THE one-day Tattersalls Ireland February Sale produced satisfactory results on Tuesday.

The number of lots making at least €30,000 improved by one to 14, and the top-priced lot, Pakora, made €80,000, compared with a top price of €62,000 a year ago.

The clearance rate dropped by some eight points to 56% but turnover from this year’s larger catalogue came in at just over €1.9 million which was 2% up on last year. The €7,500 median equaled last year’s record figure while the average of €11,516 was virtually identical to last year’s return of €11,480, which was also a record for this sale.

Willie Mullins has offered some terrific broodmare prospects through this ring in the past and this time he extended his reach beyond the November Sale with Pakora whose €80,000 sale to Ross Doyle made her the highest priced February Sale top lot in seven years.

The six-year-old daughter of Gentlewave was twice placed at stakes level in France before transferring to Mullins who sent her out to win a listed novice hurdle at Galway during the summer. Thus the grey made notable dual purpose appeal and she is also an own-sister to an E.P. Taylor Stakes runner-up in Pagera. Ross Doyle reported that he was acting for a flat breeder who is likely to send their purchase to a proven middle distance sire.

The day's top-priced yearling was a colt by the leading British-based sire Kayf Tara. He was bred and sold by Rahinston Stud and is the first foal out of the Kalanisi mare Molo, a half-sister to the farm's star performer Banjaxed Girl.

"He was a stand-out," said purchaser Katie Rudd, who had to go to €62,000 to acquire the February-born colt. "He is by a very good sire and has a very good pedigree."

Joey Logan Bloodstock spent €60,000 on a Shantou colt out of the Oscar mare Ned's Joy, an own-sister to The Tullow Tank and a half-sister to the Grand National winner Many Clouds, and €48,000 on a colt by Walk In The Park and out of the listed-winning mare and the Grade 2 placed Stephanie Frances (by King's Theatre).

"The Oscar is from a good solid National Hunt pedigree, and the Walk In The Park moves well and is out of a good mare - she beat Wicklow Brave in her first bumper. Both will be back here as three-year-olds, let's hope they are lucky," said Logan.

At the conclusion of the sale, Tattersalls Ireland CEO Matt Mitchell said: "Trade was very strong where purchasers believed that the individual and the pedigree justified their valuations. The market continues to be selective at the middle to lower end."

YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AV Med

2019 327 297 166 €1,911,600 €11,516 €7,500

2018 291 258 164 €1,882,794 €11,480 €7,500

READ RYAN McELLIGOTT'S FULL SALE REPORT AND MARKET COMMENT IN THE IRISH FIELD NEXT WEEKEND