For many owners a Yearling purchase is where the dream begins. Starting with a blank canvas yet only a few months off making their debut as a 2-year-old these mini-me racehorses could be your next Group winner. Richard’s recent selections have included the 2022 Group 1 winner Waikuku, 2020 Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed performer Safe Voyage and 2020 Glorious Goodwood Group 3 winner Pablo Escobarr.
The European yearling sales season starts in Deauville, France in the middle of August where a select group of well-bred individuals are on offer. As a rule the type of horse for sale is a Classic type horse, one which will likely be at its best between 1 mile and 1m 4f as a 3-year-old. This is France’s Premier Yearling sale and Deauville is a fantastic setting to showcase the best that France has to offer. Richard selected 2020 Glorious Goodwood Group winner Pablo Escobarr from this sale.
Soon after Deauville and at the end of August comes the Goffs UK Premier Sale in Doncaster where we find a lot of sharp, early 2-year-old types. In recent years the horses for sale have had more size and scope than previously offered but it is still the first port of call when looking for a potential Royal Ascot 2-year-old. The select Premier sale is stacked full of good looking, athletic individuals and with the sale being held at the end of August it takes a mature yearling to handle the preparation, this goes hand-in-hand with producing early horses to the track. Both this sale and the Silver sale held on the following day can often represent good value. Richard’s recent selections have included the 2021 Group 1 winner Waikuku, 2021 Listed winner Lord Riddiford, 2020 Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed performer Safe Voyage, 2019 Group 2 winning 2-year-old Night Colours and Group 3 winner Lady Macapa.
With Doncaster out of the way attention then moves to Baden-Baden, Germany and their September Yearling sale. This sale is held at the start of September and would not be on everyone’s radar but often showcases the best German horses for sale.
America’s Premier Yearling sale is Keeneland September, it comes soon after and continues for longer than any European Sale. Book 1 showcases the best America has to offer and is where you get the glitz, glamour and prices to boot – a large number of horses will make over 1 million USD and a large number have then been successful when flown back to Europe to race.
Back to Europe and, with Keeneland continuing, the yearling sales season heads onto Tattersalls Ireland held at Fairyhouse racecourse. This sale is the most improved yearling sale of recent years and it’s stature continues to take an upward curve thanks to the likes of Gr.1 winners including The Wow Signal, Galileo Gold and Richard’s yearling selection and Hong Kong Group 1 winner, Waikuku. 2021 Listed winner Lord Riddiford was selected from this sale for €27,000.
We stay in Ireland for the Goffs Orby & Sportsman sale which is usually held in the last week of September or first week of October. This is Ireland’s Premier yearling sale and The Orby showcases many strong pedigrees and high-class individuals. 2021 Listed winner Roberto Escobarr was selected for purchase from the Goffs Orby sale. The Sportsman sale is smaller and the pedigrees not as fancy but good horses can be found for value. Richard selected Listed winner Aussie Reigns from the Sportsman sale for just €36,000.
Hot on the heels of Goffs are the Tattersalls yearling sales held in Newmarket. Dominating October there are three main sales headed by what is arguably Europe’s Premier sale, Book 1. Big pedigrees and strong, athletic horses dominate the sale and often the likes of Godolphin, Shadwell and Coolmore dominate the purchasing. Prices are high but this is Europe’s best and the introduction of the Book 1 bonus has given the sale a much needed boost to those searching for some value. Book 2 follows and is often numerically the biggest sale of the European calendar but is probably one of the best and most important yearling sales of the year. The horses might not have the pedigrees that Book 1 have but there are a large amount of high-class individuals whether you are looking for a sprinter or a stayer. Whilst the obvious horses make their money there is often good value to be had. Talking of value Book 3 should certainly be given a mention. Finding the good ones takes more work but quality is there, albeit in smaller portions, with horses often by unfashionable stallions but just sometimes you can find a gem. It was Book 3 where Richard found Gr.2 winner and Gr.1 placed performer Up In Time for just 24,000gns.
There are a couple of later yearling sales with Arqana October following on from Tattersalls and then the Tattersalls December Yearling sales. Both sales often have either more backward individuals or horses that might have suffered a set-back prior to an earlier sale but can provide good value as most people have purchased their yearlings by this stage.
