St Leger Sales Results and Stats

St Leger Yearling Sales Up For Tenth Successive Year

The 2007 St Leger Yearling Sales finished with consistently lively trade experienced across all three days and gains across the board for the tenth year in succession. The sale was topped by a son of the leading first season sire and former DBS graduate ACCLAMATION when he was knocked down to John Ferguson for 185,000 guineas. Consigned by Rathbarry Stud, the attractive Colt was catalogued as Lot number 88 and had plenty of admirers before Ferguson won a protracted bidding dual with Peter Doyle to secure the coveted prize, whose dam is a half sister to the Group 1 winning MAY BALL.

Lot Number 88. Acclamation Colt who realised 185,000 guineas

Leading American sire, RAHY was responsible for the second highest price when Dick O'Gorman signed for lot number 205. Consigned by Grove Stud, the strong, easy moving January born Colt was always going to attract plenty of attention and it was Dermot Farrington who lasted longest before O'Gorman landed the final bid at 175,000 guineas. Out of an own sister to the Listed winning SILVER COLOURS, he had the looks and pedigree to match his price and will race for the Darley team next season.

EXCELLENT ART was sold at the St Leger Sales in 2005 before winning the Group 1 St James' Palace Stakes and John Warren had to go to 165,000 guineas to secure his paternal half brother. Catalogued as Lot number 379, the son of PIVOTAL was consigned by Glenvale Stud, out of a half sister to the Group 3 winner NAMAQUALAND and comes from the family of the leading sires BERTOLINI and GREEN DESERT.

Lot Number 379. Pivotal Colt who realised 165,000 guineas

John Ferguson was active again when he signed for a February born son of DR FONG out of the multiple listed winning mare ATLANTIC DESTINY. Consigned by Newsells Park Stud as Lot number 37, the strong colt sparked plenty of interest prior to the sale and it was no surprise to see many purchasers eager to secure him before the hammer came down at 160,000 guineas.

John Warren was active throughout the sale as a buyer, but his wife, Lady Carolyn's Highclere Stud was also one of the leading vendors when achieving an average price of over 92,000 guineas for the five lots consigned. These prices were topped by Lot number 109, a Red Ransom Colt who was knocked down to Shadwell Estates for 140,000 guineas.

ACCLAMATION was responsible for another high priced Colt when Lot number 177 was sold to Shadwell Estates for 130,000 guineas. Consigned by Raven House Stables, the January born Colt is out of a half sister to the Listed winning and Group 3 placed NIGHT CHAPTER. The same price was achieved by another son of a former St Leger Yearling when Lot number 335 was knocked down to Eddie Lynam for Lady O'Reilly. Consigned by Oak Grove Stud, the racy son of KYLLACHY is out of the Group 3 winning PALACEGATE EPISODE and is a half brother to the Group 3 winning KING QUANTAS. He is also a half brother to the dam of another St Leger Yearling, DUTCH ART and will have every chance of emulating his talented nephew.

Lot Number 335. Kyllachy - Palacegate Episode who realised 130,000 guineas.

Blandford Bloodstock signed for DUTCH ART in 2005 and they were again in action when they paid 130,000 guineas for Lot number 325. Consigned by Jamie Railton, the INVINCIBLE SPIRIT filly is out of a half sister to the Group 3 winning MUNWAR and will go in to training next year with Simon Callaghan.

The figures across all three days increased in 2007 for the tenth year in succession. Across all three days, 22 lots made over 100,000 guineas compared to 14 who achieved the same status in 2006. This was matched by 92 horses who achieved prices of 50,000 guineas or more, compared with 67 in 2006, which lead to a 12% increase in the Median and Average price.

Managing Director Henry Beeby commented after the sale that the week was:

'Unique. The St. Leger Yearling Sales have carved themselves a unique reputation over the years by providing a particular type of horse and that has allowed us to return record figures for the tenth consecutive year - something no other European Yearling Sale can boast.

This consistent growth has been built on the back of a steady improvement in the quality of the yearlings we have offered which was translated into better and better results on the racetrack headed this year by a dual Classic winner that was amongst four individual Group 1 winners. The fact that two of those Group 1 winners head the Racing Post ratings for the top two year olds of 2007 graphically illustrates just how good they are.

We came into the week expecting a good trade as we knew our catalogue was good but to record another 12% rise in average and median following 30% and 25% last year is truly remarkable. However, there has been a really excellent buzz in the Sales Paddocks from last Sunday and a huge crowd resulting in an excellent atmosphere. Frankly, we were missing no serious buyer of yearlings and we are just so proud that the sale is taken so seriously by the industry these days. The depth of the market can be clearly shown by the 22 yearlings who made 100,000 guineas or more which compared very favourably with the 14 twelve months ago and the 92 50,000 guineas plus yearlings as opposed to 57 last year. This demonstrates the steady upward trend that has been in evidence every single year since 1998.

But the real feature of the three days has been the consistent level of trade from Lot 1 to 500 as evidenced by a very respectable 89% clearance rate. That was achieved by our shift to cataloguing alphabetically for the first time and not "grading" sessions. This move received a universal thumbs up and will be a permanent feature of the sale.

As ever, none of this is possible without the increased support of our wonderful band of Vendors and the renewed confidence our Purchasers show in the St. Leger Yearling Sales. "A serious source of quality" has been our catchphrase and we certainly feel it is one that is justified.

We now look forward to renewing our association with the St. Leger Festival in just two weeks time when we hope to illustrate that the 200 yearlings on these two evenings will also perform with great credit on the track.'

Comparative Figures