EVEN though prices at the head of the market couldn’t quite match last year, the latest renewal of the Tattersalls Ireland August National Hunt Sale concluded with its best set of returns for several years, to complete a heartening few months for the store market.
Over the two days, 383 horses sold for an aggregate in excess of €3.7m, which represented a 25% increase on last year. The average of €9,839 finished 19 points ahead of last year and the €6,500 median represented a progression of 30 points.
The clearance rate also moved forward, as it went from 67 to 70%, but this figure illustrates that supply continues to run somewhat ahead of demand in the National Hunt market.
The final session was headed by a pair of €42,000 lots and the latter of these to come under the hammer was a son of Presenting for whom Gerry Griffin outlasted Paul Cashman. The John and Aine McMahon-owned gelding is out of a half-sister to the listed-winning hurdler Blue Buttons.
“He’s been bought to go to Nicky Richards. He’s a gorgeous horse, a standout today, and he would have been quite at home in the Derby Sale. It’s a nice pedigree and he’s by a top sire too,” remarked Griffin.
Earlier, Bryan Murphy had to go to €42,000 for a son of Vinnie Roe offered from Kate Rudd’s Busherstown. This three-year-old, who cost €15,000 as a yearling, is an own-brother to the Grade 2-placed hurdler and very smart novice chaser Royal Caviar.
“He’s a gorgeous horse and the only one I really wanted today. He’s a very athletic, good looking horse and the plan would be to prepare him for a bumper next spring,” said Murphy.
TOP FILLY
Tom Malone was again to the fore and his first major purchase of the day came when he spent €33,000 on a daughter of Notnowcato who will by joining Paul Nicholls. The filly is out of a half-sister to the Irish Oaks runner-up Mot Juste.
Much later in the day, an absent Malone was acting through Sam Curling when he gave €40,000 for a Milan gelding out of a half-sister to the Whitbread Gold Cup scorer Ad Hoc. Lucinda Russell will train the Parkville Stud offering.
Trainer Martin Lynch set the early pace for the day when he forked out €36,000 for a son of Stowaway hailing from Oaks Farm Stables. This gelding is an own-brother to a winning point-to-pointer from earlier this year.
“We’ll get him home and assess him and the plan would be to run in a point-to-point with a view to resale,” commented Lynch. “His sister won a point-to-point on her debut this spring and, if he can do the same, he will hopefully be an attractive proposition. He’s a good-walking, athletic type of horse.”
Point-to-point man Denis Murphy will train a €32,000 son of Gold Well related to the Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander after he was knocked down to owner Anthony Ryan, while another popular son of Gold Well was a €31,000 gelding who went to Joey Logan.
Elsewhere, English trainer Noel Williams will take charge of a fine €30,000 son of Yeats who was bought by agent Matt Coleman on behalf of owner Colin Peake. This three-year-old is out of an own-sister to Tidal Bay.
“We were looking for a big, staying chasing type, and this horse will need a little time, but he looks like he could be a lovely chaser. Colin wanted a chasing type and he was also a big fan of Tidal Bay,” stated Coleman.
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Day 2
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AV Med
2017 336 277 192 1,751,050 9,120 6,000
2016 332 268 191 1,675,100 8,770 4,800
Entire Sale
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AV Med
2017 672 545 383 3,768,300 9,839 6,500
2016 663 545 365 3,026,200 8,291 5,000
2015 770 586 402 3,698,900 9,201 5,600