The final session of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale brought the curtain down on the 2022 renewal of Europe’s premier foal and breeding stock sale. The final day of trade saw turnover for the December Mares Sale move further into record territory, with the four-day sale aggregate reaching 80,831,200 guineas, up 30% on last year’s sale total and 16% higher than the previous record set in 2007. The Tattersalls December Sale, comprising yearlings, foals and breeding stock rose 22% to 120,587,750 guineas, also a new benchmark, whilst the annual turnover at Tattersalls breached 400 million guineas for the first time, a wide margin record.
Pulitzer Prize for Rampal
Indian buyers have made a significant impact on the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, buying more than fifty lots in total, and it was agent Gaurav Rampal who signed for the session topping mare on the final day. The seven-year-old KODIAC mare PULITZER was knocked down to Rampal for 50,000 guineas on behalf of Indian owner-breeder and stallion owner Tegbir Brar, bought with his brother Harsimran.
"She is a lovely mare," said Rampal, who was about to jump in a car and get to the airport. "She goes to France - her Night Of Thunder two-year-old Night Of Lightning, her first foal, has finished second on his only start to date and looks very exciting."
PULITZER, who was sold by Stetchworth Park Stud, is a winning half-sister to the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes winner SMAIH and was offered in foal to exciting young stallion TIME TEST.
Chairman’s Statement
At the conclusion of the 2022 Tattersalls December Sale, Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony commented;
“Every so often we experience sales at Tattersalls which defy all expectations, but in 2022 it is probably fair to say that each successive sale here at Park Paddocks has achieved levels of trade which even the most optimistic observers would have deemed unlikely, culminating in a Tattersalls December Mares Sale which at times has been truly astonishing.
“There can be no doubt that the eagerly anticipated inaugural Sceptre Sessions have added a new dimension to what was already Europe’s premier sale of breeding stock. When we launched the Sceptre Sessions back in the summer our goal was to create a format which would allow us to showcase elite fillies and mares to the global audience which defines the Tattersalls December Sale. The response from breeders and consignors to the new initiative was overwhelmingly positive, and this was widely recognised as an exceptional catalogue, but we could not have predicted the extraordinary atmosphere which enveloped Park Paddocks throughout a sale which has seen the record books completely rewritten.
“Turnover, average and median have all soared past the previous record levels and to see the packed sale ring as the succession of outstanding fillies and mares took to the stage will live long in the memories of all those present. The huge number of overseas buyers here at Park Paddocks for the duration of the December Sale reflects the incredible support we have received from the vendors who entrusted us with such an illustrious cast of race fillies and broodmares. Every one of the eleven fillies and mares who sold for one million guineas or more was special and the 5.4 million guineas sale of the gorgeous ALCOHOL FREE was not only the highest auction price in the world this year for a filly in training, but also a wonderful reward for her owner Jeff Smith, her trainer Andrew Balding and all associated with one of the great race fillies of recent years. We all look forward to seeing ALCOHOL FREE race on in Australia and to dual Group 1 winner SAFFRON BEACH, who sold for 3.6 million guineas, who looks set to target the $20 million Saudi Cup in February.
“While the individual highlights will leave lasting memories, we must express our deep gratitude to all who have made 2022 such an extraordinary year at Tattersalls. Sale after sale has attracted buyers from all over the world in overwhelming numbers, and we are enormously grateful for the support we receive from purchasers and vendors alike, all of whom have contributed to a year which has seen our annual turnover exceed 400 million guineas, comfortably exceeding the previous high of 331 million guineas set in 2017. These remarkable figures are a massive tribute to the professionalism and commitment of all involved in the bloodstock industry in Britain, Ireland, France and further afield. It is their consistent support which makes Newmarket such a focal point of the global bloodstock industry and makes the uniquely international Tattersalls December Sale the pre-eminent sale of its type in Europe.”
