A final session with more appeal to the bargain hunter than the serious collector still provided enough stimulus for the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale to conclude Nov. 1 with a healthy glow to its figures.
Most of the big hitters had departed after Oct. 30, with no individuals from there on rivaling the spirited action that had included the most expensive horse ever sold at the event, the 1.3 million guineas Delius at the Oct. 29 session.
Overall turnover had been on the brink of passing the impressive all-time record set two years ago as the bell rang Friday but, while many of the final runs were knocked off, the total fell just a few short by lunchtime stumps at 35,654,200 guineas (US$48.4 million, 1 guinea=US$1.36)
Trade registered individual improvements on the average and median, not only for the day but the sale as a whole. The final average of 34,955 guineas (US$47,447) was a 13% improvement on last year’s 30,951 guineas, the second highest in history, and the median of 16,000 guineas (US$21,718) was also 7% above 12 months ago.
The sale saw a record 33 lots realize 200,000 guineas or more. In total, 1,020 horses sold from the 1,172 offered. The clearance rate of 87% was exactly the same as last year.
Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony said: “As ever, this unique fixture, the largest and most popular of its type, has attracted an extraordinarily diverse collection of buyers from all corners of the world. Australian buyers have enjoyed outstanding success purchasing at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, with graduates winning 48 group or listed races in the last three years, and they have again played a significant role, buying in excess of 30 lots for more than 6 million guineas.
“They have been joined by the typically enthusiastic group of buyers from the Gulf region, whose respective carnivals have buoyed the market in the Middle East for quality, tried horses from Britain and Ireland. We’ve also welcomed a large contingent of European buyers, especially from Spain and Italy, who have made a significant contribution to the sale, and it was equally encouraging to see such strong domestic demand from both the flat and National Hunt fraternities.
“A record price for Delius and sale turnover that has only narrowly fallen short of the wide-margin record set in 2022 have provided a fitting finale to what has been a remarkable month of sales at Tattersalls.”
For all that this has been a few weeks to savor for the auction house, Mahony issued wider caution relating to developments in the government of England’s budget and tax code.
“Against this backdrop of positivity we can only express concern regarding the government’s budget announced on Wednesday,” he added. “The implications of it will have far-reaching effects not only on all businesses in the racing industry but more long term on breeders and trainers who could now be liable for inheritance tax on their assets.
“The effects of these changes are surely going to have a negative impact on the whole racing and breeding sector in this country.”
