Derby Sale Graduates Claim Top Honours at Grade 1 Level

Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale graduates made their mark on the biggest stage last week at Aintree, with graduates landing the Grade 1 Aintree Bowl, Grade 1 Melling Chase and Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle. 

Jonbon vindicated connections decision to run over 2m4f for the first time in the Grade 1 Melling Chase, and the eight-year-old showed real determination to overcome fellow Derby Sale graduate Conflated. 

Owned by JP McManus, Jonbon was adding his name to an illustrious list of Derby Sale graduates to have won the Melling Chase. Trainer Nicky Henderson was non-committal about stepping him up to three-miles next season, but this performance will give connections lots of options moving forward. 

The son of Walk In The Park has attracted close scrutiny since being sold at the 2019 Derby Sale by Church View Stables to Paul Holden and Michael Shefflin for €140,000. It was a sixth top level success for Jonbon, and a third Aintree Grade 1 for Nicky Henderson’s charge who was adding to his victories in the 2022 Top Novices’ Hurdle, and the 2023 Maghull Novices’ Chase. 

Gerri Colombe showed that his heroic effort in the Cheltenham Gold Cup did not leave a mark as the Robcour-owned eight-year-old scored at Grade 1 level for a fifth time in the Aintree Bowl. 

Gordon Elliott’s charge displayed real courage to overcome six talented rivals, and was another Derby Sale graduate adding to a Grade 1 win as a novice 12 months previously. 

He was an €85,000 purchase from Moanmore Stables by Colin Bowe at the 2019 Derby Sale and has now secured his tenth victory from thirteen career starts. He was also sold at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival Sale by Milestone Stables to Mags O’ Toole for £240,000. 

The 2022 Derby Sale top lot Brighterdaysahead produced a performance seldom seen in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle. The five-year-old mare came home with seven lengths to spare over her stable-mate Staffordshire Knot, and many observers believe that the sky is now the limit for this quality mare. 

It was a fourth win over hurdles for the Gigginstown House Stud-owned daughter of Kapgarde, and this performance will give connections every right to dream of more Grade 1 success next season. 

She was the top lot at the 2022 Derby Sale when sold from Lakefield Farm to Gordon Elliott Racing for €310,000, and it seems she has the talent to match her prestigious reputation. 

The Derby Sale continues to produce more Grade 1 winners than any other Store Sale, and these graduates exemplify the quality and opportunity available at Ireland’s Premier Store Sale.