THE 2026 Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up Sale ended with a new record turnover of €12 million, and set new records for median and average. The hugely satisfactory clearance rate of 87% showed that the demand has not lessened for racing prospects.

After a slow start, trade built throughout the day, and the five lots to realise €300,000 or more were sold in the last few hours of trading. Tying for top spot were a daughter of Starman and a son of St Mark’s Basilica, both selling for €360,000.

The Starman filly’s price was the third highest price for a filly ever at the sale. Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock saw off five or six other bidding entities who all were involved from about the €200,000 mark. The grey is out of an unraced half-sister to Fairyland, winner of the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes and the following year’s Group 1 Flying Five Stakes. She is a daughter of a half-sister to the brilliant sprinter, dual European champion and four-time Group 1 winner Dream Ahead.

Boman said: "It slightly surprised me that we were pushed that far, but she is the one filly who really got my imagination going. We work very hard as a team and certain horses really capture your attention, and she was one from the moment I saw her in the pre-breeze.

"She is pretty hard to miss due to her colour and has those lovely big ears. She is a quality filly, she had a good look at everything, takes it all in, has a massive stride, from great vendors and breeders.

"We bought Dream Ahead before, the mare has done a very good job, and unlucky not to have a stakes winner, Starman is going from strength to strength and the Tally-Ho stallion machine is flying!

"Her owner is to be decided, but Joseph O'Brien will train her. She is not just a five-furlong filly. Her stride length is very good, and her time was very good. She sustained her gallop the whole way and galloped out. I reckon she will stay seven furlongs."

Joining the filly at the top of the price list was Rockfield Farm’s St Mark’s Basilica colt, sold to trainer Abdul Rahman Saeed Al Sayed. Mark Grant paid 75,000gns for the half-brother to the recent winner Respond last December.

Lot 234, by St Mark's Basilica out of Cross My Mind from Rockfield Farm, Ireland was sold for €360,000 to Abdul Rahman Saeed Al Sayed \ Tattersalls

"He liked his breeze, his pedigree is good, he is very good-looking horse," said the trainer’s cousin and representative Khalid Al Sayed. "We will discuss with the new owner, but we might leave him in England to be trained, we have so many friends in Newmarket."

“We had him to breeze, and he has been a very straightforward horse all the way through. Lovely big horse, great stride and attitude,” said consignor Jason Titley. “The sire is going great and his brother Respond won at Chester earlier this month, so all came together well.” Rockfield also sold a Starman colt for €200,000.

Lot 212, a Starspangledbanner colt out of Balansiya from Ballynure Park Stud for €325,000 to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock \Tattersalls

The more expensive of Anthony Stroud’s purchases was a son of Starspangledbanner from Ballynure Park Stud. He cost €325,000 and the agent faced his biggest competition from Michael Donohoe. The cost was bought as a yearling in Arqana for €36,000.

"He was very wisely bought as a yearling," said Stroud. "He has done very well, he did a very good breeze and impressed, and we are very happy to have him. Owner and trainer to be decided.” Asked about the breeze-up season, he added. "I think we have bought some very nice horses, and the proof will be how they run. We have run two so far – one won and one finished second. We will see how things progress. Of all the sales I have been to this season, I think here has been the strongest for the middle market and there is a depth. Tattersalls Ireland and ITM have done a very good job of getting people in."

Ballynure Park’s Jerry Horan said: "He had a lot of fans in fairness, but when they’re at that level you’re never quite sure where they’re going to land. It’s a rollercoaster following the bidding, you’re on a different planet when they get to that level. It’s brilliant though.

"He was a good scopey horse as a yearling and I just like the sire and the pedigree so I said I’d take a chance on him. He’s found everything very easy all year. I’m delighted it’s all come together."