The last store sale in Ireland for 2022 drew to a decidedly low-key close on Thursday with a muted second session of the Tattersalls Ireland July Store Sale which produced a top price of €30,000.

As expected trade wasn’t anything like as strong as it was the previous day and this was reflected in a set of figures which pointed to the sobering level of demand which exists in the lower reaches of the store market.

At the close of proceedings the second day produced an aggregate of just under €1.1 million, an average of €6,591 and a €5,000 median while the clearance rate for the day came in at 65%.

The day’s top price was paid by James Doyle when he forked out €30,000 for a son of Stormy River from Michael Browne’s Mocklershill Stables. Already named Karisto, this gelding is out of a daughter of a Group 3-placed runner in Italy.

“He’s a gorgeous horse and a standout today. He has been bought to go point-to-pointing and Micheal Conaghan (of Evergreen Stables and owner of this year’s Land Rover Bumper winner Absolute Notions) is going to take a share in him,” said Doyle.

Pillar Coral's first crop

For much of the day the pace was set by a €24,000 gelding hailing from the first crop of Martaline’s unraced half-brother Pillar Coral. This Pat O’Donovan-owned relation to the high class Pomme Tiepy was snapped up by Eoin McDonagh.

“He’s been bought to go point-to-pointing. He is a good strong sort and I like the sire. I have seen a few by him and I like them. He has a nice pedigree, his half-brother was a bumper winner and he looks like a horse who will come to hand quick,” stated McDonagh.

The fillies on offer included a smart daughter of Mahler who will be joining Charles Byrnes after she was snapped up by Richard Downes for €20,000. This half-sister to three winners is out of an own-sister to the high-class Simply Dashing.

“She has been bought for a client and goes into training with Charles Byrnes. She is a lovely, well-bred and athletic filly and she’s a big, strong type,” reported Downes.

Rathvinden relative

Trainer John Flavin made his presence felt when going to €18,000 for a son of the promising Affinisea who was consigned by Glen Stables. This gelding comes from a pedigree that goes back to the National Hunt Chase winner Rathvinden.

Affinisea was also responsible for a gelding from Moyfinn Stud for whom Steven Crawford had to go to €25,000. This gelding comes from the family of the Champion Hurdle-winning siblings Morley Street and Granville Again.

“He will be for resale and we might go down the bumper or the point-to-point route. I thought he was the nicest horse today and he has a good back pedigree and I have had a few from the family before,” commented Crawford who was underbidder on Wednesday's €65,000 son of Buck’s Boum.

Another sire going well with his first crop of Irish four-year-olds is Workforce and the former Epsom Derby hero was represented by a gelding belonging to Thomas Keane who was knocked down to Cian Hughes Thoroughbreds at €18,000. This gelding is an own-brother to Scenic Look who showed promise in a couple of reasonable juvenile hurdles last season.

Among those to reach the €17,000 was a daughter of Walk In The Park from a fine Moyglare family who was secured by Browne Brothers Bloodstock. Bobby O’Ryan matched this price for a son of Mount Nelson while Charlie and Francesca Poste forked out €17,000 for a son of Snow Sky who will go down the point-to-point route in England.

FINAL FIGURES FOR PART 2

YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGGREGATE AVERAGE MEDIAN

2022 333 250 163 €1,074,300 €6,591 €5,000