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Aggregate, average and median decrease as Tattersalls February Sale concludes
The second and final session of the Tattersalls February Sale on Friday was topped by six-year-old gelding Brentford Hope (Camelot) who sold for 90,000gns to Ed Bailey Bloodstock and Harry Derham.
Figures were down on those recorded in 2022 with 298 of the 356 lots offered sold for 4,141,800gns. The aggregate was down 29 per cent from a year ago when 328 lots sold for 5,849,100gns, with 9 per cent fewer horses sold this year. The average fell 22 per cent form 17,833gns a year ago to 13,899gns and the median dropped 30 per cent from 10,000gns last year to 7,000gns.
The Group placed Brentford Hope will head to the stable of young National Hunt trainer Harry Derham and was sold with an official flat rating of 102 and has an official hurdle rating of 114 following his recent exploits.
"This is a nice, scopey horse and Harry saw him yesterday," said Bailey.
"Brentford Hope has been a high-class performer on the flat and has run well over hurdles so far, bumping into some decent performers, and the form is looking good. He should progress over hurdles and he is for sale."
Shortly earlier Mohatu (Roaring Lion) sold for 80,000gns to Abdullah Salman Hamoud Alsabah. The son of Roaring Lion (Kitten's Joy) was sold by Jamie Railton as agent for Qatar Racing and having won two of his previous three starts has a Timeform rating of 91p.
"He has been bought to race in Saudi Arabia. I now have seven horses and I will own and train him. He's an improving horse with good form. The programme is expanding in Saudi Arabia and it is thriving. The surface is very good, which is so important for the horses," said Alsabah.
Mohatu is out of Tiger Eye (Frankel), a winning half-sister to Group winners Spirit Quartz (Invincible Spirit), Caspian Prince (Dylan Thomas) and Tuscan Gaze (Galileo).
At the conclusion of the 2023 Tattersalls February Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;
"The individual highlight of the 2023 Tattersalls February Sale was without doubt the 250,000 guineas BBA Ireland purchase of the very well-bred broodmare Now Or Never, who is the third highest priced broodmare ever sold at the Tattersalls February Sale and the highest price at the sale since 2018, but the real feature of the past two days has been the international participation.
"Diverse overseas demand has always been the hallmark of the Tattersalls February Sale and other Tattersalls sales of this nature and the consignors have confidence that Newmarket's unique appeal consistently produces an unrivalled marketplace.
"Even the relatively small February Sale consistently attracts an abundance of buyers from all over the world and we have sold horses to more than 20 different countries over the past two days. Widespread participation from throughout Europe has been matched by the customary strong contingent from throughout the Gulf region and buyers from India and North Africa have also made significant contributions to a solid renewal of the annual curtain - raiser at Park Paddocks.
"While the figures have not matched last year's impressive returns, the turnover was the fourth highest in the sale's history, the clearance rate has again exceeded 80% and the sustained demand for British and Irish bloodstock at all levels of the market has yet again very much been in evidence at the Tattersalls February Sale."
