The opening day of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 was one of the biggest in the auction house’s history. Godolphin topped the purchasers’ list, and at the head of it stood lot 130, a chestnut colt by Night Of Thunder (Dubawi), knocked down to Sheikh Mohammed for 4,600,000 guineas — a new European record for a yearling colt and at the same time the highest-priced yearling sold anywhere in the world this year.
Night Of Thunder stands at Darley’s Kildangan Stud in Co Kildare, Ireland. The record sum therefore went on a son of Sheikh Mohammed’s own stallion.
The bidding intensified once the price passed 2,500,000 guineas. From there it was between Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier and Godolphin’s Anthony Stroud, and even when Magnier jumped from 3,600,000 to 4,000,000 guineas it did not shake Godolphin’s long-serving agent.
The colt was consigned by Norelands and bred by Mrs Tsui’s Sunderland Holdings. He is out of the Group 1-placed My Astra (Lope De Vega), herself a half-sister to the Group 2 winners and Group 1-placed My Oberon and My Prospero — all three out of the Group 3 winner My Titania.
“That was above and beyond our wildest dreams”, said Norelands’ Matt Gilsenan. “He is an absolute superstar colt by a magnificent stallion and out of a mare who has done it as well. He was reared on the farm, and we are thrilled for the team.”
The overall European record for a yearling nevertheless still stands at 5,000,000 guineas. It was set at this very sale in 2013, when Sheikh Joaan’s Al Shaqab Racing bought a Galileo filly out of Alluring Park — a full sister to the Oaks winner Was. Tattersalls called it both a world record for a yearling filly and the highest price in European auction history.
Wootton Bassett colt for 3,800,000
Second-dearest was lot 87, a colt by Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) consigned by Croom House Stud, which Godolphin secured for 3,800,000 guineas — again with Coolmore as underbidder.
That makes him the second highest-priced yearling sold in the world this year. He is out of Loch Lein (Invincible Spirit), who won the Listed Prix Amandine and was placed in two Group 3s.
The dearest filly of the day was lot 141, a Wootton Bassett daughter of the Group 1 winner No Speak Alexander, bred and consigned by Mountarmstrong Stud. Richard Brown bought her for Blandford Bloodstock for 2,600,000 guineas.
“She is one of the best fillies I have seen this week — and probably for a long time”, said Brown.
Yeomanstown broke the million for the first time
The day’s other seven-figure lots all went to Godolphin. Lot 27, a Frankel colt from Hillwood Stud and the first foal out of Get Ahead (Showcasing), cost 1,800,000 guineas and was the first million of the day. The mare herself was bought for 2,500,000 guineas at the 2023 Tattersalls December Mares and is a half-sister to the 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean.
Lot 103, a Ghaiyyath colt out of Maria Christina (Kodiac), became Yeomanstown Stud’s first seven-figure sale ever at 1,300,000 guineas. The stud had pinhooked him as a foal for €200,000 themselves.
“Absolutely amazing. We have come close, but never actually broke the million”, said David O’Callaghan, who dedicated the sale to his mother, Yeomanstown’s matriarch Annette O’Callaghan, who died in September. “My mother was definitely looking down on us today.”
And early in the day Godolphin gave 1,100,000 guineas for lot 40, a bay filly by Blue Point out of Holly Golightly, consigned by Ballyhimikin Stud. Godolphin thereby accounted for five of the day’s six seven-figure lots.
The opening day in numbers
Every key figure rose compared with the same day last year: turnover grew 16 per cent to 46,778,000 guineas, the average 26 per cent to 406,765 guineas and the median 14 per cent to 240,000 guineas.
Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1
The opening day in numbers
| Key figure | 2026 | v 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Turnover | 46,778,000 | +16 % |
| Average price | 406,765 | +26 % |
| Median price | 240,000 | +14 % |
| The seven-figure lots as a share of turnover | 32.5 % | – |
Source: Tattersalls’ own figures for the opening day, published 6 October 2026. The changes are Tattersalls’ own comparison with the same day last year. The share of turnover taken by the seven-figure lots is GalopSport’s own calculation on Tattersalls’ figures.
Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1
The seven-figure lots
| # | Yearling | Consignor | Buyer | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Night Of Thunder – My AstraLot 130 | Norelands | Godolphin | 4,600,000 |
| 2 | Wootton Bassett – Loch LeinLot 87 | Croom House Stud | Godolphin | 3,800,000 |
| 3 | Wootton Bassett – No Speak AlexanderLot 141 | Mountarmstrong Stud | Blandford Bloodstock | 2,600,000 |
| 4 | Frankel – Get AheadLot 27 | Hillwood Stud | Godolphin | 1,800,000 |
| 5 | Ghaiyyath – Maria ChristinaLot 103 | Yeomanstown Stud | Godolphin | 1,300,000 |
| 6 | Blue Point – Holly GolightlyLot 40 | Ballyhimikin Stud | Godolphin | 1,100,000 |
Source: Tattersalls’ own figures for the opening day, 6 October 2026. The consignor is the vendor who presented the yearling in the ring. The table is GalopSport’s own review of all 157 lots on Tattersalls’ lot pages and covers all six seven-figure lots of the day — including lot 40, which is not mentioned in Tattersalls’ own press release.
