THE strength of the National Hunt market continued, albeit at a lower level, as Part 2 of the Derby Sale drew to a close on another warm day at Fairyhouse yesterday.

Turnover reached €2.7 million (up from €2 million last year) and the average price rose by 8%. Horses sold in this section of the catalogue are also eligible for the €100,000 MSL Mercedes-Benz Bumper at Leopardstown at the end of 2027.

While it is more likely that the majority of the stock sold on Friday will be pointed in the first instance, many looked racey enough to transfer easily to the racecourse. Many of the buyers were ticking the box for the bumper, keeping their options open.

The day belonged to Tommy Newton of Clock Tower Stud in Co Wexford. Together with his fellow pinhooker James Walsh, they brought three lots to sell on Friday, and got €160,000 for them. Two were standouts, comfortably among the best of the day. They sold a son of Affinisea to Basil Holian for €80,000, the best price ever in this part of the Derby Sale.

John Staunton bid on behalf of Holian, and said: “Let’s hope he makes a good track horse in time! He might learn his trade in point-to-points and then go on to the track. Plans are fluid, he could be one for the sales bumper – who knows? All options are open and the dream is still alive!”

Modus operandi

Newton explained his and Walsh’s modus operandi. “We pick out foals together; we looked at 60 foals when we bought this horse and he was the one who caught our eye [cost €15,500 at the November Sale]. We loved him from the minute we bought him; he was very straightforward. His prepping was the same; he’s a lovely balanced horse and a great attitude.

“We buy a couple of foals together every year. We had a lovely Marcel on the first day [€85,000 to Olly and Aiden Murphy] and a Harzand who made €100,000 and was bought by J.P. [€100,000]. We look at a lot of foals, and we always want one with a good step.”

The partnership struck again later with a daughter of Behesht who sold to Ballycrystal Stables for €60,000. She was a €3,500 foal. Newton said: “I am a farrier by trade and I was in to do the late Ronnie O’Neill’s horses and he asked me to dress a bunch of foals; there was around six or seven. She just caught my eye and I said to James [Walsh] that we needed to look at her at the sales. We both loved her. We took her home and she just blossomed. We’ve had a good day!”

Successful day

A son of the Success Days gelding from Cabragh Lodge sold for €66,000 to Rebecca Menzies and bloodstock agent Matt Coleman, with James Griffin doing the bidding.

“Myself and Matt loved him when we saw him yesterday. He is related to a 135-rated horse [Charles Uberalles] and Rebecca is looking to get some nice horses and up the quality in the yard. He looks a real bumper horse and could be one for the race.”

The gelding was pinhooked by Kieran Ryan, who said: “We gave €7,000 for him as a foal and bought him for my twin sons James and Ivan to produce. James [the 2024 champion apprentice] is at the Curragh today. We don’t like to spend big money. This doesn’t happen all the time, but we try!”

Heartwarming result

Brenda Shortt, affectionately known as ‘the mammy of the sales’ was in tears when the first-ever store horse sold under her own name, a filly by Crystal Ocean, made €55,000. She was bought by Kevin Ross for Gavin Cromwell.

Shortt explained how she became the filly’s owner. “I was showing her for a friend, led her through the ring and she was not sold. I rang my partner Barty [Walzcak] and said, ‘Can you get the two-box to the yard? I have another member to join the family!’ I loved her the minute I laid eyes on her and decided to take the chance. My health was not good, it is stable now, but it was something I wanted to do, it was on the bucket list, and she has been an absolute dream.”