AFTER three days that produced a top price of €80,000 and witnessed a level of trade that was quite similar to last year, the Tattersalls Ireland August National Hunt Sale concluded on Thursday with a set of returns which couldn’t quite match 2018 in several areas.

For the best stores in the sale demand was almost the same as 2018 with the number of horses to make at least €50,000 dropping by one to five.

However, the difference between this week’s sale and that of last year was probably the level of activity from €20,000 and upwards with the number of horses achieving this feat dropping from 59 to 43.

The sale posted an aggregate of just under €3.8 million and this represented a 5% drop on last year. The average of €8,285 was down by 12 points although the median matched last year at €5,500 and the clearance rate of 68% was also identical to 2018.

Satisfactory

On the whole, this represented a satisfactory edition of the August Sale although there were pointers to take note of. The overall clearance rate of 68% is a clear indicator that the market will not be able to deal with any further increase in the levels of supply. This was starkly illustrated during the final day of the sale where the clearance rate dropped to 59%.

This week marks the conclusion of a store sales season that performed very well with both the Goffs Land Rover and Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale playing host to impressive trade, against the announcement in mid-May that Gigginstown House Stud would not be in action at the major store sales this year.

While the focus of the sales season now switches to the flat, it is just under three months until the all-important Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale and all the indicators this summer would point to demand for foals being at least as strong as ever this winter.

Gordon Elliott (centre) at the sale \ Healy Racing

At the conclusion of the sale, Tattersalls Ireland CEO Matt Mitchell commented: “The August National Hunt Sale marks the conclusion of the stores sales for 2019 at Tattersalls Ireland.

“A total of 939 National Hunt stores sold at the May Store Sale, Derby Sale and the August National Hut Sale for a cumulative total of €23,434,450.

“The store sales results demonstrate the pivotal role of Tattersalls Ireland in the sector. The open August National Hunt Sale clearly shows Tattersalls Ireland’s commitment to all levels of the store sector.

“A clearance rate of 68% on par with 2018, with 49 extra lots offered in this year’s edition, points to a selective yet realistic market.

“We would also like to thank the vendors and purchasers for their continued support, and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing for the tremendous work they do year round for all the Tattersalls Ireland sales.

“We now look forward to the November National Hunt Sale where entries are currently being taken and close on Friday, September 20th,” he concluded.

Doyle pays €80,000 for Davidoff brother to Abacadabras

FOR the second year in succession the August Sale produced a top lot of €80,000 and this year’s leading light was a son of the French-based sire Davidoff who was bought by leading point-to-point handler Donnchadh Doyle.

Davidoff’s most successful runner in these parts is the Grade 1 scorer Saturnas and he is also responsible for Gordon Elliott’s high-class bumper horse Abacadabras. The sale topper is own-brother to the last-named as well as a Grade 3-placed jumper in France.

The three-year-old was consigned by Peter Vaughan’s Moanmore Stables and he attracted the attentions of Ross Doyle and Gordon Elliott before the Monbeg Stables man stuck the winning bid.

Much later in the day, Doyle forked out €35,000 for a son of Califet from the family of the Grand Annual Chase winner Andreas. Doyle also topped the final day of the sale when, acting for owner Douglas Taylor, he gave €37,000 for a three-year-old from the first crop of Jet Away. The Jet Away was offered by Waterford-based Tullycanna Stables who sold the two highest priced lots on Thursday in just their third year of consigning at the store sales.

A WESTERNER gelding who was forced to miss the Derby Sale more than made up for that absence when he made €72,000.

The Westerner gelding from White Horse Stud sold to Tom Malone for €72,000 and will go into training with Paul Nicholls \ Healy Racing

The €14,000 foal purchase was sold by Michael and Anne Cullen’s White Horse Stud and he was bought by Tom Malone who reported that his purchase would go into training with Paul Nicholls.

This gelding is a half-brother to a listed-placed hurdler out of an Overbury mare whose siblings are headed by the high-class Racing Demon.

Early strike for son of Network

THE first notable transaction of this year’s sale came when agent Hamish Macauley forked out €52,000 for a son of Network from the Bleahen family’s Liss House. The relation to the Grade 2-placed juvenile hurdler Baraka De Thaix was bought on behalf of English owner Carl Hinchy.

Agent Hamish Macauley paid €52,000 for a son of Network from the Bleahen family’s Liss House \ Healy Racing

One of the best bred horses on offer over the three days was Boardsmill Stud’s Court Cave own-brother to the Cheltenham Festival-winning novice hurdler Willoughby Court.

This grandson of Sadler’s Wells fetched €45,000 and was bought on behalf of owner Barry Connell.

Milan half-brother to Might Bite tops second day

THE second session of the sale was topped by a €52,000 Milan half-brother to the RSA Chase victor and Gold Cup runner-up Might Bite. The €21,000 foal purchase, who is also an own-brother to the dual Grade 1-winning Beat That, was sold by Abbeyleix Stud for Joan Condron and he was bought by trainer Pat Flynn.

English agent Matt Coleman gave €44,000 for an Ask half-brother to the very smart Ministerforsport who won a Grade B handicap hurdle at Cork a couple of seasons ago. This gelding will begin his career across the Irish Sea.

Presenting filly goes to Coleman

THE pick of the fillies on offer was a €40,000 daughter of Presenting who is an own-sister to Slate House. Also related to Big Buck’s, the Aaron Metcalfe-owned three-year-old was bought by Gavin Coleman whose father Edmond has bred the likes of the Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere and The Last Samuri.

Another sought after filly was a €33,000 daughter of Getaway and she was snapped up by point-to-point handler Denis Murphy who has already had a very smart daughter of the sire through his hands in Lust For Glory. This filly was showing an excellent return on the mere €2,400 she cost Martin Cullinane as a foal.

Great Pretender’s son popular

AMONG the other geldings to take the eye was a €40,000 son of Great Pretender who was sold by Johnny Collins’ Brown Island Stables to Joey Logan.

Another to come in at €40,000 was a son of Presenting closely related to the Grade 1-winninng Jessies Dream. He was knocked down to Aidan O’Ryan, whereas Aidan Fitzgerald’s Cobjay Stables signed for a €36,000 Fame And Glory sibling to two winners.

Richards and Griffin spend

NICKY Richards and Gerry Griffin have a long-standing association with this sale and they picked up the admirable Simply Ned for €23,000 here in 2010.

This year the pair’s spending took in a €32,000 son of Walk In The Park and they also paid €30,000 for a son of Rock Of Gibraltar out of a winning half-sister to the Ribblesdale Stakes heroine Phantom Gold.