AFTER the highs of the November National Hunt Sale, the year at Tattersalls Ireland ended with a rather muted edition of the November Flat Foal & Breeding Stock Sale where demand in the various sectors was quite subdued.
The day produced top prices of €45,000 and €33,000 but otherwise it was decidedly tough going for the selection of yearlings, foals and broodmares on offer.
This was reflected in the final figures for the one-day sale which produced an aggregate of €439,700 which was 19% down on last year. The average of €6,107 fell by five points, the median held steady a €3,000 and a 53% clearance was down 2% on the 2019 figure.
Easily the highlight of the day was a daughter of Dawn Approach who was knocked down to Clongan House. This half-sister to a winner was consigned by Claire Manning’s Boherguy Stud who sold the £325,000 top lot at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale which was switched to Newmarket for this year. The sale-topping filly shares her sire with the likes of the Derby second Madhmoon.
Jessica Harrington will take charge of a €33,000 daughter of Belardo, who first crop of runners yielded four individual European stakes winners headed by the Group 3-winning fillies Elysium and Lullaby Moon.
Lucky Vega cross
This filly was snapped up by the BBA Ireland’s Patrick Cooper who was purchasing her on behalf of the It’s All About The Girls Syndicate whose previous representatives with the trainer include the 2018 Ingabelle Stakes heroine Sparkle ‘N’ Joy. Cooper observed that this relation to Princess Yaiza is bred on the same cross that produced this year’s Phoenix Stakes winner, Lucky Vega.
Another popular yearling was a colt from the second crop of Mehmas whose first runners continue to break all records this year. This son of the Acclamation will be heading to next year’s round of breeze-up sales after being snapped up by Con Marnane for €21,000. This colt is out of a Dark Angel mare and hails from the family of the Group 2-placed juvenile Queenfisher.
Among the Irish trainers to make their mark was Eddie Lynam who spent €20,000 on a son of Mastercraftsman out of a winning Cape Cross mare who has already produced a stakes-placed runner in France.
Before sending out Pin Your Hopes to spring a surprise at Dundalk, Andy Oliver forked out €16,000 for a Gutaifan half-brother to the Group 3-placed runner Flashcard.
The other notable transaction in the yearling section of the sale saw the BBA Ireland pay €20,000 for a daughter of No Nay Never from Al Eile Stud. She is a half-sister to a Group 2-placed runner in Annie Fior and she is a granddaughter of the brilliant multiple Grade 1-winning American runner Annoconnor.
Unfortunately colt
The last major transaction of the day and by far the most significant one as far as the foals were concerned came when Ivor Andray Bloodstock went to €25,000 for a colt hailing from the first crop of the Prix Morny winner Unfortunately. This colt will return for sale as a yearling and he is a grandson of the Nunthorpe Stakes winner Lochangel.
Mitchell’s statement
As he looked back on 2020 for Tattersalls Ireland, the company’s CEO Matt Mitchell stated: “Today we concluded the 2020 sales season at Tattersalls Ireland. Reflecting on the year, 2020 has been one of the most challenging to date for all of us. That said, we have been able to conclude a successful season working closely with our colleagues at Park Paddocks and in tandem with HRI, ITM and Goffs. A heartfelt thank you must go to our loyal clients, when even in the most uncertain times, continued their commitment to Tattersalls Ireland and for that we are extremely grateful.
“The year may have been testing, but the resilience of the bloodstock market is a testament to the industry. The market leading Derby Sale produced the second highest priced filly for the sale on record when the half-sister to Altior was sold for €300,000 to Gordon Elliott and Aidan O’Ryan.
“The September Yearling Sale saw a record price of £325,000 as well as the Goresbridge Breeze Up Sale seeing a 9% increase in average and a median price of €21,978, an increase of 22%.
“The November National Hunt Sale achieved its own records with the highest average on record and a record price for a mare when Laurina was sold for €290,000. This year we also saw the implementation of live online bidding which is a perfect example of how the industry is evolving and has adapted to circumstances.
“I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a safe and happy Christmas and we look forward to seeing you next year, in what we hope will be a more positive outlook,” he concluded.