NATIONAL HUNT

THE summer brought with it some impressive trade at the head of the National Hunt store market and leading the way was the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale.

The leading sale of its kind posted some fine returns with an aggregate of almost €14.3m representing a 14% progression on 2015. The €47,535 average was a new high in Derby Sale history and the €36,000 median was a record equalling tally.

At the head of the market, trade went stratospheric as the number of lots to hit six figures improved from 16 to 32 and, notably, this tally bettered the pre-recession high of 30 which was set in 2007. The clearance rate for the Derby Sale did drop to from 85 to 82% but this should not detract from an auction that broke new ground in several key areas.

On day one a trio of stores made over €200,000 and leading the way was a €255,000 son of the late French-based sire Saddler Maker. The latter has achieved universal acclaim in recent seasons with his handful of Irish runners featuring the likes of Alpha Des Obeaux and Apple’s Jade. The gelding was sold by the Bleahen family’s Lakefield Farm and he was bought by Harold Kirk to join Willie Mullins.

A €250,000 three-year-old by Robin Des Champs showed a tremendous return on the €34,000 he cost as a foal when falling to Mouse Morris. Gordon Elliott also weighed in with a major purchase when going to €235,000 for a half-brother to the promising Bello Conti.

A fortnight previously the Goffs Land Rover Sale posted quite a solid set of results. At the end of its three-day run the sale’s average dropped by two points to €26,271 while the median of €20,000 matched last year’s tally. The clearance rate was very similar to the Derby Sale as it dropped from 87 to 84%.

At times trade at the Land Rover was acknowledged as being selective and activity from English purchasers did seem more muted this year. However, the number of six-figure sales improved from five to six and the 56 lots that made at €50,000 was an improvement on 2015.

Centre stage here went to a €165,000 son of Douvan’s sire Walk In The Park who relocated to Ireland earlier in the year. Appropriately the third highest priced lot in Land Rover history was snapped up by the Kirk-Mullins axis who have already enjoyed major success with the sire’s progeny.

FOAL CROP

As the winter closed in the all-encompassing Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale served notice of a market that will not be at all well served by any further increase in the size of the National Hunt foal crop.

At its conclusion the six-day auction posted an improved average of €14,264 and the €10,500 median matched last year while, tellingly, 68% of those offered changed hands.

This was another sale where the growth took place at the upper echelons of the market, a trend which has been in evidence across the varied spectrum of the bloodstock industry for quite some time.

As ever the four-day foal section of the sale was the focal point of proceedings and the number of foals to make at least €60,000 improved from two to seven while 80 lots fetched at least €30,000 as against 69 in 2015.

Interestingly, the trade for high end foals was dominated by those buying to resell and of the 15 most expensive foals to sell, 11 were purchased with a return to the sales ring in mind.

The week’s top priced foal was a €70,000 son of Robin Des Champs whom Ian Ferguson, who bought Yorkhill here several years ago, picked up for Wilson Dennison.

The top lot of the entire six days came in the mares’ section where Colm Murphy, acting for a client, forked out €160,000 for the smart Willie Mullins inmate Valyssa Monterg.

This was the third year in succession that Mullins has supplied the sale topper.