ON the eve of this week’s Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale it emerged that as a result of a change in restrictions, British purchasers who had signed up to a so called ‘industry bubble’ would not be able to attend the sale in person.

Such an eventuality on the eve of one of the most important thoroughbred auctions in the country is scarcely credible while also disappointing and dismaying in equal measure.

The fact that most overseas purchasers were able to, and did, view the stock on offer in person on Monday and Tuesday was of scant consolation to vendors, the purchasers themselves and Tattersalls Ireland themselves, irrespective of how the sale performed.

It just seems entirely illogical and unfathomable that this cohort of buyers could freely attend the sales grounds at Tattersalls Ireland on Monday on Tuesday but then could not attend the actual sale in person. Simply put this decision was bizarre in the extreme.

Last week this paper carried a story outlining how people from Britain wishing to attend the Derby Sale can do so and avoid a prolonged isolation period by signing up to an ‘industry bubble’.

Restrict movements

This would allow overseas visitors restrict their movements to agreed areas while in Ireland and that the sale would benefit from significant British involvement despite new Covid-19 restrictions introduced last week by the Irish government on British arrivals.

This British bubble has already worked well in Ireland this year for both the Punchestown Festival and the recent Goffs Land Rover Sale.

It was reported that the same system was to be in place for the Derby Sale and that last week’s government announcement would not impact on the Derby Sale.

The British bubble was set to operate under the ‘essential funtion’ quarantine exemption as defined by the government who then revoked the UK essential business bubble due to increasing concerns surrounding the Delta variant of Covid-19.

So with all this in mind, how can it be acceptable for British buyers to view stock at the start of this week yet by Tuesday evening this apparently constituted such a threat to public health that their access would have to be withdrawn.

Frankly it is a decision that is incredible in its inconsistency but it reaches far beyond that.

Last year brought with it huge upheaval and chaos when it came to the sales calendar in Ireland with a number of country’s sales having to switch to locations in Britain.

That followed on into this year with the recent Goffs Land Rover Sale being, incredibly, the first live sale of the year in Ireland.

A huge amount of work has taken place over the last nine months to engender confidence and support in a viable Irish sales calendar. In one fell swoop that work has been obliterated.

That choice of language may seem dramatic but there is actually no other word for it.

As a result of what happened this week what guarantee can Irish sales companies give overseas buyers that they will be attend sales here over the coming months.

In the short term, what prospects are there of the May and July Store Sales taking place on their original dates in mid-July?

Looking a little further ahead what does the future hold for the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale or the Goffs Orby Sale and could both auctions once again be forced to switch to Britain.

The purpose of all this is not to sound alarmist or to spread panic but one decision which was taken earlier this week is going to have long term ramifications for the rest of the sales year in Ireland while also doing untold damage as regards the prospect of overseas purchasers coming to this country.

The entire Irish thoroughbred industry has conducted itself in a professional and cooperative manner since the pandemic began but events of this week represent a damaging development in terms of our relationship with overseas markets.

In short, it has done major damage to the Irish bloodstock industry and no amount of explanation can downplay this stark reality.