TRADE at this week's two-day Tattersalls Ireland July Store Sale was a long way removed from the dizzy heights reached at the premier store sales in June.
The clearance rate was a worrying 58% and at least 30 of the near-300 lots sold changed hands for the minimum bid of €1,000.
Just as happened here on Wednesday, Niall Bleahen of Liss House sold the top lot and, again, Thursday's sale-topper was another three-year-old by Order Of St George. This one, out of five-time winner Little Miss Poet (by Years), was bought by Darren O'Dwyer for €50,000.
O'Dwyer said: "He comes from a good consignor, and I rode the mother [while in training with Hobbs] and I know all about her. She was a good mare. For me, he is a standout today. I am undecided where yet, but he will go down the point-to-point route and will be for resale."
The vendor added: "He is a big strong horse, and out of a mare called Little Miss Poet so perhaps he shouldn't be as big as he is, but she was a good racemare and she won a bumper at four and was placed on the flat at three, so that will help with the precocity of this horse. He was a big, strong foal [sold for €35,000], and has grown into a big, strong horse. He missed the Derby Sale as he got cast in his box here, and was a late withdrawal. He was a real Derby Sale horse, and it is nice to get him back to a sale.”
Another Derby Sale absentee fetched €42,000 near the end of the day. A wildcard entry from Rathurtin Stud, this French-bred son of Born To Sea was snapped up by Rob James, who saw off Gerry Hogan to claim the horse.
James said: “I had a filly by Born To Sea last year and I was lucky with her [Royale Navy who won and placed in two point-to-point starts and sold in May for £80,000]. Denis [Cummins, Rathurtin Stud] took me down to look at him and I liked him, so I waited for him. The sire is doing well in France and hopefully this lad will be as lucky as the filly; they are both solid sorts. He is a great walker and a hardy-looking sort and he goes point-to-pointing. We have 30 pointers in, around 10 or 11 for the autumn."
Rob James was very nearly the top buyer over the two days, even though he only bought two lots. His total outlay of €77,000 was bettered only by agent Tomas Janda from the Czech Republic, who spent €77,200 on 10 horses.
Rob James's earlier €35,000 purchase was a Poet's Word gelding consigned by Peter Nolan Bloodstock. The property of Westwinds Farm and a €23,000 foal, the gelding is the second offspring of his dam Oh So Frisky (Al Namix), herself a daughter of three-time French listed hurdle and chase winner Change Partner (Turtle Island).
“He is the nicest walker all day, and I’ve been waiting for him since yesterday." said James. "He will go point-to-pointing. I have not had any before by the sire, but have bought two by him this spring. He had a great time of it last winter, is an up-and-coming sire and he is stamping his stock. They are great walkers."
Tom Hughes, son of former trainer Pat, also bought a son of Poet's Word for €35,000. From Boardsmill Stud, home of the sire, this gelding is out of an unraced half-sister to the Irish Grand National winner Niche Market.
Hughes said: “I bought this one for Pat Byrne from Galway. The gelding has an outstanding pedigree and is by a very promising young sire. He is a nice-sized horse, not over big, and a good mover. He looks to me to be a racehorse and has a good attitude. The boss man [father Pat] would remember many of the good horses going back in the family. I remember Cloth Cap (Beneficial) and he was a very good horse.
“This is a horse for the future as he is from an out and out staying pedigree. I also bought Lot 333 on spec, and he is out of a half-sister to Djakadam (Saint Des Saints). I hope they will both turn out well. I am trying to get going as a trainer and horses like these can help.”
Jim O’Neill of Cametigue Horses paid €34,000 for a son of Success Days from Grottowell Stables. A half-brother to Red Devil Boys, who O'Neill was associated with, this gelding will be trained by Sean Doyle.
Emmet Mullins also bought one by Success Days, paying €26,000 for a half-brother to a winner consigned by Hayfield Stables.
Jerry McGrath gave €26,000 for a son of Capri from Graiguebeg Stud, a half-brother to multiple winner Omar Maretti.
J.P. Flavin had to go to €28,000 for the Crystal Ocean gelding from Lismakeera, he is out of a half-sister to Galway Hurdle winner Tigris River.
At the conclusion of the sale, Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins said: “The store season concluded with this week’s July Sale, which remains an important final opportunity in the National Hunt Store calendar. It follows a month after a hugely successful renewal of our Derby Sale. This week’s sale does however illustrate the challenges faced by vendors and whilst a significant number of store horses have already gone through the sales ring this year, it would be remiss not to acknowledge the challenges that face vendors at this level of the market as witnessed by this sale’s clearance rate. We will review all aspects of our store sales at the end of the year.
"This summer’s store sale season has delivered standout results with the Derby Sale being a particular high point. It produced the highest-priced store sold in Ireland this year, and across every key metric it significantly surpassed last year’s strong figures. A record-breaking 38 lots sold for €100,000 or more, while a spend of €10 million on day two, was a record for a single session at the Derby Sale.
“Irish point-to-points play a crucial role as the grass roots of National Hunt racing, and this week’s sale has seen good support from handlers. The sale produced some smart four-year-old winners during the spring, and it was encouraging to hear purchasers immediately earmark spring targets between the flags.
“I look forward to seeing this group of graduates build on the success of past graduates of this sale."
All horses catalogued and offered in the July Store Sale are eligible for the €100,000 Tattersalls Ireland MSL Mercedes-Benz Sales Bumper at Leopardstown on December 28th, 2026.