MARKET VIEW
A FINE summer for the National Hunt store market ended on a bright note on Thursday when this two-day auction produced a set of final figures that comfortably bettered those from recent editions of the August Sale.
Back in June, both the Derby Sale and Land Rover Sales recorded impressive results across the board so there was a distinct possibility that the August Sale would follow suit, albeit at a different level. Interestingly, this week’s gains were achieved despite prices at the top of the market being unable to match those of 2016.
Last year the August Sale produced a top price of €75,000 and four lots made at least €50,000. In contrast, just one horse managed to reach the €50,000 mark this year but the number of lots to make at least €30,000 improved from 17 to 22.
In terms of the clearance rate, a figure of 70% also represented an improvement from last year’s tally of 67%.
However, this also demonstrates that at this level of the market the demand for stores is finite and the sector wouldn’t be at all well served by any notable increase in National Hunt foal crop numbers over the coming years. This prospect remains a concern for the industry.
Nonetheless, it has been a good year for the store market and the country’s three main sales in this division have all progressed well from 2016, which is a heartening trend.
The focus of the bloodstock market now switches to the onset of the European yearling sales season but events over the last few months bode well for vendors and breeders alike as they look ahead to the all encompassing Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale where competition is again likely be fierce in the all important foal market.
TOP LOT
The distinction of heading this year’s sale fell to a striking grey son of Network who made his way into the ring during the early stages of Wednesday’s session.
Already named Song Of The Hunter, the gelding shares his sire with such National Hunt luminaries as Sprinter Sacre and Rubi Ball and was widely touted as one of the leading lights of the sale.
A number of different parties made a play for the John Kennedy-owned gelding before Rathbarry Stud’s Paul Cashman struck the winning bid at €50,000. Cashman indicated that his purchase was likely to start out in the point-to-point field next spring.
DAY TWO
A pair of €42,000 lots held sway during the second session of the sale and the first of these to come under the hammer was a son of Vinnie Roe offered from Kate Rudd’s Busherstown.
The €16,000 yearling purchase is already an own-brother to a very smart sort in Royal Caviar, who was placed at Grade 2 level over hurdles and was so unlucky not to win the Arkle at Leopardstown in January when he came down at the final fence. Murphy reported that his purchase would trained with a view to starting out in a bumper next spring.
The €42,000 mark was also reached by a son of Presenting who was making up for missing an intended engagement at the Land Rover Sale two months previously. Nicky Richards will take charge of the John and Aine McMahon-owned gelding after Gerry Griffin saw off the attentions of Paul Cashman.
Griffin and Nicky Richards have been among the leading purchasers at this sale for countless years and they also signed for the joint highest priced filly in the sale when giving €33,000 for a daughter of the late Fame And Glory. This filly is out of a winning Old Vic mare and comes from the family of Supreme Novices Hurdle heroine Tourist Attraction.
MALONE BUSY
The prolific Tom Malone was again in action for a variety of U.K.-based clients and his spending was headed by a €40,000 three-year-old from the first crop of the Irish St Leger winner Sans Frontieres.
The Bannow Bloodstock-consigned half-brother to three winners comes from the family of Escartefigue. Malone reported that he was acting on behalf of owner Richard Gilbert who has several different trainers in Britain.
As the sale neared its conclusion, Malone, acting through Sam Curling, went to €40,000 to secure a Milan gelding hailing from Parkville Stud. Grand National-winning trainer Lucinda Russell will take charge of this relation to the Whitbread Gold Cup winner Ad Hoc.
The agent’s spending was rounded off with the €33,000 acquisition of a Notnowcato filly from Ridge Manor Stud. The three-year-old shares her sire with the high-class hurdler Old Guard and she will join the latter’s trainer, Paul Nicholls. This filly is out of a half-sister to the Irish Oaks second Mot Juste and the multiple stakes winner Parasol.
MALINAS FOR KING
Alan King is to train a €40,000 gelding by Malinas who was snapped up by Highflyer Bloodstock’s David Minton. The gelding is a half-brother to the very smart King-trained Grade 2 scorer Valdez.
Another €40,000 transaction came when agent Kevin Ross, who has enjoyed notable success with the progeny of Shantou, secured a son of the Alleged horse out of a half-sister to last year’s Thyestes Chase winner My Murphy. Ross’s other spending also took in a €30,000 gelding by the popular Doyen out of a sister to the teak-tough multiple Grade 1 scorer Sackville.
MCNAMARA TO THE FORE
Limerick trainer Eric McNamara struck for two of the most popular lots during the first day and these featured a €38,000 son of Oscar consigned by Baroda & Colbinstown Studs.
This three-year-old is a half-brother to the very useful Bentelimar. McNamara also signed for a €33,000 son of Vinnie Roe whose family goes back to the Kerry National scorer White Star Line.
POINT-TO-POINT PROSPECTS
As expected, a host of horses bought over the two days were snapped up by the point-to-point fraternity and one of those who will start his career between the flags is a €36,000 son of Stowaway from Oaks Farm Stables.
Oscar Time’s trainer Martin Lynch signed for the own-brother to the promising Marleen, who made a successful debut in a point-to-point earlier this year.
A similar route beckons for a €32,000 Gold Well gelding who was knocked down to owner Anthony Ryan. This gelding is out of a half-sister to the Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander and will be trained by Denis Murphy whose recent graduates include the top-drawer novice hurdler Finian’s Oscar.
Meanwhile, Joey Logan parted with €31,000 for another well-related son of Gold Well. This Glenwood Stud offering has the Grade 1-placed Vesper Bell amongst his siblings.
O’RYAN/ELLIOTT
Gordon Elliott was busy stockpiling future talent this week and he is set to take charge of a €32,000 daughter of Flemensfirth who was bought by Bobby O’Ryan.
Interestingly, this well-related filly came up for sale as a two-year-old at this auction 12 months ago when she was snapped up for €13,000.
VALUE BUY
Easily one of the best bred stores on offer this week was a Scorpion gelding from Walshtown Stables.
The half-brother to the very useful chaser Mount Colah is out of a half-sister to John Murphy’s Queen Mother Champion Chase scorer Newmill. Margaret O’Toole signed for this grandson of Montjeu after bringing the price to €30,000.
The €30,000 mark was also reached by a strapping son of Yeats whom Matt Coleman purchased on behalf of owner Colin Peake. Noel Williams will train the three-year-old who is out of an own-sister to Tidal Bay. The latter’s big race triumphs included an Arkle Chase at Cheltenham and a thrilling last gasp victory in an epic edition of the Lexus Chase several seasons ago.