THE third and final instalment of this week’s action at Tattersalls Ireland was the company’s August National Hunt Sale which proved to be a rather muted affair as this auction continues to feel the effects of a reshuffled sales calendar enforced by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Previously the August Sale benefitted from an intake of horses who were forced to miss intended engagements at various high-profile store sales earlier in the summer and that cohort generally played a pivotal role at the head of the market.
However, this option wasn’t available to the August Sale last year and this time around the rescheduled May Store Sale, which took place on Tuesday, played host to that group of horses who would have been for sale at other points over the last few months.
As a result the one-day August Sale proved to be a rather low-key affair and, while it produced a top lot of €50,000, trade was of a subdued nature. The clearance rate of 67% – down two points on last year – was respectable, but it has to be noted that very few horses on offer would have covered their production costs up to this point.
At the conclusion of the sale the turnover for the day was over €1 million and marginally ahead of last year, while the average of €6,251 and the €4,500 median fell by 27% and 25% respectively.
Healthy demand
Although this represented a quiet end to the store sales season this year’s round of sales in that sphere were encouraging and well-supported and offer realistic promise of a healthy demand for foals when the focus switches back to Tattersalls Ireland for the November National Hunt Sale.
As he reflected on the various store sales this summer Tattersalls Ireland, CEO Simon Kerins commented: “The Derby Sale registering a record average and median, as well as a clearance rate of 86% and 24 horses who sold for over €100,000, was a real highlight and a positive reflection on the premier quality of the Derby Sale and its graduates who continually perform at the very highest level.
“This week’s May Store Sale also broke records with its best ever clearance rate and its first six-figure sale while the new July Store Sale, despite all of this years difficulties, got off to a strong start with a session of highly satisfactory trade and a top price of €50,000.
“There was an extensive range of buyers involved across all the sales and at all levels, and horses were bought in numbers by Irish and English trainers and agents, new Irish and British-based owners and breeders, as well as point-to-point consignors, who have reinvested as strongly as ever.
“I would like to express gratitude to our clients who have been incredibly patient and supportive throughout, and we can all look forward to a return to the original sales calendar in 2022.”
THE highest price at this year’s August Sale was achieved by a daughter of Champs Elysees from Nina and Ted Walsh’s Broad Meadow Stables who made €50,000. English-based jockey and agent Jeremiah McGrath signed for this daughter of the reliable Jeunopse who ran many solid races under Nina Walsh when transferring to Ireland from France.
McGrath reported that he was acting on behalf of Newmarket trainer Lucy Wadham who trains this filly’s useful half-sister Game On For Glory.
Further back this is the family of Jeune who was a classy sort for Geoff Wragg before developing into an outstanding runner in Australia where his career was headed by a Melbourne Cup win.
Patience pays off for Haras des Loges
A SON of Davidoff, who share his sire with the likes of Abacadabras and Magic Tricks, will join Gordon Elliott after being snapped up by Bobby O’Ryan for €40,000.
Shark Hanlon had to settle for the role of underbidder on this three-year-old who is an own-brother to the very useful 10-time French winner Intrinseque.
This gelding was offered by the French operation Haras Des Loges, whose Ian Hanamy explained that he usually sells two-year-olds but felt this horse would benefit from more time. The gelding duly rewarded the decision to undertake a 25-hour journey from France.
Harold Kirk made his presence felt when going to €28,000 for a gelding hailing from the first crop of the dual Group 2-winning Monsun horse Triple Threat. The French-based sire has already enjoyed winners from his eldest crop and that fact wasn’t lost on Kirk who bought this Liss House offering for Willie Mullins.
THE point-to-point fraternity were once again out in force in their quest to stockpile talent ahead of 2022 and Tommy Redmond forked out €34,000 for a daughter of Yeats who will start out between the flags.
This filly is related to the Grade 2 winners Calling Brave and Ottowa, while her sire has enjoyed notable success with his mares in recent seasons courtesy of the likes of Shattered Love, Augusta Kate and Heaven Help Us.
Also destined to begin her career in the point-to-point field is a daughter of the late Mount Nelson who cost Warren Ewing €23,000. She is out of a half-sister to five winners.
Strong supporter
Nicky Richards is one of this sale’s longest standing supporters and in conjunction with the late Gerry Griffin he picked up plenty of decent horses here including Simply Ned whom the pair secured back in 2010.
This time Richards headed his spending when giving €31,000 for a son of Flemensfirth from Shanaville Stables. One of the last lots to come under the hammer this week, the chesnut gelding is out of a winning Bertolini own-sister to the Betfair Hurdle winner Violet Dancer.