Yearlings

THE opening day of the sale was largely given over to yearlings and trade in this category was a good deal more subdued than 2015. This sector of the market was once buoyed by a significant input from various racing entities but interest from that quarter has tapered off markedly since 2008 with the result that the yearling trade has struggled to recapture its previous heights.

At the conclusion of the day’s trade, the figures saw the aggregate drop from just under €1.8m to €1.25m while the average fell from €14,342 to €11,428. The number of yearlings making at least €30,000 fell from 15 in 2015 to 10 this time around.

At €54,000, the top-priced yearling was a son of the late Saddler Maker, who has made such an impact from just a handful of runners in Ireland over the last couple of seasons. The sire of Apple’s Jade and Alpha Des Obeaux was represented by a Stephen Kemble-consigned gelding out of a Martaline mare and he was the subject of a duel between Margaret O’Toole and Dick Frisby from which the Glenwood Stud man emerged victorious.

The Saddler Maker will return for resale but Ryan Mahon was unsure of plans for a €50,000 son of Great Pretender who came from Rathbarry Stud. This gelding, whose sire has already produced the likes of Ptit Zig and Bitofapuzzle, is out of a half-sister to the Grade 1-winning hurdler Bitofapuzzle.

Also coming in at €50,000 was the first foal out of the Cheltenham great Quevega. The daughter of Beat Hollow, whose dam achieved a never to be forgotten six-timer in the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle, missed an intended engagement at this sale last year but, on this occasion, she went to Keatingstown Bloodstock. She will not be offered for resale.

There was a nice profit in store for the connections of a Shirocco colt who cost €17,000 as a foal here last year. On his return to the sales ring the Roxborough Stud-consigned son of the Grade 2-placed Over Sixty cost John Monroe €46,000. This grandson of Monsun could be reoffered as a three-year-old but may also be kept to race.

Among several popular French-breds was a son of the stakes-winning Mansonnien horse Diamond Boy who cost James Mernagh €41,000.

The relation to the very promising Without Limites will be reoffered in two years time and a similar route beckons for a €40,000 son of Robin Des Champs.

He was bought by the English pinhooking outfit TC Partnership, who picked up four yearlings to come back as three-year-olds.