Part 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale concluded with 130 lots sold for 6,425,500 guineas at an average of 49,426 guineas and a median of 40,000 guineas. This took the four day sale figures to 512 sold for 52,631,500 guineas, a record for a European yearling sale. The average over the four day sale was 102,795 guineas whilst the median was 70,000 guineas.

Lot 592, the SADLER`S WELLS three parts sister to the recent Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner MAGICAL ROMANCE topped proceeding`s on the final day at 420,000 guineas. Consigned from Timmy Hyde`s Camas Park Stud, the daughter of the SHIRLEY HEIGHTS mare SHOUK was knocked down to BBA Ireland`s Adrian Nicoll after he saw off the efforts of Shadwell Estate`s Angus Gold. SHOUK has proven a shrewd investment, having been purchased by Charlie Gordon-Watson at the 2001 Tattersalls December Mare Sale for 80,000 guineas. In addition to MAGICAL ROMANCE`s Group 1 win, the pedigree had received other major updates this year with SHOUK`s half sister PUCE now the dam of Group 2 Lancashire Oaks winner PONGEE as well as the stakes placed PUKKA. Nicoll indicated that the filly was purchased for a long standing client.

Demand for Lot 637, the grey filly by COZZENE out of the NASHWAN mare ALEXANDRINE, befitted her superb pedigree. Consigned from Kirsten Rausing`s Staffordstown Stud, ALEXANDRINE is a half sister to Group winners ALLELUIA, LAST SECOND and Listed winner ALOUETTE, herself the dam of multiple Group 1 winners ALBORADA and ALBANOVA. Another half sister is JUDE, dam of the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner YESTERDAY and Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner QUARTER MOON. Sir Mark Prescott, who has trained most of the family battled hard to add this filly to his stable, but was unable to match the 180,000 guineas bid by Eamonn Reilly of the Curragh Bloodstock Agency . Reilly made the purchase on behalf of Lady O`Reilly`s Castlemartin Stud.

At the end of the four day sale the leading vendor was Camas Park Stud who sold 21 yearlings for 4,092,000 guineas whilst the leading buyer was Demi O`Byrne who purchased 24 yearlings for a total of 7,305,000 guineas.

At the conclusion of the 2004 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Part 1, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;

" Having introduced new formats for both Parts 1 and 2 of our October Yearling Sales, it is difficult to make direct comparisons with last year, and of course we have a further 1300 yearlings to come next week before a truly accurate picture will emerge, but overall it has been a satisfactory transition away from the previous format. We always felt that our 2003 Yearling Sales would prove to be hard acts to follow after massive gains in all areas, but over the last four days Part 1 of the October Yearling Sale has produced a European record turnover for a yearling sale.

" The very top of the market has not matched last year when we sold a record number of seven figure yearlings, but as ever smart individuals have not been short of admirers, and the leading buyers in the European market have yet again made a significant impact throughout the week, as have new faces from Japan and Hong Kong. Having moved away from the �select sale` format we would have liked to have seen more trainers involved from the very start of proceedings, but as the week has progressed they have become increasingly active, and Part 2 of the October Yearling Sale, which begins on Monday, has plenty more to offer, as well as the added attraction of the �250,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes attached to the Sale."