THE strength of the breeze-up sector has a significant bearing on the strength of the yearling market and it was reassuring to see plenty of horses at the upper-end of the market at this week’s Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale purchased with the intention of breezing next spring.

Charlie and Francesca Poste, based in Station Yard in Stratford, have been an emerging force in the store and point-to-point market in recent years and they are hoping to replicate that success in the breeze-up sphere next year. They teamed up with Tom Biggs of Blandford Bloodstock to assemble a squad for next year’s sales.

Heading their shopping list was a son of leading first season sire Blue Point, consigned by that stallion’s breeder Oak Lodge & Springfield House Stud. Out of the Speightstown mare Platinum Coast the colt was bought by Biggs on Wednesday for €78,000.

“He is going breezing and has been bought for a new breeze-up syndicate,” revealed Biggs. “Charlie and Francesca Poste, who have done point-to-pointers so well, are diversifying. We bought three yesterday and might buy one more. This colt is by a very good stallion in Blue Point, the pedigree is a bit light but if he breezes fast I am sure he will turn a profit,” he added.

Mark Grant is another former jump jockey who is a big player in the British breeze-up market. He struck for a Sioux Nation colt offered by Gerry Burke’s Glidawn Stud. Grant was pushed to €80,000 to secure the half-brother to four winners from the family of Goldikova and afterwards said: “When you like them you have to buy them. You can wait for other sales and not buy and then think, ‘why did I not buy earlier?”

This was Grant’s fourth purchase of the week and he added: “He was my pick of the sale and the sire is flying. I think he has got plenty in him, he looks like a Tattersalls Craven prospect. We’ll get him home, break him and turn him out for a few weeks.”

Dungarvan-based vendor Gerry Burke also bred this horse out of Princess Severus and he commented: “I loved Sioux Nation. He has had a fantastic year and we were lucky to come upon him at the right point. This is a nice colt. There were some really good judges on him and he has gone to a really good man in Mark Grant. I hope he is very lucky for him, that’s the most important thing. The breeze-up consignors buy a lot of horses and they put a great floor to the trade.”