TATTERSALLS Ireland’s final sale of the year, the Sapphire Sale, takes place on November 14th. The catalogue opens with a selection of 71 yearlings, a slight reduction on last year’s 83, of which 83% were withdrawn, not sold or bought back by the vendor. It’s a theme of previous renewals, but a graduate who succeeded, both in the ring and on the track, is this year’s flag bearer, Bellabel.

BBA Ireland’s €33,000 purchase from Ballybin Stud sold to the US following her juvenile win at Naas for Jessica Harrington and went on to win the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes and place in two Grade 1 races the following year, while her latest win came at Grade 3 level.

She is by the proven, but uncommercial, Belardo, out of a Cape Cross mare that achieved an official rating of 90. This year’s yearling offering might also be deemed “unfashionable”, but just like her, the catalogue features a number of pedigrees with potential of producing a future star. The first two lots are colts out of blacktype mares, while other highlights on paper are:

Lot 900: Gleneagles colt is a half-brother to Group 3 winner and sire Jet Away, as well as to the dam of Group 1 victor Onesto

Lot 905: Starman colt is a half-brother to three-time Grade 1 winner Obviously and to the dam of Group 3 heroine Soprano, who placed in a Grade 1 since the catalogue was printed

Lot 914: Inns Of Court half-brother to the 96-rated Booyea, out of a blacktype mare

Lot 924: Acclamation filly is a granddaughter of Moyglare Stud Stakes second Red Feather, herself the dam of two stakes horses and the granddam of four more

Lot 928: Australia filly out of a half-sister to top-class sprinter Margot Did, herself the dam of two top-flight winners

Lot 930: Cotai Glory half-brother to three blacktype horses, out of a blacktype half-sister to dual Grade 1 scorer Heritage Of Gold

Lot 933: Smooth Daddy filly is a half-sister to two stakes winners, including dual Grade 3 winner and Grade 1 runner-up Thewayiam

Lot 942: Wootton Bassett half-sister to a listed winner, from the family of Kalanisi and Kalapour

Lot 947: Teofilo colt out of a listed-winning sister to stakes winner Portage (Teofilo) and the multiple Group 1-placed Mojo Star

Lot 948: Bungle Inthejungle half-brother to the 100-rated Aleezdancer, out of a listed winner

Lot 951: Bungle Inthejungle colt out of Group 3 Firth Of Clyde Stakes heroine Dark Reckoning

The yearlings are followed by 47 foals, including the progeny of proven sires Bungle Inthejungle, Cotai Glory, Dandy Man, Kodi Bear, Phoenix Of Spain and Soldier’s Call.

It will also provide buyers with their first chance to purchase foals from the debut crops of Tally-Ho Stud’s Group 1-placed son of Mehmas, Persian Force, and former Ballyhane and Starfield Stud resident, Space Traveller.

Foals dominated the top prices at last year’s sale, the highest-priced being a Cotai Glory colt sold to John Foley’s GHS Bloodstock for €37,000, who later resold at the venue’s September Yearling Sale for €62,000.

He is a half-brother to Group 1 Matron Stakes winner Champers Elysees, who sold at the same sale as a foal for €12,500 to Aughamore Stud, before selling to Johnny Murtagh for €28,000 the following year.

The sale, which begins at 11am, concludes with eight breeding prospects. The catalogue can be viewed online at www.tattersalls.ie