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Autumn can’t be far away when the yearling sales reach our shores. The Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale is a nervous time for those connected with the first season sires as they wait to see how their yearlings are received.
Coolmore must have been delighted with first season sire TEN SOVEREIGNS sales; standing at €25,000 5 of his 7 lots offered sold for an average just short of £75,000. John and Jess Dance’s Manor House Farm went to £150,000 for his filly out of Rainbow Moonstone. Indeed Manor House Farm were busy all week buying 9 yearlings overall. Top of the lot was not the TEN SOVEREIGNS filly but a KODIAC colt out of NIGHT QUEEN who made £160,000. The Manor House Farm team must be delighted with their first seasons runners - SAM MAXIMUS won the Listed Hopeful Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday giving The Dance’s private trainer James Horton (former assistant to Sir Michael Stoute) his 12th winner to date.
Dalham Hall’s TOO DARN HOT (stood at £50,000 in 2020) also started promisingly. His 3 catalogued yearlings sold for an average of over £70, 000 .
Two first season sires who were represented well numerically and achieved good mark ups were INVINCIBLE ARMY and INNS OF COURT. The former, from a covering fee of €10,000, averaged over £48, 000 for his 13 lots sold . The latter standing for €7500, sold his 17 catalogued lots for an average just under £37,000.
Of the established sires NIGHT OF THUNDER’s two lots sold predictably well. His colt out of PIOUS ALEXANDER went to Avenue Bloodstock for £230,000 and his filly out of THISWASCADEAUX was the sales topper at £240,000, purchased by Blandford Bloodstock. It would be an exaggeration to claim NIGHT OF THUNDER’s is a ‘rags to riches’ story but, nevertheless, his star continues to brighten season by season. As recently as 2019, he stood for £15,000 at Dalham Hall Stud. His current yearling crop were conceived at €25,000 at Kildangan Stud. This year his covering fee was €75,000 and it would be no surprise to see that figure rise again next season. HIGHFIELD PRINCESS has been the highlight of his season winning two Group 1’s so far - namely the 5f Nunthorpe at York’s outstanding Ebor meeting just 12 days after the Maurice de Gheest in Deauville ( 6 1/2 f) ). NIGHT OF THUNDER’s star seems sure to brighten not only on the track but also the sales ring.
The figures looked healthy enough on first inspection until one considers the startling inflation rate we are all suffering including vendors . The thoroughbred market seems immune to the economic downfalls that affects other markets - let’s hope that continues until our economy is back on track . For the record the sale average was up 8% on last year at about £44,000 . The median is up 9% to £35,000. The clearance rate was 89% (363 yearlings sold) 23 yearlings made 6 figures and of those 7 made £200,000 or more.
written by Jane Stevens