POSTPONEMENTS rarely seem to work in an auction’s favour but three months on from its intended date, the Tattersalls Ireland May Store Sale proved to be a notable beneficiary of being switched to a mid-August slot as it produced its strongest set of figures to date.
First held in 2018, the one-day sale was forced to occupy an August slot 12 months ago, but during at a time when the outlook was bleak to say the least and the future looked hugely uncertain, the auction struggled to perform anywhere close to previous editions.
It was all change on Tuesday though, as the sale was underpinned by a quality wildcard catalogue which produced a flurry of bigger prices and played a central role in a huge upswing in the final figures.
Back in 2020 the €40,000 mark was good enough to top this sale but that price was equalled or bettered on a dozen occasions and the number of lots to make at least €30,000 went from seven to 19.
All this was reflected in the final returns where the aggregate of over €2.8 million was well over a double last year’s figure. The average of €17,385 grew by 43% while the €15,000 median represented a progression of 67 points. For good measure, the clearance rate jumped from 58 to 78% which was especially heartening.
Murphy snaps up Blue Bresil top lot
THE six-figure mark had never previously come under threat at the May Sale but all that changed when centre stage went to a €115,000 son of Blue Bresil who was knocked down to a busy Aiden Murphy.
The agent’s purchase will go into training with his son Olly on behalf of owners Grahame and Diana Whateley who have previously campaigned the likes of Menorah and Captain Chris.
The sale-topper hailed from Rathbarry Stud and was showing a good return on the £26,000 he cost at the Yorton Sale two years ago. He is a half-brother to three winners headed by the Welsh Grand National second The Two Amigos.
Murphy’s other spending took in a €48,000 son of the retired but ever-popular Kayf Tara who was consigned by Liss House. This gelding is a half-brother to six winners and he too will join Olly Murphy’s team.
THE final lot into the ring on Tuesday was a son of Adlerflug who passed away earlier this year having supplied last year’s top-class three-year-old and Arc de Triomphe second In Swoop as well as this season’s King Edward VII Stakes winner Alenquer.
This gelding was consigned by Elms Bloodstock and he was bought by Tom Malone for €72,000. A career with Paul Nicholls possibly awaits this relation to the German Group 2 scorer Itobo.
The top-priced filly of the session was a €50,000 daughter of Soldier Of Fortune and she was knocked down to Harold Kirk who was acting on behalf of a new client of Peter and Ross Doyle’s.
This filly is out of a half-sister to the smart Gold Present and she could join Willie Mullins who already has an exciting daughter of the sire on his hands in the dual bumper winner Belle Metal.
Point-to-point potential for Murphy
JOHN Joseph Murphy has his flat team in great shape at the moment but the Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer turned his attentions to National Hunt on Tuesday as he picked up a number of choice stores.
The point-to-point route, which the trainer has previously used to launch the careers of the likes of Classified and Take Control, might be the option he takes with these purchases.
Murphy’s spending was headed by a €46,000 son of Al Namix from Peter Vaughan’s Moanmore Stables. Harold Kirk had to settle for the role of underbidder on this gelding whose grandam bred a remarkable 11 winners from as many foals.
Also destined to join the Highfort Stud team is a €45,000 son of Soldier Of Fortune and a €40,000 Yeats gelding from a superb jumping dynasty.
Leading lights come from progeny of Malinas and Walk In The Park
AMONG the day’s other notable transactions was a €49,000 son of Malinas who was snapped by Harley Dunne.
This gelding is out of a mare who numbers three blacktype performers amongst her siblings.
Pat Collins reported that he has a point-to-point career in mind for a son of Mahler from Railstown Stud who cost €42,000.
This three-year-old was one of the best bred horses in the sale as a half-brother to Troytown winner Mala Beach and his Grade 2-winning sister Bonny Kate.
Walk In The Park was responsible for a couple of €40,000 fillies. The first of these was a close relation of the Grade 2-placed pair Not Many Left and Coverholder who will join Olly Murphy. Not long afterwards Val and Michelle Bohan matched that price for a Walk In The Park half-sister to the Adonis Hurdle winner Master Blueyes.