The Tattersalls December Sale ended Thursday, concluding a banner year that saw
the
company realize a turnover of 185 million guineas.
The December Sale saw a
record gross of 74
million guineas, up 40 percent on 2004, with a 39,847gns average and a 20,000gns
median, which rose 17 percent and 25 percent, respectively.
“Coming into the December Sale, we had already enjoyed an
exceptional
year, but nothing prepared us for the frenzied demand for the breeding stock which has rounded
off 2005 in such spectacular fashion,” said Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony.
“We were
confident that we had a good, solid catalog, although perhaps a little short
of being a truly
vintage one, but the level of trade has been truly astounding.
“The dispersal of
Ian Matthews’
mares from Kirsten Rausing’s Lanwades Stud was obviously the highlight of a
truly memorable
week, but…it will be the breathtaking depth to the trade which people will remember for a long
while. The strong yearling and foal sales clearly engendered huge confidence in
the buyers, but
the key to the pre-eminence of the Tattersalls December Sale is its ability to
attract a global buyer
base like no other sale. The sheer number of people at Park Paddocks this week
has been
phenomenal and the demand, both domestic and international, has been
unrelenting.”
Thursday’s
top lot was three-year-old LADY HEN (Efisio), who was consigned as Lot 2925 by Harraton
Stables. She was bought for 43,000gns by local agent Dwayne Woods to join the
broodmare band
at his Brook Stud.