THE record-breaking €530,000 sale of Apple’s Jade was the obvious highlight of this year’s Goffs December National Hunt Sale and played its part in a set of final figures which compared favourably with those from recent editions of the progressive auction.

From an appreciably smaller catalogue the aggregate of just over €5.2 million was only fractionally down on last year. The €16,010 average was up by 11% while the €10,000 median finished slightly down on last year’s figure of €10,500. Over the two days the clearance rate advanced slightly to 71%.

In truth this year’s sale was all about one horse and her position right at the very end of the sale only added to the sense of occasion that accompanied Apple’s Jade’s appearance in the sales ring.

For 13 years the record price for a National Hunt broodmare had stood at £270,000. Further context is supplied by the fact that the record price for a mare at this sale was €230,000 and the highest-priced jumping broodmare sold in Ireland came in at €270,000, a figure which was also set in 2007.

However, no mare had ever entered a sales ring with the sort of credentials boasted by Apple’s Jade, who was sold in foal to Walk In The Park.

A winner of 11 Grade 1s and more than match for many of the best geldings around on a variety of occasions, she produced some stunning efforts over the course of her career and it always looked likely that she would surpass all previous records in this sphere with any amount to spare.

As it happened Apple’s Jade is now in a league of her own, much as she was for most of her racing career, after selling to Noel and Valerie Moran’s Bective Stud for €530,000.

Coolmore thwarted

After the bidding opened at €200,0000, the battle for Apple’s Jade came down to the Moran’s representative and the mare’s former trainer Gordon Elliott and the Coolmore team of Gerry Aherne and Robert McCarthy.

From around €400,000 onwards bids were exchanged in relatively prompt yet considered fashion before Elliott finally struck the winning bid for a mare whom he saddled to win nine Grade 1s.

Noel Moran indicated that the progeny of Apple’s Jade will be retained to race rather than being offered on the open market.

Her sale represents the zenith of the annual sale of Gigginstown House Stud’s jumping mares which has become such a focal point of this auction in recent years.

Indeed such was Apple’s Jade’s impact that she totally overshadowed the sale of her former stablemate and fellow Gigginstown-owned mare Barra who preceded her into the ring and was sold for €70,000, a price which would have made her the highest-priced mare in last year’s sale. Barra is in foal to Poet’s Word and she retired as the winner of six races as well as reaching the frame at the Cheltenham Festival on two occasions.