Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale concluded on Wednesday evening after three days of trade that saw the record price for the auction broken not once, but twice.

Thanks to the 1,050,000 million guineas sale-topper and the influence of the Maktoum family, the auction set new benchmarks. All told, 620 lots (from 730 offered) generated revenue of 48,499,000gns, an average of 78,224gns, and a median of 55,500gns.

Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said: “Yet again Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale has achieved turnover in excess of all other European yearling sales except last week’s October Book 1.

“In addition, the sale has averaged more than 75,000 guineas and grossed in excess of 48 million guineas for the third consecutive year. Individual records always make good reading, but the real Book 2 story has been the sustained demand from start to finish.

“It is a pretty extraordinary statistic that as recently as 2012 there were 48 Book 2 yearlings sold for 100,000 guineas or more and this year, we have had more than 160 reach that level.”

Here are some of the interesting angles that played out over the three days at Park Paddocks.

Shadwell is leading buyer again

Sheikh Hamdan’s operation has traditionally mined this auction to pick up a host of talented stars each year, such as Group 1-winning sprinter Battaash, and their spending at the 2018 sale accounted for 14 per cent of turnover.

This year they topped the leading purchasers table again, snapping up 51 lots at an average of 166,765gns and a total spend of 8,505,000gns. Their purchases included the sale-topping Dark Angel filly from Ballyhimikin Stud, bought for 1,050,000 million guineas.

Angus Gold was active throughout the three days for Shadwell – Photo: Laura Green/Tattersalls

Shadwell also signed for the Siyouni colt out of Moonlit Garden, who provided Tim and Gill Bostwick with their best day in the sales ring when the youngster fetched 600,000gns from Angus Gold.

The Bostwicks had previously consigned under the Biddestone Stud banner but a rejig in recent years had seen their mares reside at Barton Stud near Bury St Edmunds and it was they who consigned the colt for the Bostwicks.

Fabulous result for Culworth Grounds

Sophie Buckley, who co-owns Culworth Grounds Farm, had a fantastic result during the course of Book 2 when her Cable Bay colt, whom she had bought for just €4,000 as a foal, made 160,000gns to Shadwell.

Buckley said: “He was a good-walking foal, but I suppose what swung it through the bidding was when the auctioneer said that he was from the family of Enable! He has been a straightforward colt throughout.

“His half-brother Fifth Position has become a stakes horse this year and Cable Bay has done so well. I am delighted that Shadwell bought him – my first job in racing was a door opener for Angus Gold!”

The Banbury operation also sold a Fast Company filly for 56,000gns, an Oasis Dream colt for 40,000gns, and a colt by The Wow Signal for 35,000gns. Overall the four lots produced an average of 72,750gns and turnover of 291,000gns, to add to the 185,000gns made at last week’s Book 1.

Morita makes his mark

Toji Morita enjoyed a day to remember when Deirdre captured the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood in August and the owner was a new name amongst the buyers at Book 2 when he secured a Shalaa filly for 120,000gns.

It was his representative who struck for the Floors Stud-consigned youngster, who is out of the Grade 3-placed Federation who in turn is a half-sister to the late Duke of Roxburghe’s star mare Attraction.

Deirdre will contest the Group 1 QIPCO Champions Stakes on Saturday and her opponents include Group 1 heroine Coronet, the Aidan O’Brien-trained duo I Can Fly and Magical, and mud-lover Addeybb.

Strong support for Night Of Thunder

With three stakes winners from his first crop of two-year-olds this year, Night Of Thunder received strong support during the three days of Book 2.

The son of Dubawi had nine lots sell for an average of 144,333gns and a total of 1,299,000gns. Figures that were enough to see him sneak onto the leading sires table for the auction that was headed by Tally-Ho’s Kodiac.

Night Of Thunder’s most expensive Book 2 yearling was Longview Stud’s filly out of Blanche Neige, who was snapped up by Charlie Gordon-Watson for 425,000gns.

Gordon-Watson said: “She’s for a new UK-based project. She’s a very nice type with a good back pedigree and by a stallion who is doing well. It’s all there.”