A total of 23 new recruits have been added to the racing stable, which in turn has seen 19.625 million guineas (1 guinea=US$1.40) pumped back into breeders' pockets. That eight-figure investment means Godolphin topped the Book 1 buyers' table at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
Five of those yearlings cost a seven-figure sum, including the sale's top lot, the Sea The Stars colt out of Crystal Zvezda who fetched 3.7 million guineas Oct. 7.
The buying spree also took in a Wootton Bassett colt out of Time Tunnel who headed trade during the concluding session Oct. 9 at 1.9 million guineas (US$2,654,417, 1 guinea=US$1.40). The Juddmonte team provided Godolphin’s most determined adversary, but were ultimately left as the frustrated underbidder.
The colt, a half-brother to German listed winner Topanga, continued a fine week for the Cumanis' Fittocks Stud.
Fittocks Stud ended Book 1 as the leading consignor by average, with five lots sold for a mean price of 1.27 million guineas and an aggregate of 6.35 million guineas. Three of those five ended up inside the sale's top 10, led by the Frankel colt out of Innevera who brought 2.2 million guineas from Godolphin on Day 2.
Turnover for the three-day sale was 127,226,000 guineas (US$178,116,400) for the 395 horses who changed hands. The average price was 322,090 guineas (US$450,926), with a median of 210,000 guineas (US$294,000), all down slightly from last year's Book 1 results.
