement said. "We kind of gravitated her way, and we were drawn to her more than anything else. And then physically, we loved her from day one."
Both she and the Mehmas colt (Lot 256) will head to Kentucky next week before going to Florida.
