Blue Bresil Colts Shine on Day 1 of November NH Sale

The first session of the Tattersalls Ireland November NH Sale got off to a solid start and progeny by popular Blue Bresil, sire of the six-time Grade 1 winner and November NH Sale graduate Constitution Hill, were in high demand – colts by the Rathbarry Stud-based stallion took the top two spots and five of the day’s top ten prices.

Leading the way was the Clonmult Farm-consigned colt out of the Shirocco mare Bee Yanka (Lot 89), who sold for €68,000. The March-born foal was purchased online by Timmy Hillman and was sold by Clonmult on behalf of breeders Richard and Mai Nolan of Old Court Stud.

"We were advised by Donal [White] to send Bee Yanka to Blue Bresil and she has visited the sire three times now," reported the couple. "The stock that has come from her has been so magnificent, and we just kept going back to the stallion – she is an amazing breeder.”

Consignor James Sheehan added: "The colt has been a lovely horse to deal with, he was always going to be a stand-out today which is why we decided to sell him on Day 1."

Purchaser Kieran Shields and daughter Kate struck early in the session, the pair going to €67,000 for the Blue Bresil colt, a third foal out of the Listed-placed mare Rolanna (Strategic Prince), offered by Thistletown Stud (Lot 20).

"He is a good walker, by the right sire, is a good size and he has been bought as a pinhooking prospect," said Kate.

The early slot was a strategic plan chosen by consignor Jimmy Furlong of Thistletown, which has another 12 lots to sell this week and took honours as the opening day’s leading consignor.

"We deliberately put him in today so that he would stand out a bit,” said Furlong, adding: "He is a cracking individual, we had all the right people on him and he made a good price.

“We bought the mare Rolanna at the November NH Sale in 2019 for just €10,000, and this is her big payday. She has a lovely temperament and this colt has that as well. She is a fine big mare and she is back in-foal to Blue Bresil.”

Coolamurry Stud’s colt by Walk In The Park out of the homebred Supreme Leader mare Aura About You was bought by pinhook purchaser Michael Fitzpatrick, signing as J C Bloodstock, for €60,000 (Lot 80).

The colt is a half-brother to Latest Exhibition (Oscar), winner of the Golden Cygnet Hurdle (G1) and three-times a runner-up at the highest level over fences.

Breeder Jim Mernagh of Coolamurry said: "Aura About You was a very good race mare and ran third behind Quevega in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham. She bred a good one in Latest Exhibition who, we raced. I sent the mare to Walk In The Park just because he is a legend of a sire."

The November NH Sale continues tomorrow at 10am with the second session of National Hunt-bred foals due through the ring.