The latest edition of the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale, which had its drama before a horse had even entered the ring, ended on a high on Thursdays evening with a €280,000 top lot and a set of final figures which represented a return to pre-Covid-19 levels.
A remarkably resilient two days, when one considers the backdrop against which they took place, yielded a turnover of in excess of €16 million, which was close to double last year’s figure.
The average of €54,018 and the median of €48,000 both made huge gains and represent new highs for the Derby Sale while, crucially, the clearance rate surged from 70% to 86%.
The performance of the sale was especially heartening in light of the exclusion from attending of those within the British 'bubble' on Tuesday evening.
Had those buyers been able to attend in person the final figures would, in all probability, have been even better.
That the sale was still able to fare as well as it did represents a good news story which is a notable positive to emerge from the week. However, the consequences of the action taken by the Government on Tuesday have implications well beyond events of this week and the make up and nature of the Irish sales calendar for the rest of the year remains of the utmost concern as various other auctions start to loom large on the horizon.
SPECTACULAR FINALE
As the sale neared its conclusion there was a spectacular finale in the offing 11 lots from the end as an outstanding son of Walk In The Park sparked an enthralling bidding duel between M.V. Magnier and Eddie O’Leary which pushed his price to €280,000 with the later prevailing on behalf of Bective Stud.
From perennial leading store vendors Ballincurrig House Stud, this gelding is from a family that Bective Stud are already quite familiar with as they own his half-brother The Bosses Oscar who was second in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham this year.
“He’s going to Gordon Elliott for Bective Stud. Gordon already has the half-brother brother, who is quite a good horse, but this is an absolute king of a horse. He is by what looks to be a top class National Hunt sire and I hope he is half as good as he looks,” commented O’Leary.
HURRICANE BROTHER
From the moment the catalogue for this year’s sale was released a Walk In The Park half-brother to Hurricane Fly appealed as one of the box office lots of this year’s sale and he did not disappoint when his turn in the sales ring arrived.
From Yellowford Farm, whose purchase of his dam, Scandisk, for €63,000 back in 2009 was nothing short of inspired, this gelding boasted a pedigree to outstrip all others with his sibling having amassed a record 22 Grade 1 wins over jumps which were headed by two memorable Champion Hurdle successes.
The bidding for the gelding kicked off at €100,000 before rising steadily and when Olly Murphy’s offer of €195,000 was quicky countered this most coveted of stars came the way of Paul Holden, his daughter Ellmarie and Michael Shefflin.
“He is a flawless horse and we loved him. Obviously Hurricane Fly was a brilliant champion and if this horse is half as good as him that will be more than good enough but it was all about the individual really and we couldn’t fault him,” reflected Shefflin.
“He was possibly a little unusual for a Walk In The Park but I knew the mare as I had a chance to buy her back when she was sold in foal to Shirocco. We’re hoping he will turn out to be another Jonbon but we’ll just have to see,” he added.
ANOTHER AUTHORIZED
Stuart Crawford became the first purchaser to hit six figures when giving €140,000 for an Authorized gelding yesterday morning and he secured another fine son of that sire when forking out €155,000 for a half-brother to the French Group 3 heroine Boldogsag. Both the Kilminfoyle House Stud offering and the Authorized from yesterday will carry the colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, revealed Crawford.
“The sire has done well for the owners and this is a nice, athletic type. He is a bit more mature than yesterday's horse so should be one to come to hand a bit earlier,” said the trainer.
LOGAN BUYS
An initial career in the point-to-point field is the plan for a €150,000 son of Walk In The Park who was knocked down to Joey Logan. Denis Murphy will train the son of the very smart Stephanie Frances and the first-named then teamed up with Colin Bowe to give €150,000 for another son of the Montjeu horse offered by Ballincurrig House Stud.
The absent Tom Malone once again made his presence felt when giving €150,000 for a No Risk At All gelding from Lakefield Farm and this purchase is another to join Paul Nicholls’ team of young stock.
TOP FILLIES
The two highest priced fillies in the sale will both be joining Gordon Elliott and they include a €125,000 daughter of Joshua Tree who was bought by Bobby O’Ryan. The agent picked up Black Tears at this sale several years ago and his latest acquisition is a half-sister to the leading English bumper horse of last season, Good Risk At All.
“I loved her when I saw her the other day. She is a lovely filly, she has a great temperament and has everything you’d like in a filly, hopefully there is an engine in there too. She will go to Paddy and Jack Kennedy to be broken-in, they do a very good job, and then on to Gordon,” stated O’Ryan.
COMPARATIVE FIGURES FOR DAY TWO
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AVG MED
2021 199 170 149 €8,448,000 €56,698 48,000
2020 233 157 104 €4,675,000 €44,952 €34,500
2019 222 200 162 €7,926,500 €48,929 €40,000
2018 234 209 186 €9,069,000 €48,758 €38,000
2017 230 195 161 €8,071,500 €50,134 €42,000
2016 213 181 148 €7,085,000 €47,872 €37,000
FINAL FIGURES FOR THE ENTIRE SALE
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AVG MED
2021 400 347 299 €16,151,500 €54,018 €48,000
2020 466 315 220 €9,015,700 €40,980 €32,000
2019 445 409 338 €17,093,500 €50,572 €42,000
2018 467 406 347 €17,890,500 €51,558 €42,000
2017 460 405 343 €17,755,500 €51,765 €43,000
2016 426 367 300 €14,260,500 €47,535 €36,000
2015 414 343 291 €12,468,500 €42,847 €36,000