An €85,000 colt foal by Getaway took the honours on day one of the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale which began its three day run with a session devoted largely to foals.
The demand for foals held up well throughout the day as evidenced by a clearance rate of 78% which produced a turnover of just over €2 million which was almost identical to the opening foal session last year.
The average of €12,820 was six points ahead of last year while the median dropped from €10,000 to €9,000. In all this represented a bright start to the sale.
The session topping son of Getaway, who was sold by Spikle Stud, was bought by Timmy Hillman and he is a half-brother to the very smart English-based chaser Kildisart. In addition this colt is an own-brother to the promising Colin Tizzard inmate The Big Breakaway.
“He was one of the standout foals today and he has everything going for him. He’s also a brother to a very promising horse who could do a lot more over the coming seasons and he will be coming back here as a three-year-old,” declared Hillman.
ORDER OF THE DAY
The Castledillon Stud man was also to the fore earlier in the day when going to €68,000 for a colt hailing from the first crop of the top stayer Order Of St George. This colt is out of a Beat Hollow half-sister to a trio of black type-winning jumpers headed by The Dutchman.
“Hopefully you’ll see him back here as a three-year-old. He’s a very good looking horse from the first crop of a top class racehorse and I’d like the fact that he is out of a Beat Hollow mare from a good jumping family,” remarked Hillman.
Order Of St George was also responsible for another of the day’s top priced foals when Peter Molony and Inch Bloodstock spent €44,000 on a son of Galileo horse consigned by Cleaboy Stud & Coppice Farm.
The day began with a small selection of yearlings and by far the pick of these was an €80,000 son of Blue Bresil who was knocked down to Ballincurrig House Stud’s Michael Moore. This gelding was sold by John Dwan’s Ballyreddin Stud and comes from a family that goes back to De Valira and Valiramix.
“He’s been bought for a client of Ballincurrig House Stud’s and I would imagine that they could reoffer this horse as a three-year-old. He’s a very nice type by a very popular sire and he comes from a nice family,” reflected Moore.
Also destined for a return to the sales ring is a Soldier Of Fortune colt foal who was snapped up by Kevin Ross and Ben Case for €52,000. This Beeches Stud-consigned colt is a grandson of the talented jumper Shirley Casper.
“He’s a very nice, scopey type of foal with a great outlook. I’d like the sire and this foal is from a lovely, stout, traditional National Hunt family. He made a lot of appeal and he will be back for sale as a three-year-old – he’s been bought for Lady Jane Grosvenor,” declared Ross.
BLUE BRESIL STAR
As well as supplying the day’s top priced yearling Blue Bresil was also responsible for a smart filly out of a listed-placed daughter of Yeats who cost Ferndale Stables €40,000. Elsewhere the Bleahen family’s Lakefield Farm spent €40,000 on a son of Walk In The Park while Ian Ferguson gave €34,000 for the preceding lot into the ring who was another son of the in demand Montjeu horse.
COMPARATIVE FIGURES FOR DAY ONE OF THE SALE
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AVG MED
2020 230 203 159 €2,038,400 €12,820 €9,000
2019 279 247 169 €2,041,400 €12,079 €10,000