MARIE Harding’s Glen Stables enjoyed some notable results in what was a challenging market at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale.

“Trade was great for the nice horse. There were loads of people for that calibre of horse, but if you were short in any way it was difficult,” she said.

“We were never busier than the day before - we used up all of our viewing cards, which I’ve never had happen before. So I had a good feeling, but then that didn’t turn into clients. I think the buyers were very selective and some were there for the ‘holiday’ as opposed to working.”

“Monbeg were as busy as normal, but I don’t think there was as many point-to-point lads as usual, or maybe they were just joining up together.

“I didn’t see as many English trainers there; I didn’t see Kim Bailey or Emma Lavelle there, for instance. There were people that I saw in Goffs that I didn’t see this week. It might be the case that they’re using the agents to buy for them and not coming over themselves.”

“The day before Goffs, I thought, my God, this is terrible. And then on the day of the sale, we were pleasantly surprised. It was the other way around at this sale.”

Bright future

(On the Cokoriko that sold for €115,000 and Harzand that sold for €90,000) “They were two lovely horses. Both have gone to really good homes as well - the Harzand has gone to Barry O’Connell and the Cokoriko was bought for Chris Jones. I think they’ll do well out of them. I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t have minded if the Cokoriko came back to me to go point-to-pointing as I think he’s a proper horse.

“I don’t do many pointers, they’re generally ones that we couldn’t sell as a store. Hiddenvalley Lake was actually one of those that we took to a Derby Sale, but weren’t able to sell him (Vendor €45,000, sold for £200,000 after sole start for Harding). He has gone out and done his job, in fairness (dual Graded winner and finished third in Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle). But really, I prefer to be selling at the store sales.

“I can remember another horse I had at the sales years ago that we struggled with and sold him for small money (£6,200). I kept telling everyone that he’s a racehorse, but they weren’t listening to me, because he was the wrong colour and by the wrong sire, even though he had a pedigree. He turned out to be Lookaway and he’s a proper blacktype horse now.

“He won a point-to-point first time out for Sean Doyle and sold very well after that to Noel King. He won the Grade 2 bumper at Aintree, a Grade 2 novice hurdle and finished second in the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle.”

Peter Vaughan of Moanmore Stables:

“I think things have changed drastically. We actually had a good sale, which was lovely, but there are certain types of horses that nobody wants anymore. 70% of the Goffs Arkle Sale were French-bred. Years ago, French horses were very scarce, and back then they all performed very well at the sales even if they didn’t tick all the boxes. That’s not the case now - if it doesn’t tick all the boxes, it’s not going to be sold, at any money. Nobody follows these horses - you just can’t get anything for them.

“Over the last 10 to 12 years, there have been less trainers at the sales, both Irish and English. There was a horse in another consignment this week - he was handy at 16 hands, but he wasn’t a bad horse. In the past, there would’ve been ten trainers to give €40,000 for him, but now the consignor was hoping to get €5,000.

“But it’s not all doom and gloom. This is just a blip and the market will bounce back. The industry always goes through cycles, and this is just temporary.”

Ryan Mahon, who buys for Dan Skelton’s clients: “We bought six this week, six at the Arkle Sale and six or seven at Doncaster. Dan [Skelton] is coming off a very good season, so it’s business as usual for us and we even have some new clients, but it might not be the same story for everyone else.

“Overall I would be positive about the sector. The prices have been more or less in line with what we expected and the quality of horses on offer was very good this week. We followed in plenty of others who were outside our budget. We bought a mix of French and Irish-breds; we try to buy what we like and we don’t have a preference for one or the other.”

Sam Curling: “It was a good trade and there were plenty of nice horses. If there was a good-looking horse coming in you knew there would be plenty of competition, and there was to be fair. Especially the second day I was surprised by the interest in a few and I was outbid.

“I think point-to-point handlers are a bit more selective these days and are opting for more quality over quantity so I’m happy with the four that I got. I look for horses with a strong pedigree and was happy to walk away with two by Walk In The Park. Anytime you get one of those you’re always going to be hopeful for them in the future.”