AN impressive set of final figures which saw the sale make significant ground in all key areas meant that the latest edition of the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale ended on a high this evening.
A very heartening round of store sales coming into this week meant that hopes were high for a strong edition of this sale and the auction delivered with a set of record-breaking returns.
Over the two days the number of six-figure transactions increased by one to 33 and it was interesting to note that the top three prices from last year’s sale were out of reach. The real growth lay in the middle market though and this paved the way for records to fall by the wayside.
A slightly bigger catalogue for this year’s sale produced an aggregate of over €17.6m which was an improvement of some 24% on last year. For the first time, the Derby Sale produced an average that topped €50,000 with the figure of €51,654 a nine point progression on 2016. Furthermore, the median of €42,000 was a new record as it increased by 18%. The clearance rate also improved from 82% to 84%.
A €145,000 son of Milan, who was consigned by Kitty Cowhey’s Loughmore Stables, headed the second session when selling to Bryan Murphy’s Bottle Hill Stud. The gelding is the first produce of the Grade 1 and Grade 3-placed chaser Belle Brook and his sale enabled his connections to more than recoup the €85,000 that they paid for the mare at the 2013 November National Hunt Sale.
CHOICE LOTS
Towards the outset of the session Highflyer Bloodstock’s David Minton secured a couple of choice lots on behalf of leading owner Trevor Hemmings. The first of these was a €125,000 son of Presenting out of the useful Supreme Serenade who didn’t sell as a foal but more than repaid the faith of his connections on this occasion. He was sold by Peter Nolan on behalf of Slaney River Stud.
Minton then paid the same amount for an Oscar gelding from Michael Fitzpatrick’s Kilminfoyle House Stud. The relation to Strong Promise was showing a good return on the €24,000 he cost as a foal.
“They’ve both been bought for Trevor,” reported Minton. “I thought the Oscar was the nicest one I’ve seen here this week and the Presenting is just a very good looking horse out of a good mare. Happily he was up early and we were able to get him.”
Gordon Elliott was again busy sourcing future talent and he went to €125,000 for a three-year-old hailing from the first crop of the late Fame And Glory. Mount Eaton Stud’s €33,000 foal purchase is a half-brother to Cool Getaway who sold for £305,000 in December after winning his point-to-point impressively in the autumn.
“He’s just a very good looking horse and I’ve been impressed with the Fame And Glorys that I’ve seen so far,” declared Elliott. “He’s from a nice family and the half-brother Cool Getaway is promising – he looked good when he won his point last November.”
CHELTENHAM RELATIONS
Fame And Glory was also represented by a €125,000 gelding from Ken Parkhill’s Castletown Quarry Stud who was knocked down to M.V. Magnier. This half-brother to four winners is out of a mare who has the Champion Hurdle-winning brothers Morley Street and Granville Again amongst her siblings.
Later in the day, Magnier spent €100,000 on a Dylan Thomas half-brother to the useful Gunnery Sergeant. The Lakefield Farm representative was picked up for €23,000 as a foal at the November Sale.
Aiden Murphy’s spending was headed by a €115,000 Milan half-brother to Cogry offered by Ballincurrig House Stud and this price was matched by Gearoid Costello for Glenvale Stud’s Flemensfirth half-brother to the useful On Raglan Road.
Joseph O’Brien’s purchases included a €110,000 son of Kayf Tara, while Paul Nicholls is to take charge of two choice lots after they were snapped up by Tom Malone. The latter spent €105,000 on a Martaline gelding and also forked out €100,000 for a Saint Des Saints own-brother to a Grade 2-winning chaser in France.
“They’ve both been bought to head to Ditcheat for Paul Nicholls. They are two lovely horses from nice pedigrees and I thought given the market we are in that they represented a bit of value,” remarked Malone.
Day 2
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AV Med
2017 230 195 160 7,981,500 49,884 42,000
2016 213 181 148 7,085,000 47,872 37,000
Derby Sale
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AV Med
2017 460 405 342 17,665,500 51,645 42,500
2016 426 367 300 14,260,500 47,535 36,000
2015 414 343 291 12,468,500 42,847 36,000