A successful return from exile and one which yielded one of the strongest set of results in the sale’s history ensured that the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale ended on a high on Wednesday evening.
The bright start to the yearling sales season which has been in evidence over the last month continued into this week with various sectors of the market more than holding their own against a strong set of returns that were recorded when the two-day auction took place in Newmarket last year.
As was the case in 2021 the sale was headed by half a dozen six-figure transactions and these played their part in a final turnover of just under €12.5 million. This was 3% down on last year but this was only the second time in the sale’s history that the €12 million mark has been surpassed.
A final average of €30,075 was down 5% on 2021 but this too is the second best tally in the sale’s history while the €26,000 median is a record. A total of 70 yearlings sold for €50,000 or more and, for good measure, the clearance rate over the two days came in at 90%. By any measure these were a fine set of returns.
New Bay colt
It took just three lots for the second session to spring to life with Alex Elliott having to go to €115,000 to secure a son of New Bay from Shane Power’s Tradewinds Stud. This €24,000 foal purchase continued an excellent week for Tradewinds who turned a €6,000 Due Diligence filly into €78,000 the previous afternoon.
Interestingly this colt, who comes from a tremendous Ballylinch Stud family which has produced the likes of Opinion and Priory Belle, is set to head straight to Australia to begin his racing career.
“The sire has been very good to me and this is my favourite horse of the sale. I think New Bay is a superior sire and I can't get enough of him but there’s going to come a time when I won’t be able to buy them anymore,” reflected Elliott.
“It can be hard to get one by the sire as good looking as this horse but they all look as though they will run through a brick wall. This is the one I wanted to buy. I’ve bought him for Spicer Thoroughbreds and he will go to Australia. I have been doing business for Brad Spicer for two years and has had a lot of success with European-bred horses. This colt will go to George Peckham to quarantine and then will head down to Australia,” added the agent.
Inns Of Court filly
It didn’t take long for the six-figure mark to be reached once more as Anthony Bromley forked out €100,000 for a filly from the first crop of the high-class Invincible Spirit horse Inns Of Court. This half-sister to three winners was bought on behalf of owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede whose colours have become an increasingly familiar sight on the flat over the last couple of seasons. This €30,000 pinhook was offered by Tally-Ho Stud where the sire resides.
“She has been bought for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. We bought three yesterday and we also tried on the €110,000 top lot. I have been very taken by the stock by Inns Of Court and she was definitely more than the budget I had proposed but she stood out,” reflected Bromley.
“We weren't necessarily looking for a filly at the sale but she was my pick. We have got a few yearlings this summer and we will see how it goes. Simon and Isaac only have a small flat string at the moment but we are looking to get a few more. Joseph O’Brien will train this filly and a couple of more we bought yesterday while Richard O’Brien will train the other one,” added Bromley.
The agent later spent €100,000 on a son of Sioux Nation from Tom Burns’ Gibbinstown Stud who was showing a great return on the €20,000 he cost as a foal.
“He’s been bought for Andrew and Jane Megson who own Polly Pott who won the May Hill recently and is going to be supplemented for the Fillies Mile. As you know Harry Dunlop is retiring and this horse will go to Ben Pauling. Both Harry and I loved him and he’s a lovely big, strong colt by a very hot sire. Andrew and Jane actually own a horse in this pedigree, a half-brother to this colt called Severance,” remarked Bromley.
Coole House again
A fine sale for the Coole House Farm team of Mark Dreeling and Barbara Fonzo yielded a second six-figure transaction in as many days when Joe Foley spent €100,0000 on their son of Bated Breath. This colt is out of a half-sister to the Group 2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte hero Captain Marvelous.
“He was our pick of the sale. We have had three Bated Breath colts – Space Traveller, Fresh and Victory Day. They are three really good horses and he is the fourth colt by the sire we have bought,” reported Foley. “This is a lovely yearling from a fantastic farm, the Dreelings are great breeders. It is a pleasure to buy one from them, I underbid Larchmont Lad here at this sale so it is a pleasure to buy one from them. We will pick a trainer later and he will run in the Clipper colours. He is our first purchase for Clipper this year.”
Havana Grey’s tremendous first year with runners has been music to the ears of those who took the plunge on foals from his second crop and one of those to benefit was James Hughes whose Ballyshannon Stud consigned a €70,000 son of the Havana Gold horse. This 14,000gns foal was bought by Peter and Ross Doyle and is out of a winning Dutch Art mare.
Elsewhere Matt Coleman spent €75,000 on a daughter of the popular Mehmas from Shinglis Stud while Mick Flanagan spent €70,000 on a filly from the first crop of the Coventry Stakes winner Calyx. She is a half-sister to Joseph O’Brien’s listed-placed juvenile Dense Star.
Part II of the sale, which numbers 130 yearlings, takes place at Thursday.
COMPARATIVE FIGURES FOR THE ENTIRE SALE
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGGREGATE MEDIAN AVERAGE
2022 480 458 413 €12,421,000 €30,075 €26,000
2021 489 448 402 €12,779,580 €31,790 €23,496
2020 447 396 333 €8,009,140 €24,051 €17,582
2019 480 451 388 €9,415,500 €24,267 €20,000
2018 560 526 411 €10,488,000 €25,518 €20,000
2017 487 448 401 €11,451,000 €28,556 €23,000
2016 533 501 409 €10,209,700 €24,963 €19,000