February National Hunt Sale starts 2017 off on the right note

Following on from a robust renewal of the November National Hunt Sale, the February National Hunt Sale got the 2017 sales season at Tattersalls Ireland off to a satisfactory start. The sale finished with an increased aggregate of €1,666,900 (+13%), with considerable rises in the average of 6% to €6,805 and median of 24% to €7,200.

The highlight of the one day February National Hunt Sale was Lot 54, a colt by the sire of Derby Sale graduate DEATH DUTY and Cheltenham Sale graduate SHANTOU FLYER, in Shantou. The colt, consigned by Limekiln Stud stood out as the popular lot of the sale and was knocked down to Ormond Bloodstock for €46,000. He is out of the Listed winning mare LAREN and is a half-brother to the Sholokhov gelding L’Aigle Royal, a Grade 2 placed horse himself.

Michael Moore of Ballincurrig House Stud, who was leading consignor at the sale, was responsible for the next top lot when purchasing Lot 247 for €40,000, a colt by Montmarte out of a half-sister to Ryanair Chase hero UXIZANDRE and offered by Ms Caroline J Berry.

A Presenting colt from Yellowford Farm took the next highest spot of the day’s sale when selling to Kevin Ross Bloodstock for €37,000. Out of Ballycloven Oscar, the dam is an own sister to the Willie Mullins trained FELIX YONGER, a twelve-time winner including the Grade 1 Champion Chase at Punchestown along with an additional five Grade 2 wins to his name.

At the conclusion of the sale, Managing Director of Tattersalls Ireland Roger Casey commented;

“Following on from the encouraging trade for foals at the November National Hunt Sale, we were confident of an improved renewal of the February National Hunt Sale and today’s sale met our expectations for those lots with the necessary commercial appeal. Today’s turnover of €1,666,900 is the best on record for a one day February National Hunt Sale, an increase of 13% on last year and 72 lots surpassed €10,000 or more, a 25% increase on 2016. Our attention here at Tattersalls Ireland now turns to market leading Derby Sale with last year’s record breaking sale resulting in increased nominations and inspections already well under way’’.