Pedigree Query

Written by Tattersalls:
It was late in the evening that this year’s Group 1 Prix de l’Opera winner SATWA QUEEN entered the ring before an expectant audience. The six-time winning five-year-old mare, who raced for the Lamprell Partnership headed by Dubai based Englishman Stephen Lamprell, was trained at Chantilly by Jean de Roualle, and in a career spanning sixteen starts was successful at Group level on no less than five occasions. The bids came thick and fast for the daughter of MUHTATHIR out of the IRISH RIVER mare TOLGA with Alan Cooper, racing manager to the Niarchos Family setting the pace along with London based agent Charlie Gordon-Watson. However, as was the case earlier, Ferguson prevailed again, this time with a bid of 3,400,000 guineas, breaking the European record for a filly held briefly by SANDER CAMILLO.

“Last year we reflected on the amazing global demand for quality bloodstock and this has very much been the feature of the 2007 December Sales from start to finish. Ten fillies and mares breaking the one million guineas mark, a European record of 3,400,000 guineas for the Group 1 winning filly SATWA QUEEN and five fillies and mares making three million guineas or more, are statistics which may not be bettered for many years to come. It was also a privilege to have been entrusted with a significant part of the Swettenham Stud dispersal and we were delighted that the consignment provided such a wonderful tribute to the late Robert Sangster.

“While competition for quality animals has been unprecedented it would, however, be wrong to gloss over the warning signs at the less commercial end of the market. We have enjoyed a very successful year at Tattersalls, but the sheer number of horses now being offered is without doubt placing a strain on the market. In 2002 we offered less than 5,000 horses. This year we have offered 7,000. The market is struggling to absorb such a massive difference which suggests that a period of adjustment is needed, especially at a time when prize money in Britain is dwindling in real terms.

“The huge numbers are, however, a measure of the amazing support we have enjoyed from both vendors and purchasers alike throughout 2007 and it is this support which has allowed us to achieve record annual turnover for the third consecutive year. ”