THOSE wondering if the high demand for store horses would continue at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale had their answer by lunchtime on Wednesday. Like the weather, trade was simply scorching.
The opening session not only witnessed a sale record price of €370,000, it also produced a Derby Sale single session record average of €61,592, and a turnover of €9,731,500, figures up by 30% and 36% on 2025’s opening day.
The median of €48,000 was an increase of 14% on last year and the clearance rate was 86%. Four lots sold for €200,000 or more, while 23 lots sold for €100,000 or more.
As at Goffs earlier in the month, British buyers were making their presence felt at the top of the market, none more so that agent Ross Doyle and trainer Joe Tizzard, who paid a Derby Sale record price of €370,000 for what is surely the best-bred horse in the catalogue.
Already named Redemption, the son of No Risk At All is a half-brother to Brighterdaysahead (by Kapgarde), Mighty Potter (by Martaline) and Caldwell Potter (by Martaline).
Foaled in France, the gelding was bred by Walter Connors and sold through his Sluggara Farm.
Doyle opened the bidding at a bold €200,000 and ultimately saw off Gordon Elliott, who was standing with Joey Logan, to claim the top lot.
Joe Tizzard told the press: "It is a great family, he is a beautiful physical, and we fell in love with him when we saw him and thought we'd have a crack at him. He made his money. He is from a good family, and is by a proper sire.
"We are coming off the back of a really good season [56 winners and £1.4 million], had a few people interested and did not want to let him go. He is for a group of existing owners.
"It is the most we have spent in the ring on a store horse; it is exciting. Dad is here with me, and fell in love with the horse, too. He comes back to ours now, we break all of ours in ourselves.
"We knew who we'd be bidding against. Gordon has done so well with the family and we have come out the right side of it. We are lucky, and now let's hope he gets the rub of the green."
Walter Connors, who bought the mare Matnie some years ago, said: "I am delighted that the market thought what we did. When we are selling these horses it is the next step, and I'd be wrong if he is not good! It is bitter-sweet as he is the last foal.
"He has been anonymous among the other horses, he fitted in and never was a problem, and a pleasure to have. At the end of the day there is a certain validation when people want to buy your horse. I just hope that he can give the new owners a lot of fun. It is brilliant to see Joe Tizzard buying."
Sluggara Farm trio
Connors offered three lots on day one and sold all three for a total of €770,000.
Frank Berry bought the first, by Masked Marvel, on behalf of J.P. McManus (who was at the sale), and Harold Kirk paid €225,000 for a Doctor Dino gelding.
The Masked Marvel is from the family of Grade 1 winner Kalif Du Berlais. The Doctor Dino is a half-brother to two French blacktype winners.
A couple of hours after the top lot had been sold, Gordon Elliott secured a Walk In The Park gelding for €250,000. Joey Logan was underbidder on this one. Out of the blacktype winner Posh Trish and consigned by Peter Nolan, the gelding is a full-brother to a colt sold here last year for €285,000 to Dan Skelton but who has yet to run.
Nolan said: "He is a fine horse and as good a one as we have had. It is a great return for Charles Shanahan and Gerry Aherne, who pinhooked him here at the November National Hunt Sale as a foal for €100,000. He was always out of his box and had around 140 shows."
Logan and Nicholls
Joey Logan, buying with Megan and Paul Nicholls, spent €210,000 on Balthazart, a gelding by the popular sire Goliath Du Berlais, from the family of the listed winner and Grade 2-placed Terre Du Vent.
Megan Nicholls said of the Moanmore Stables-consigned three-year-old: "We thought we'd have to be strong, but we loved him. This horse goes to Dad and has not got an owner right now. He is a lovely horse, really athletic, and I'd say he will be pretty forward-going, which is a key thing. We have been trying to find Dad some sharper horses, and he fits the bill.”
She continued: "Joey has been great, helping and teaching me over the last couple of seasons, and I think with Caldwell Potter [€740,000, Tattersalls Ireland, A&G Brown Dispersal] ending up at Dad's, it was a good connection. It is a nice association to have, and hopefully we can keep building."
Of Golaith Du Berlais she added: "He looks a pretty fabulous sire already in what has been a fairly short career as a stallion so far, and this will be the first by the sire at Dad's yard."
The concluding two-year-old session was topped by the Crystal Ocean gelding out of the Curtain Time mare Curtain Belle. He was sold by The Paddocks to Ed Bailey for €100,000.
Ballyreddin sold two geldings by the champion sire Walk In The Park - one out of En Vedette (by Astarabad) for €98,000 to Hamish Macauley, and one out of Minella Melody for €90,000 to Ed Bailey.
The second day of the Derby Sale starts at 10am on Thursday.