National Hunt

Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale

THIS market-leading store sale had to contend with a major late hitch when the evening before it was due to get underway brought with it the news that most English purchasers would be unable to attend the sale in person after the Irish Government revoked the UK ‘essential bubble’ due to increasing concerns surrounds the Delta variant of Covid-19.

Despite this the sale actually performed very well. As expected the figures were vastly better than they were in 2020 but more significantly the €54,018 average and the €48,000 median represented records for the Derby Sale.

When one considers the effects of the last-minute decision regarding UK purchasers this sale performed splendidly and it could have been ever better could that notable cohort of buyers been able to attend in person.

The top lot over the two days was a €280,000 Walk In The Park half-brother to the Pertemps Final runner-up The Bosses Oscar. He was bought on behalf of Bective Stud to join Gordon Elliott.

Goffs Land Rover Sale

Early June saw a fine renewal of this sale as trade roared back to pre-Covid levels. Both the average and median for Part 1 of the sale recorded double-digit increases while the number of six-figure transactions reached 22.

In 2020 there were just six horses who made €100,000 or more, but a better guide to the strength of the sale is 2019 when there were 15 horses who achieved that feat. Furthermore, the number of transactions at €50,000 and above came in at 130 as against the 103 who occupied that sector of the market in 2019.

This was a sale that had quality in abundance from start to finish and centre stage this year went to a €230,000 son of Shantou who is a brother to the Grade 1-winning hurdler Airlie Beach. He was bought on behalf of Bective Stud to join Gordon Elliott.

Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale

THIS all-encompassing sale boasted a catalogue which was some 62% bigger than 2020 and this dramatically increased volume of horses was always going to impact on the median and the average.

However, trade over the five days was excellent by any measure. The turnover was the highest for 14 years and a good guide to the performance of this sale can be taken from comparisons with similar-sized editions of the over the last decade. When that gauge is used it becomes apparent that trade was notably strong.

An unprecedented 41 foals made €50,000 or more with pride of place going to a €120,000 colt from the especially well-received first crop of the top-class middle-distance runner Crystal Ocean.

The highlight of the week came when the former Cheltenham Festival heroine Benie Des Dieux, who was in foal to Walk In The Park, sold for €350,000 to a partnership of M.V. Magnier and Noel and Valerie Moran’s Bective Stud.

Goffs December National Hunt Sale

The excellent progress over the last decade was sustained as the sale expanded to three days. Once again the centrepiece was an impressive collection of breeding stock offered from Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud with the Cheltenham Festival winner Shattered Love emerging as the star turn at €260,000.

This year’s sale also yielded a new National Hunt foal record for Goffs when a colt by No Risk At All fetched €100,000. The overall clearance rate fell from 71% to 66% but this shouldn’t detract from a solid three days which saw the number of foals to make at least €40,000 jump from 15 to 35.