A €365,000 Milan half-brother to Altior became the highest priced lot in the history of the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale this evening as he capped a tremendous finish to the flagship sale which ended with another impressive set of results.
Following on from an unprecedented set of returns in 2017, the Derby Sale performed to an almost identical level this year. The aggregate of just under €18 million represented a two point progression on last year, the average was virtually the same, the median dropped by two percent from €43,000 to €42,000, and the clearance rate was an identical 85%.
Over the two days there were a total of 29 six-figure transactions, which represented a drop of four from last year, but the €220,000 top price from 2017 was bettered on three occasions. Meanwhile, the number of lots to make at least €50,000 came in at 144 as opposed to 141 lots 12 months ago.
The store sales season was expected to reach its climax this week and it duly did so with two days of trade that will go down as some of the strongest ever seen at this sale.
Predictions that the record price for the sale could fall were borne out this evening by the sale of the Milan gelding while it was also heartening to see the clearance rate stay the same after day two returned an impressive tally of 89% for the number of horses sold.
MONSTER DIVIDEND
From early this week the sale topping son of Milan was touted as the star of the show and he duly matched every expectation to provide his vendor John Dwan with a monster dividend on the €40,000 he paid for this gelding as a foal.
At the time of the sale-topper’s purchase as a foal Altior was still in the formative stages on the path to greatness but since then Nicky Henderson’s charge has amassed a tremendous 14-race unbeaten streak which includes victories at three consecutive editions of the Cheltenham Festival.
All this made the Ballyreddin Stud offering a truly irresistible commodity and the bidding reflected that as he opened up at €100,000 before his price then sped past €200,000.
Ian Ferguson and Mags O’Toole did battle for much of the bidding but when Aiden Murphy, acting for M.V. Magnier, entered the fray he dealt with both challenges which ensured that his purchase broke the 12-year Derby Sale record which had previously stood at €350,000.
"He’s been bought for M.V. Magnier. He is an exceptional individual by one of the leading National Hunt sires and M.V. has been keen to support the National Hunt market here for the last couple of days,” reported Murphy. “The mare has already proved herself to be an excellent producer and hopefully this horse will match some of his sibling’s exploits.”
CRESCENDO
Murphy more than played his part in ensuring that the sale reached a tremendous crescendo as he signed for €240,000 and €200,000 lots in the last hour of the sale.
The €240,000 purchase came in the shaped of a Martaline gelding out of a listed-placed French jumper and, after several minutes, Murphy came out the right side of a lengthy battle with Tom Rudd.
“He’s been bought to go to Olly for an existing client. He’s just an exceptionally nice horse by a top French sire and he’s from a proper pedigree too,” declared Murphy.
For a brief period a son of No Risk At All headed the day’s trade when he sold to Murphy for €200,000. This half-brother to the classy novice hurdler Vision Des Flos and last year’s Land Rover Sale-topper, Umndeni, was offered from Walter Connors’ Sluggara Farm.
“He’s a lovely horse and he’s been bought for an English client. It’s a family I know as I bought his half-brother (Umndeni) last year and he’s won first time out and looks a nice type,” declared Murphy.
EARLY PACE
Through the first half of the day the pace was set by a €185,000 son of Fame And Glory who was knocked down to Joseph O’Brien after he outlasted the effort of Aiden Murphy.
The €40,000 foal, who has the useful Down Ace amongst his siblings and hails from a family that goes back to the Gold Cup winner Long Run, was sold by Ciaran Conroy’s Glenvale Stud.
The distinction of being the highest-priced filly at this year’s sale went to a daughter of Flemensfirth, from Liss House, who cost M.V. Magnier €140,000. A €21,000 foal purchase by John Bleahen, she is out of a listed-placed half-sister to the Irish and Kerry National winners Thunder And Roses and Wrath Of Titans.
M.V. Magnier also gave €130,000 for a son of Stowaway from Ken Parkhill’s Castletown Quarry Stud. The three-year-old comes from the family of the Champion Hurdle winners Morley Street and Granville Again.
Tom Malone picked up several choice lots for Paul Nicholls and the first of these was a €105,000 son of Westerner out of a half-sister to the admirable dual purpose performer Swamp Fox.
“I’m delighted to have gotten him as he’s a horse that I’ve had on my mind since the start of the week. I know the family quite well as I’ve followed Swamp Fox for a long time – Joe Murphy told me that he was a very good horse from early in his career,” declared Malone.
The latter was also acting for Nicholls when giving €120,000 for a son of Shantou hailing from Larch Grove Stud. This grandson of Alleged is a half-brother to Bordini, who looked a very smart horse in bumpers several seasons ago.
Gordon Elliott’s early spending took in a €125,000 gelding by the eminent French sire Saint des Saints. The three-year-old was offered by Ballincurrig House Stud on behalf of Fiona Magee and he is out of an own-sister to the smart David Pipe inmate Dell ‘Arca.
This price was also reached by a Fame And Glory from Oaks Farm Stables and who Gerry Hogan bought on behalf of Rose Dobbin. He was showing a good return on the €24,000 he cost as a foal.
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Day 2
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AV Med
2018 234 209 186 9,069,000 48,758 38,000
2017 230 195 161 8,071,500 50,134 42,000
2016 213 181 148 7,085,000 47,872 37,000
Derby Sale
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AV Med
2018 467 406 347 17,890,500 51,558 42,000
2017 460 405 343 17,755,500 51,765 43,000
2016 426 367 300 14,260,500 47,535 36,000
2015 414 343 291 12,468,500 42,847 36,000
READ RYAN McELLIGOTT'S FULL REPORTS AND ANALYSIS FROM THE TATTERSALLS IRELAND DERBY SALE IN THIS WEEKEND'S EDITION OF THE IRISH FIELD