Tattersalls Somerville Sale Poised for Success After Record-Breaking 2025 Edition
Following a highly successful transition to a single-day format last year, the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale returns to Park Paddocks this Wednesday with a sense of renewed momentum. Marketing director Jason Singh has expressed quiet optimism that the 2026 auction will build upon the benchmarks set during last year’s record-breaking event.
The upcoming sale, which features a 286-strong catalogue, will also see a familiar face at the rostrum. Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony is set to return to auctioneering duties for the Somerville, a move that is expected to be widely welcomed by regular attendees as he presides over the day’s proceedings.
Refining the Format
The decision to condense the Somerville Sale into a one-day affair in 2025 proved to be a masterstroke. Following a dip in performance during the two-day event in 2024, the return to a single-day sprint format resulted in a joint-record top price, a record number of six-figure lots, and a high clearance rate of 90%.
“We probably got a little bit too big the year before,” Singh explained. “That was the feedback we got from vendors and purchasers, so we thought it made sense to contract that slightly. It does put a bit more pressure on numbers, but it had a positive effect, and we’re hoping that we can improve on that this year.”
A Proven Pathway to Success
The Somerville Sale’s reputation for producing precocious, high-class talent remains its biggest draw. In the last three years alone, 42 horses sold at the event have gone on to achieve Group or Listed-placed status.
The poster child for this success is undoubtedly Celeron, a 20,000gns purchase last year who stormed to victory in the G2 Railway Stakes at the Curragh in July. Other notable successes include the Brocklesby winner A Bear Affair, illustrating that the sale remains a premier destination for those seeking immediate two-year-old talent.
The Value of Sales Races
A key component of the Somerville’s allure is the lucrative prize-money on offer for graduates. All yearlings catalogued in the sale are eligible for the Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes—which boasted a purse of over £317,000 this year—and the £200,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes.
While some critics argue that such races can divert runners away from traditional Pattern events, Singh remains adamant that they provide essential value. “These prize pools are guaranteed by the sales companies,” Singh noted. “We are contributing significant sums towards those races. For a relatively small entry fee, owners have the opportunity to run for some really good prize-money.”
Rising Stars at Raheendaw Farm
As the sale approaches, boutique operations like Co. Carlow’s Raheendaw Farm are hoping to maintain their perfect strike-rate. Founders Leah Burgess and Stephen Keogh, who have quickly established a reputation for success in the sales ring, return this year with a promising New Bay filly (Lot 32).
Reflecting on their journey from pinhooking beginners to established vendors, Keogh remains focused on the fundamentals: “The footfall is very good. [As they say,] if you bring the right horse, you’re going to sell it.”
With buyers arriving from across the globe and a quality-focused catalogue, Tattersalls is hopeful for a robust day of trading. The action at Park Paddocks commences at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
