LAST week’s Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham November Sale was a robust indication to the current strength of the market for young horses with Irish point-to-point form.

Right across the 35 point-to-point horses offered, demand was unprecedented.

A total of 11 horses with Irish point-to-point form traded hands for six-figure sums on the night. When this figure is placed in context of where the sport has come from, it is a striking representation of just how rapidly the market for these horses has grown.

Last week in Cheltenham, the figure of six-figure sellers was close to matching the corresponding figure for whole seasons in years gone by – this coming at the very first sale of the season, and after just 15 meetings having taken place.

STRIKING

At the very top of the market, the increases are just as striking. Four horses with point-to-point form to their names at last week’s sale realised a price of at least £200,000. This matched the total number of horses to break such a barrier for the entire 2011 and 2013 seasons individually.

Away from the headline prices of £380,000 and £360,000 attracted by Sean Doyle’s Ballinaboola winner, Know The Score, and Mick Goff’s Dowth Hall victor, Good Man Jim, one of the notable stories to emerge from the sale were the continued remarkable pinhooking successes that Aidan Fitzgerald achieved with young mares.

The Carlow native had already achieved a notable result with an inexpensive young mare in the spring, when he sold Kupatana for £120,000. The daughter of Westerner was purchased by Fitzgerald for just €1,700 at Goresbridge as a three-year-old and went on to run out an eight-length winner at Monksgrange on her debut before joining Nicky Henderson’s yard.

That pinhooking success was no fluke as the former jockey proved last week, with a night that will live long in the memory.

Dromahane winner Queens Cave was sold to David Pipe for £175,000 and £110,000 from David Dunsdon bought Lisronagh victor Daylight Katie.

Fitzgerald explained: “I couldn’t believe the way that it all happened.

“We planned it from earlier in the year, as we knew letting them off early that we had a couple of nice ones for the autumn. We brought them in in June and had them hacking away and planned it from then that we were going to have them ready early and the races were picked for them during the summer.”

VALUE BUYS

What is all the more remarkable, is that like Kupatana, both mares were value purchases last year.

Queen Cave was sourced for €8,000 by her handler and good friend Enda McDonagh at the August Sale in Tattersalls. Her price was all the more remarkable given that she is from the family of On His Own, Joncol, Liss A Paoraigh and Bright New Dawn, among others.

“When we walked into the ring, Enda (McDonagh) and Richie (Deegan) were with me and I said we would give €15,000 for this one. We had planned to give more as she was one that we always wanted. She had a beautiful walk with real power and would push herself forward. Even when she was at the sales in Cheltenham lots of horses get tired, but she just got better.

“I don’t know if Court Cave was as hot at that time, but that has certainly changed. We bought three Court Caves then – Queens Cave, Court Master who won at Dromahane and Ellie Mac. She is a very good mare who finished third behind Posh Trish on her first run and was sold to Henry de Bromhead.”

It was a similar story with Daylight Katie. The French-bred daughter of Bonbon Rose was secured for €10,000 at the Goffs Land Rover Sale, with her purchase price split three ways between Fitzgerald, Enda McDonagh and Ewing Barry.

The sourcing and training of young quality mares is something Fitzgerald clearly targets.

“I love training mares. Sean Treacy was a very good man to train a mare. He trained loads to win bumpers and the big thing with them is keeping them happy.

“We go through all the mares at the sale and the individual is first for me, you want presence. Kupatana had no pedigree, I think there was one winner from 29 runners on the whole page but she had a walk that would go through the side of a wall. It’s the animal that you are looking for. If you turn up at a point-to-point with a mare that has a great pedigree and she is 15. 3hh, she has no chance, even if she is a half-sister to a Gold Cup winner. It doesn’t matter.”

At a time of more expensive store purchases being targeted at younger maidens between the flags, Fitzgerald has proven that a shrewd judge can more than hold his own among the sports leading players.