ANOTHER strong day’s trade paved the way for the Tattersalls Ireland Derby to end with a more than satisfactory set of figures this evening even though the final returns couldn’t quite keep pace with last year in several key areas.
The aggregate for the two days came in at just under €17.1 million and this represented a four and a half percent decline on last year.
The average of €50,572 was down by two points and the clearance rate dropped a couple of points to 83%, but the €42,000 median held steady and the last two days have represented a solid conclusion to what has been a pivotal few weeks for the National Hunt store market.
As ever, the sale benefitted from a huge input from English purchasers and the point-to-point fraternity while there was a feeling that some buyers who haven’t been very active at store sales in the past are getting increasingly involved.
A look at various key indicators would suggest that this sale was almost on a par with last year with perhaps the key difference being the very top of the market.
In 2018, the top three prices came in at €365,000, €250,000 and €240,000 whereas the top prices this year fell below that level.
TOP LOT
A €220,000 son of the recently retired and extremely successful French sire Martaline became the top lot at this year’s sale when falling to Ronnie O’Leary.
A €145,000 purchase at the Arqana Summer Sale just under a year ago, this gelding represented the boldest of pinhooks and he rewarded the faith of Willie Browne and Mark Dwyer after O’Leary, who was taking instructions over the phone, fought off Aiden Murphy.
The relation to the Cheltenham winner Royal Auclair was among seven purchases at this sale by O’Leary.
“He’s an absolute prince of a horse and you couldn’t fault him. I felt I couldn’t leave here without him. He’s got the looks, the walk and the sire. He just needs to be lucky now,” reflected the successful purchaser.
Later in the day, Tom Malone outlasted Aiden Murphy for a €200,000 Blue Bresil half-brother to the promising David Pipe-trained bumper horse Eden Du Houx. This gelding was sold by the renowned nursery that is Johnny Collins’ Brown Island Stables having been picked up privately as a foal.
“I’ve missed a few horses waiting for him in the hope that I’d be able to get him and happily I was able to buy him. He’ll be going to Paul Nicholls,” said Malone.
“The sire has been lucky for us in the past and I bought Eden Du Houx, after he won his point. He has since won a Listed bumper for David Pipe and I’d say he’s one of Dave’s nicest young horses.”
PROFIT
The first six-figure transaction of the day came when Highflyer Bloodstock’s Anthony Bromley signed for a €150,000 Yeats gelding who was showing quite a profit on the €19,000 he cost as a foal. This Springhill Stud offering is related to the Grade 1-winning Frantic Tan.
“We saw him early in the week on Monday morning and even then we felt that he was one that we would try and have a go at. He’s been bought to go to Nicky Henderson for an established client. He’s a very good looking, athletic type and he was Nicky’s nap of the sale. He came well recommended by a good farm too,” commented Bromley.
Once again, Aiden Murphy and his son Olly were busy acquiring quality stock and their spending took in a €130,000 son of Doctor Dino whose representatives in these parts are headed by Le Bague Au Roi and Sharjah. This gelding is a half-brother to the Willie Mullins-trained pair Salsaretta and Breaken.
“He’s a very good looking horse by a sire who has shown himself well able to get good horses. It’s a nice family and it’s great to get another quality horse like him. He’s been bought for an existing client,” declared Olly Murphy.
As the sale neared its conclusion Aiden Murphy also spent €130,000 on a son of Kayf Tara and he was acting on behalf of M.V. Magnier when paying €105,000 for a Fame And Glory gelding who had cost Rathturtin Stud €105,000 as a foal.
TOP FILLY
In an incredible twist of good fortune, the top-priced filly in the sale produced what will surely be one of the stories of the 2019 sales season after selling to Margaret O’Toole for €125,000.
This daughter of Getaway cost Pat Kinsella just €1,800 as a foal but the exploits of her sire’s initial National Hunt crops coupled with the emergence of her Grade 3-winning half-brother Kildisart ensured that this was a pinhook for the ages.
Another highly sought after daughter of Getaway was a half-sister to the smart More Buck’s from Mount Eaton Stud and she cost trainer Richard Lee, acting for his daughter Kerry, €90,000. This filly’s dam is a half-sister to the great Big Buck’s.
“I loved her. She’s a fabulous-looking filly and she has a top-class pedigree too so she’ll have another job when she’s finished racing,” remarked Lee.
The last hour of the sale produced a flurry of late activity and there was still time for several more six-figure transactions.
The pick of these came when Tessa Greatrex, acting for Ben Pauling, splashed out €130,000 on a Kapgarde gelding from Walshtown Stables. This represented a fine return on the €30,000 he cost in France as a yearling.
Day 2
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AV Med
2019 222 200 162 7,926,500 48,929 40,000
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
2019 445 409 338 17,093,500 50,572 42,000
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