EVEN though prices at the head of the market couldn’t match those of recent renewals, the Tattersalls Ireland February National Hunt Sale ensured that the 2017 sales season in Ireland got off to a solid start with the one-day auction posting across the board gains.
From its largest catalogue for nine years, the sale produced an aggregate of just under €1.7m which represented a 13-point gain on last year. The average of €9,805 grew by 6%, while the biggest increase came in the median which jumped by 24 points from €5,800 to €7,200.
The issue of oversupply to the market place was again in evidence, with a clearance rate of 57%, and Tattersalls Ireland managing director Roger Casey referred to those lots with ‘necessary commercial appeal’ in his end of sale statement.
However, it should be noted that the clearance for this year’s larger catalogue finished only fractionally behind the 2016 figure of 58%.
On this occasion the top price came in at €46,000, against the €67,000 which topped the 2016 edition, and in 2015 there were four lots that made at least €50,000. It is interesting to note that the sale was still able to make gains in key areas.
The turnover was the highest since the sale spanned two days in 2008, the average was the second highest on record for this sale, while the median appears to be a record.
Managing director Roger Casey reflected: “Following on from the encouraging trade for foals at the November National Hunt Sale, we were confident of an improved renewal of the February National Hunt Sale and today’s sale met our expectations for those lots with the necessary commercial appeal.
“Today’s turnover is the best on record for a one-day February National Hunt Sale and 72 lots surpassed €10,000 or more, a 25% increase on 2016.”
Shantou’s son
The distinction of being the day’s top lot fell to a son of Shantou who went to Tom Rudd’s Ormond Bloodstock for €46,000.
The grandson of Alleged was bought on behalf of a syndicate to return to the Derby Sale as a three-year-old and was sold by Limekiln Stud for Stephen Lanigan-O’Keeffe.
Already this season the sire has been responsible for such novice hurdling luminaries as Death Duty and Airlie Beach and the colt is also a half-brother to the Grade 2-placed juvenile hurdler L’Aigle Royal.
A son of Montmartre, whose runners in these parts include the top flight winner Petite Parisienne and the talented Labaik, came closest to threatening the top lot after he was knocked down to Ballincurrig House Stud’s Michael Moore for €40,000.
The grey is out of a half-sister to the former Ryanair Chase victor Uxizandre, who limbered up for a repeat bid in that race with a fine second to Un De Sceaux last weekend on his first outing for almost two years.
Presenting colt
A colt from Yellowford Farm making major appeal on both sides of his pedigree emerged as one of the stars of the day when selling to Kevin and Anna Ross for €37,000.
A son of the longtime leading jumping sire Presenting, this colt is also out of an own-sister to the Grade 1-winning chaser Felix Yonger. A return to the sales ring as a three-year-old is the plan according to Anna Ross who signed for him just a few minutes after Last Minute Man, a Derby Sale purchase by her husband Kevin, won the bumper at Down Royal.
Ciaran Conroy was again busy picking up some quality sorts for future store sales and his spending was headed by a €35,000 colt hailing from the third crop of Fame And Glory. This Richard Lynch-owned yearling was sold by Ballincurrig House Stud and he is out of a half-sister to this season’s Fortria Chase victor Arctic Skipper.
Earlier in the day, Conroy spent €28,000 on a son of Sholokhov out of a listed-placed daughter of Norwich.
The catalogue contained just one yearling on offer by Famous Name and this well-related colt fell to Alan Harte and Joey Logan for €34,000. Previously the pair have had the likes of Finian’s Oscar, Champagne West and Champers On Ice and Harte confirmed he would go down a similar point-to-point route. This Conor McGrath-owned grandson of Dansili is out of an own-sister to the Ladbroke Hurdle winner Graphic Equaliser.
Owner Dan MacDonald, who has horses with Liam Burke, Paul Nicholls and Sandy Thompson, with his bid of €30,000, secured the only son of Walk In The Park on offer. This colt shares his sire with such horses as Douvan and Min and he is out of a half-sister to a listed-winning French chaser. MacDonald will decide whether to reoffer his purchase or keep him to race.
Winners such as Empire Of Dirt, Champagne West, Westerner Lady and others have already made it an excellent season for Westerner and this success wasn’t lost on purchasers. He was represented by several popular yearlings headed by a €32,000 half-brother to a pair of winners who was snapped up by Willomie Park.
Top Teofilo filly
By some distance the top-priced filly of the day was a daughter of Teofilo from a diverse family and she fetched €28,000. She was bought by Derryluskin Stud’s Eamon Phelan, who had forked out £100,000 for the high-class racemare Legacy Gold at Goffs UK the previous week.
This filly comes from a family that has made a notable impact under both codes as she is a half-sister to the Group 2 winner and Irish St Leger second Ahzeemah as well as the former Triumph Hurdle winner and this season’s Munster National victor Tiger Roll.