MARES
A FINAL session that produced the week’s top price of €160,000 brought the curtain down on this year’s Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale which ended with a set of figures that were very similar to those of 12 months ago.
From a slightly smaller catalogue, the turnover for the six days auction fell by 6% to just over €12m but the average of €14,264 represented a progression of three points, while the €10,500 median matched last year’s tally.
For the second year in succession, the clearance rate dropped - coming in at 68% – and, as previously this year’s edition of the sale points to a market that would not be at all well served by any further increase in size of the National Hunt foal crop.
The last day of the sale was given over to mares and the €160,000 sale-topper had the distinction of being the second highest priced mare to be sold at this sale in the last nine years. However, a 42% clearance rate (as against 66% in 2015) reflected a decidedly subdued level of demand for the breeding stock on offer.
MULLINS MARE
For the third year in succession, the mares’ section was topped by a Willie Mullins inmate as Valyssa Monterg, who was sold in foal to Shantou, went to recently retired trainer Colm Murphy for €160,000. Murphy reported that he was acting on behalf of a client after coming out the right side of a protracted duel with Kilmoney Cottage Stud’s Michael Carty.
Valyssa Monterg only finished out of the frame four times in her 16 starts on the track and she enjoyed her finest hour when landing a Grade B handicap hurdle at the Galway Festival in 2015. The daughter of Network’s sale followed on from those of her former stablemates Adriana Des Mottes and Tarla, who fetched €145,000 and €170,000 respectively in 2015 and 2014.
The sale-topper was preceded into the ring by another Mullins inmate, the unraced Bayside Belle, and she too went to Murphy, acting for the same client, for €42,000. Bayside Belle is a half-sister to the Grade 2-winning hurdler and Royal Ascot hero Pique Sous.
The day’s second highest price came when Peter Nolan, who reported that he was acting for a Wexford-based purchaser, forked out €56,000 for Prettyasapicture. The Goldford Stud offering is a winning daughter of King’s Theatre and she was sold in foal to Walk In The Park; she is a half-sister to the Grade 2 bumper winner Diamond Sal and the very useful Ring The Boss.
Another member of the Willie Mullins draft was the smart Uranna, who won at listed level at Sandown a couple of seasons ago as well as notching up several graded placings over fences last term. She too was sold in foal to Shantou and she went to Paul McGrath for €36,000.
Tullogher House Stud’s Scarlet Feather was another mare to come under the hammer in foal to Walk In The Park and she fetched €34,000 after being knocked down to Oliver Loughlin. The winning pointer is a half-sister to the Grade 2-winning hurdler Winter Escape.
FRENCH SIRE
Yesterday’s sale also offered breeders a rare chance to pick up a mare in foal to the eminent French sire Saint Des Saints and RBR Bloodstock went to €30,000 for Early Dawne. The daughter of Kayf Tara is a half-sister to Dusky Legend, who chased home Limini at Cheltenham in March.
Maiden City, a Presenting mare in foal to Soldier Of Fortune, also featured among the leading lots after going to Yvonne Coleman for €28,000. She is a half-sister to several smart jumpers in France as well as the dam of Shanahan’s Turn.