Tattersalls were celebrating a record number of six-figure lots and a 45 per cent jump in turnover on Thursday evening as a memorable renewal of its December Mares Sale came to a close in Newmarket.

Unlike last year’s Covid-ravaged edition, Tattersalls were able to welcome an array of international buyers to Park Paddocks, and as seen at the company’s October Yearling Sale, sustained demand from a deep domestic and global audience helped push the market to a pre-pandemic level.

All told, 788 horses sold for a total of 62,412,700gns, a level not reached since the buoyant days of 2017. The average increased by 35 per cent to 79,204gns while the median rose by 30 per cent to 26,000gns.

A total of 164 fillies and mares realised six figures led by Waldlied, a Group 2-winning half-sister to Waldgeist who sold in foal to Kingman for 2.2 million guineas to Jill Lamb. The agent was acting on behalf of consignor Newsells Park Stud, who were buying out their partner Gestut Ammerland in the New Approach mare.

Newsells Park Stud also sold the second most expensive mare, Group 2 winner Cayenne Pepper, for 2 million guineas to Tom Magnier. Plans call for the daughter of Australia to join Coolmore’s broodmare band with an eye on a visit to Wootton Bassett, also the likely destination for its 1.8 million guineas purchase Sunday Times.

Also key was the level of Japanese involvement, notably the investment of 2.87 million guineas from Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm. His purchases included the Cheveley Park Stakes runner-up Flotus and Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes winner Dandalla, for whom Yoshida’s representative Shingo Hashimoto signed at 1 million guineas and 750,000gns.

The leading buyer was the BBA Ireland, which came away with 42 lots at a total of 5,641,500gns.

Waldlied: Newsells Park Stud bought out partner Gestut Ammerland at 2.2 million guineas in the Group 2-winning half-sister to Walgeist. Photo – Tattersalls

“Beginning with Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, the 2021 Tattersalls sales season has consistently outperformed expectation and the global demand throughout this week’s December Mares Sale has seen the momentum sustained to the very end,” said Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony.

“Record medians at both the December Yearling Sale and December Foal Sale demonstrated the extraordinary depth in all sectors of the market and we have seen that replicated over the past four days with buyers from throughout the world all contributing to a sale which has not only comfortably surpassed last year’s returns but also the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.

“The 2021 Tattersalls December Mares Sale has produced turnover well in excess of 60 million guineas, 45% higher than last year, wide-margin gains in average and median, an impressive clearance rate above 80% and an unprecedented 164 fillies and mares which have sold for 100,000 guineas or more.

“Annual turnover at Tattersalls has leapt from 260 million guineas in 2020 to more than 320 million guineas this year, a figure bettered only twice and a clear demonstration of a wider industry which has quickly regained confidence and vibrance after the rigours of last year.

“The four outstanding seven figure lots, Waldlied, Cayenne Pepper, Sunday Times and Flotus, all paid tribute to the consistent demand for bloodstock of the highest quality which has been the feature of the 2021 Tattersalls sales season, but the real highlight has been the opportunity to welcome back so many international buyers to Park Paddocks. The Tattersalls December Mares Sale showcases the very best breeding stock to be found in Europe, and the easing of travel restrictions has seen the return of the uniquely international atmosphere to this historic fixture with international buyers competing at all levels of the market. Buyers from America, Australia, France and Japan have been particularly prominent and the throng of overseas participants have faced strong competition throughout from their British and Irish counterparts.

“As well as recognising the massive contribution from the buyers we must also pay tribute to the consignors who every year make the Tattersalls December Sale a highlight  of the international bloodstock sales calendar. The major consignments from Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell Estates, as well as the dispersal of Sir Robert Ogden’s fillies and mares, proved to be hugely popular and the support of the top consignors from Britain, Ireland and France has yet again been rewarded with the unrelenting global demand which has long been the hallmark of Europe’s premier sale of breeding stock.”

As ever, Thursday’s final session provided a low-key end to the week’s proceedings. Yet trade was still competitive for those offerings with a hint of commercial appeal. That was particularly applicable to those fillies and mares from the Shadwell draft, which accounted for the day’s top two lots.

They were led by the well-related Adaalah, for whom Prince Faisal Bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz’s Najd Stud paid 82,000gns.

Offered in foal to Eqtidaar, the unraced daughter of Oasis Dream is out of Sandringham Handicap winner Muteela, a half-sister to Sheikh Hamdan’s Middle Park Stakes hero Awzaan.

Plans may call for the mare to ship straight to Saudi Arabia. However, bin Abdulaziz’s representative Saud Al Qahtani also indicated that Najd Stud are looking to strengthen their presence in Europe.

“She may stay here with the other mares or she may ship to Saudi,” he said. “We also bought Princess Margaret Stakes winner Under The Stars, who is in foal to Frankel. They may stay with Ted Voute, who, of course, reared this year’s champion Mishriff.

“This mare is by Oasis Dream, which was very attractive for us as he is a good broodmare sire. And she is in foal to Eqtidaar – she also had a very nice foal this year by him as well.”

The Shadwell draft also included the day’s most expensive filly, Sareeha. The Shamardal two-year-old was notably green when fifth on her debut at Wolverhampton for William Haggas and purchaser J D Moore is hopeful that the relation to Baeed will progress off that run after going to 52,000gns on behalf of an Irish client.

“We like her profile and she is by Shamardal,” said Moore. “She looked green on her start at Wolverhampton in September. We will make plans when she gets to her new yard.”

With the sale of 77 horses overall, the draft belonging to Shadwell Estates turned over a total of 5,780,000gns.

It was The Castlebridge Consignment, however, who ended the sale as leading vendor with 49 horses sold for a total of 7,053,500gns.

Newsells Park Stud, whose power-packed draft included Waldlied, Cayenne Pepper and members of the partial dispersal belonging to Al Shahania Stud, also understandably had an excellent week that featured the sale of 15 horses for 5,862,000gns at an average of 390,800gns.

As a whole, the Tattersalls December Sale boasted significant rises across-the-board with 1,667 horses selling for a total of 98,781,700gns. The average of 59,257gns represented a rise of 20 per cent from 2020 while the median jumped by 25 per cent to 25,000gns.

Adaalah: topped a low-key final day of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Photo – Tattersalls