After the heights of the Derby Sale trade was of an altogether different variety at the Tattersalls Ireland May Store Sale on Thursday whose final returns dropped well off the results of both 2018 and 2019.
The second day of last week’s Land Rover Sale indicated that this sector of the market would feel the effects of the current situation more acutely than others and this was borne out by a clearance rate which dropped from 74% to 57%.
In terms of the other key indicators the turnover fell from just over €2.5 million to just under €1.2 million. The average of €12,213 represented a drop of some 31% while the median went from €15,000 to €9,000, all of which indicates that there are some sobering times ahead of the lower tiers of the market.
TOP LOTS
The day’s trade was headed by a pair of €40,000 geldings and the first of these was a son of Spanish Moon whom agent Hamish Macauley secured on behalf of point-to-point trainer Matthew Flynn O’Connor who has previously had the likes of Sporting John and Alfa Mix through his hands. This Lakefield Farm offering is out of a winning daughter of Network.
“We felt that he was the standout horse of the day. He’s a lovely horse by a sire who has already done well with the likes of Laurina and Dallas Des Pictons and the plan is for him to go point-to-pointing next spring,” declared Macauley.
Another destined to join the team at Flynn O’Connor’s Ballycrystal Stables is a €30,000 son of Flemensfirth who was consigned by Peter Nolan. This gelding is out of a half-sister to the Grade 1-winning Annacotty.
The other lot to reach €40,000 was a son of Snow Sky from Springhill Stud who was snapped up by amateur rider Harley Dunne while Galway-based trainer Yvonne Dunleavy forked out €34,000 for a son of Kayf Tara from Ballincurrig House Stud. The Kayf Tara is a half-brother to the very smart handicap chaser Fitzhenry.
“He’s been bought for a client and he will probably go point-to-pointing. He’s a well bred horse with size and scope and he’s a lovely, athletic type,” reported Yvonne Dunleavy.
BRITISH BUYER
Elsewhere David Phelan spent €32,000 on a Sinndar gelding from Liss House and this son of the former John Oxx-trained great will be heading to the UK.
“He’s the fourth horse I’ve bought this week and they will also go back to the U.K. to go into pre-training. He’s a really good moving horse and I’ve had luck with sire before. I just need to find an owner for him now,” reported Phelan.
Towards the end of the sale Barry O’Neill and Colin Bowe spent €30,000 on a daughter of Telescope who is a half-sister to the Cork National winner Out Sam while Rob James matched this price for a son of Libertarian from Liss House.
“I’ll bring him back to my place and get him jumping and he’ll probably start off in a point next March or April,” commented James. “His four-year-old brother is with Cormac Doyle and I’ve schooled him a few times and I like him, he’s a nice horse. This horse is a lovely model and comes from a great home, when you buy a horse from the Bleahens you know they’ve been looked after properly and prepared well.”
Tattersalls Ireland CEO Matt Mitchell said: "The original May Store Sale date was May 14th and in that short amount of time to now, the impact of Covid-19 has been enormous. It is positive that we have been able to hold the sale and to enable the market to function. Trade was selective with buyers adapting a cautious approach.
"We now look forward to the August National Hunt Sale taking place next week with the Select Part I on Thursday and Part II on Friday. The sale starts at 11am each day."
COMPARATIVE FIGURES FOR THE MAY SALE
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AVERAGE MEDIAN
2020 234 170 98 1,196,900 12,213 9,000
2019 230 196 145 2,563,200 17,677 15,000
2018 221 196 148 2,246,600 15,180 13,000
MORE IMPORTANT BLOODSTOCK SALE NEWS IN THE IRISH FIELD THIS WEEKEND