With one additional day added to this year's auction compared with last year, 803 lots sold for a cumulative 33,565,600 guineas (US$52,969,873), including a Dubawi—High Heeled filly whose 800,000 guineas ($1,191,840) purchase by John Ferguson Bloodstock on day four was the highest price for a foal at auction in Europe this year and the fourth highest ever on the continent.

 

Average price was up slightly at 1.4% to 41,800 guineas ($65,964), but median sank 20% to 20,000 guineas ($31,562). The clearance rate dropped to 73.7%, versus 80.7% in 2014

 

Four lots went for 100,000 guineas ($157,810) or more on the final day, taking the number of six-figure foals for the week to 77, a record for the foal sale. 

 

The final day's trade saw a total of 132 lots sell for 3,653,900 guineas ($5,766,219), down 21.7% compared with the corresponding session in 2014. Average declined 14.5% to 27,681 guineas ($43,683) and a median of 19,500 guineas ($30,772) was off 7.1%. Day five's clearance rate was 71.7%, compared with 76.2% on the final day last year.

 

Usk Valley Stud's colt by Dark Angel, out of the Dubai Destination mare Welsh Angel, led final-day trading, selling for 170,000 guineas ($268,277) to Yeomanstown's Robert O'Callaghan alongside his brothers and father, Gay, as demand for quality foals remained strong.

 

"He's a big slashing colt, like his daddy," O'Callaghan said.

 

Bred by Kevin and Sue Mercer's Usk Valley Stud, the colt is out of a half sister to the group II-placed Nantyglo and from the family of classic performers Moonstone L'Ancresse, Honolulu, Memphis Tennessee, and Orchestra. His dam has produced a winner from two starters: 2-year-old Scarlet Dragon, by Sir Percy.

 

"He is the best foal of the day and by the best sire," said O'Callaghan, whose family stands the sire. "Dark Angel has had another great year, with 14 stakes winners and 26 stakes performers. We are very lucky to have him. (The session-topping foal) was my choice. With a bit of luck, he'll be back here next October."

 

Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony pointed to the nearly 80 foals sold for six figures or more during the week as an indication of the intense competition for the best foals throughout the sale.

 

"The Tattersalls December foal sale is primarily the domain of British and Irish pinhookers, and they have worked tirelessly all week, joined, in increasing numbers, by international owners looking for quality foals to race," Mahony said at the sale's conclusion. "Buyers from America, China, Hong Kong, South Africa, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates have all purchased foals for 200,000 guineas or more, and made a huge contribution to the 2015 December foal sale."

 

The Tattersalls December mare sale starts Nov. 30.

[www.bloodhorse.com] - Photograph - Courtesy of  www.tattersalls.com