A YEAR to remember for Tattersalls Ireland drew to a low-key conclusion last Saturday with the latest staging of the company’s one-day Sapphire Sale whose returns couldn’t quite match last year in several areas.

The sale contained a mix of foals, yearlings and breeding stock which resulted in a top price of €38,000 which was paid in the foal section. Generally this was a quiet day as evidenced by a clearance rate of 54% and a turnover of just short of €600,000 which was a six-point progression on last year. The average of €5,994 was down by 13% while the median dropped by 27% to €4,000.

The day’s top lot came in the shape of €38,000 son of Advertise whose first runners will hit the track next year. Oliver O’Connor Bloodstock consigned this very well-related colt who was the subject of a lengthy duel between Micheal Orlandi and Sophie Buckley from which the former emerged victorious. Orlandi was acting for Paul and Marie McCartan’s Ballyphilip Stud who will reoffer this colt at next year’s round of yearling sales.

This colt is a half-brother to several winners out of a Fusaichi Pegasus half-sister to the classic-winning Misty For Me. The latter has since achieved great renown at stud as she is the dam of the ultra-tough and equally classy triple Group 1 heroine Roly Poly as well as the remarkable U S Navy Flag who won the Middle Park and Dewhurst Stakes at two before going on to land the following season’s July Cup.

The previous lot into the ring was a colt from the first crop of Shaman, who won at Group 2 level in France as well as notching up a series of honourable efforts at the highest level, and he fell to Sophie Buckley at €22,000. This colt is a half-brother to four winners out of the Rockfel Stakes second Cochabamba who is also the grandam of the recent Oh So Sharp Stakes second Small Oasis.

Another popular foal was a €23,000 colt hailing from the second crop of Invincible Army whose first yearlings sold well this autumn. The Oliver O’Connor Bloodstock offering was bought for resale by Michael Fitzpatrick’s J.C. Bloodstock and he is a half-brother to the useful Hodd’s Girl who made it six career wins at Dundalk last Friday.

Pivotal filly

The clear pick of the breeding stock on offer was the four-year-old Super Proud and she cost Paul Curran, acting on behalf of the BBA Ireland, €35,000. The Rockview Stables-consigned four-year-old is a winning daughter of Pivotal and she is out of a half-sister to the Australian Group 1 winner Beaten Up, the St Simon Stakes hero Harris Tweed and the Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Vow.

The yearling section was headed by a €30,000 filly hailing from the second crop of the Coventry Stakes winner Calyx. This half-sister to the dual listed winner and Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes second Easton Angel was bought by Con Marnane and his daughter Amy who will reoffer this filly at next year’s round of breeze-up sales.

The first major transaction of the day came when Italian Valfredo Valiani spent €25,000 on a son of Acclamation from Egmont Stud. This colt is out of an unraced half-sister to the multiple listed victor Caucus.

A Saxon Warrior filly, whose sire enjoyed such a fine start to his stud career with a first crop of runners headed by the Breeders’ Cup hero Victoria Road, cost Joe Logan €19,000. The Coolagh Stud offering is out of an own-sister to the dual American Grade 2 victor Vagabond Shoes.