A PIVOTAL two days at the end of a critical six-week period drew to a more than satisfactory conclusion on Thursday evening, following the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale which produced a good set of final figures, even if they couldn’t quite match those from 12 months ago.

For only the third time in the sale’s history the aggregate reached €17 million although this year’s figure finished 4% adrift of the near €17.9 million spent here last year.

The average of €50,572 dropped by just two points while the median held steady at €42,000 to come up just short of the record-breaking figure of €43,000, which was set in 2017. The clearance rate also dropped by two points but it still came in at a very respectable 83%.

More reserved

In comparing this week’s sale with 2018 the difference probably lies at the very top of the market. In 2018 the top price was a record-breaking €365,000 and two others made €240,000 or more whereas this week the highest prices were of a somewhat more reserved nature.

A drop in six-figure transactions from 29 to 24 would largely account for any of the decreases in the final returns for the sale but notably the middle-market remained robust and consistent.

Last year there were 144 horses who made at least €50,000 at the Derby Sale and this year that number came in at 141, which offers a telling pointer as to where trade was at.

Once again British-based buyers made a huge contribution as did the various members of the point-to-point fraternity and it was felt that some owners were showing renewed or increased levels of interest in the store market which is something to be welcomed.

Gigginstown effect

The third week in May brought with it the shock news the Gigginstown House Stud would no longer be buying young stock and the phased scaling back of an operation which has put so much into stores represented quite a blow. However, the store market has held steady in the face of this upheaval as evidenced by trade both here and at the Land Rover Sale earlier in the month.

This in turn should feed back into the National Hunt foal sales later this year where competition for stock will surely be fierce albeit those buying to resell in the upper echelons of the market will no doubt be acutely aware of just how difficult it is to produce a store that can hit six figures.

In his end of sale statement, Tattersalls Ireland CEO Matt Mitchell commented: “The strength and depth in the store market which was evident at this year’s May Store Sale continued through to the Derby Sale. The very strong demand is demonstrated by the median which is €42,000, and the sale of 142 horses sold between €40,000 - €80,000.

“We thank our loyal vendors for their continued support, and have no doubt that our purchasers will be rewarded with success on the track.”

O’Leary spends €380,000 on two Martalines

THE star turn of this year’s sale was a €220,000 son of the recently retired French sire Martaline who was bought by Clare-based trainer Ronnie O’Leary and this sale rewarded his connections for the boldest of pinhooks.

At the Arqana Summer Sale just under a year ago Mark Dwyer and Willie Browne parted with €145,000 to secure this gelding of rare quality and their faith in the grandson of Martaline was rewarded after O’Leary, who signed for seven lots costing just short of €800,000, outlasted Aiden Murphy for the relation to the Cathcart Chase hero Royal Auclair.

The previous evening O’Leary spent €160,000 on a son of Martaline offered from Norman and Janet Williamson’s Oak Tree Farm. This €36,000 foal purchase is out of a half-sister to the top-class hurdler Geos and the eminent French-based sire Kapgarde.

‘A pinhook for the ages’

EASILY the best story of the entire sale was supplied by a €125,000 daughter of Getaway who was sold to Margaret O’Toole to become the highest priced filly over the two days. While very significant, the price doesn’t quite convey the magnitude of the story as the filly was bought for a mere €1,800 as a foal by Pat Kinsella and after that initial purchase the stars truly did align.

Her half-brother Kildisart hadn’t run at the time but he has since developed into a high-class novice chaser and won a Grade 3 in April, whereas her brother, The Big Breakway, was sold for €360,000 after winning his point in the spring. For good measure, her relation Rathvinden has amassed quite a race record of his own. All these updates combined made this a pinhook for the ages.

As ever the two days contained more than their share of pinhooking triumphs and these featured a €180,000 son of Milan who cost €26,000 as a foal. The half-brother to a listed-placed French jumper was sold by Barry Fitzgerald’s Roxborough Stud and he was bought by Margaret O’Toole, who was standing with Brian Acheson and Henry de Bromhead. The last-named will take charge of this grandson of Sadler’s Wells for whom the bidding commenced at €100,000.

An equally notable triumph was supplied by a son of Yeats from Springhill Stud who cost Highflyer Bloodstock’s Anthony Bromley and Nicky Henderson €150,000. This relation to the Grade 1-winning Frantic Tan was purchased for €19,000 as a foal.

Another Highflyer purchase came when Tessa Greatrex, acting for Ben Pauling, spent €130,000 on a son of Kapgarde from Walshtown Stables. This gelding was bought for €30,000 as a yearling in France.

Tom Malone spends big for Nicholls’ yard

AS expected, Tom Malone was busy securing some choice stores on behalf of Paul Nicholls and these were headed by a €200,000 son of Blue Bresil consigned by Johnny Collins’ Brown Island Stables. This gelding is a half-brother to the very promising David Pipe-trained gelding Eden Du Houx who won a listed bumper last season having been purchased by Malone after winning a point-to-point.

The agent also picked up one of the star offerings on Wednesday’s session when he spent €150,000 on a Flemensfirth gelding out of a half-sister to the former Derby Sale top lot and Cheltenham Festival hero Empire Of Dirt.

This three-year-old was offered by Peel Hall Stables having cost Will Kinsey €32,000 as a foal.

The distinction of heading the first day of the sale fell to a €190,000 son of Al Namix for whom Kevin Ross outlasted Tom Malone. Ross was acting on behalf of owner Chris Jones for the half-brother to the very useful Diamond Guy. This gelding, who shares his sire with the likes of Elixir De Nutz and Petit Mouchoir, was sold by Walter Connors’ Sluggara Farm and will be broken in and pre-trained at Jones’ Killeen Glebe before a decision is made on where he goes into training.

Murphy stocks up

AIDEN Murphy and his son Olly picked up a number of the best stores on offer and their purchases were headed by a €170,000 son of Kayf Tara from Oak Tree Farm. The €65,000 foal is out of a listed winner who has already bred the useful Olly Murphy inmate Angel Of Harlem. Also set to join Olly Murphy’s team is a €165,000 son of Fame And Glory from John Bleahen’s Lakefield Farm who was showing an excellent mark up on the €16,000 he cost as a foal. Lakefield also consigned another popular son of Fame And Glory who cost the Murphys €125,000.

Elsewhere Olly Murphy will train a €130,000 son of Doctor Dino – the sire of Sharjah and Le Bague Au Roi – and a son of Kayf Tara from Clifton Farm who made the same price.

Holden to train Douvan’s brother

ELLMARIE Holden is to take charge of a Walk In The Park own-brother to the brilliant Douvan who cost €140,000 and was knocked to the trainer’s father Paul and Michael Shefflin.

This gelding has previously been offered in utero at the 2015 November National Hunt Sale when his dam Star Face failed to sell at €140,000. Douvan’s brother was consigned by Tom Whelan’s Church View Stables.

Also at the 2015 November Sale the Willie Mullins-trained Grade 1 winner Adriana Des Mottes sold for €145,000 and her first foal provided her connections with a good return on the outlay when fetching €110,000. The Shantou gelding was offered from Kitty Cowhey’s Loughmore Stables and was bought by Ronnie O’Leary.