Exceptional Results at September Yearling Sale

The sale ring buzz, so evident on the opening day of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, maintained its fizz into Day 2 with the numerous international and domestic buyers on the Fairyhouse sale ground intensely bidding throughout the session. 

That fierce sale ring activity led to nine horses offered over the two days selling for €100,000 or more, the second-best result at an individual Tattersalls Ireland September Sale for six-figure lots, while a record number of horses were sold for €60,000 and above.

Bloodstock agent Anthony Bromley, the purchaser of six horses over the two-day sale, said: “There are so many buyers here at all levels it has been difficult to buy, but it is great to see such strong competition at all grades.”

The honours for Top Lot of the sale, and the Day 2 best-priced horse, went to a daughter of Mehmas bought by Rabbah Bloodstock on behalf of Jaber Abdullah (Lot 321).

Abdullah's nephew Mohamad Al Kaabi was on bidding duties with the team of David Ryan, manager of Abdullah's Kilfrush Stud, and Abdullah staked out in an upstairs office. The filly's underbidder Amanda Skiffington was by the ring and, after some deliberation, shook her head when asked by the auctioneer to better Rabbah’s bid of €180,000.

"This is one of the nicest fillies in the sale and we have been lucky with Mehmas – we have a lovely filly called Star Of Mehmas, who recently broke the Ayr five furlong track record when winning the Listed Harry Rosebery Stakes,” said Ryan.

Ryan added: "She vetted well so we knew she was going to make €120,000 plus – we did not think she would get to that price, but we were keen not to leave her behind. She will have to do it on the track to make that outlay worthwhile!"

The filly was sold by Timmy Hillman's Castledillon Stud, and the farm’s Showcasing mare Show Me Off has been doing just as her name implies.

"I bought the mare [140,000gns in 2021] and we got 105,000gns for the filly she was carrying last year, and now this,” smiled Hillman. "The filly was a picture; she was a standout really. She had about nine vets, and all the people you would want to be there. We thought she would make €80,000 or €100,000 because she was so popular, but we could never have imagined that.”

Rabbah Bloodstock also spent €120,000 on the Baroda Stud-consigned, China Horse Club International-bred filly (Lot 381) by the exciting young sire Starman whose stock has been so well received over this two-day sale. 

The filly comes from the great Johnson-Houghton-developed family of Mohaather, Prize Exhibit, Accidental Agent and Polly Pott and is out of Tschierschen, an Acclamation daughter of Ancestress Roo.

"We like the pedigree, she is a nice individual, vetted well and is by Starman, whose stock looks very promising," said Mohamad Al Kaabi. "The mare's first foal Perotto is a six-time winner and is Listed-placed and her two-year-old filly by Australia is a winner."

That Australia filly, now called Cercene, was bought at this sale last year by Crampscastle Bloodstock for €50,000. She is trained by Joseph Murphy, won on her second start and has an entry in the Group 3 Weld Park Stakes; Murphy was hoping to repeat the feat today and was the underbidder on the Starman filly.

An April born son of Too Darn Hot gave consignor Limekiln Stud a great pinhook result – the colt, bought at the 2023 Tattersalls December Foal Sale for 40,000gns from Newsells Park Stud, was sold today for €115,000 to Con Marnane (Lot 471). 

The colt is out of the New Approach mare Biblic and she is a half-sister to two Group winners, headed by the Group 2 Celebration Mile winner Dubawi Gold, a Listed race winner and a Listed-placed horse, all of whom are by Dubawi. 

Consignor Gerry Ross of Limekiln Stud said: "When we bought him as a foal it was his walk that really attracted us, alongside the pedigree which is all about Dubawi. He has been straightforward all the way through, and one of those you would not know was on the place. He has gone to a great home and Con will do the best by him."

A delighted Marnane with daughter Amy said: "We have three bonuses won this year in Ireland, worth €30,000, so that will help to break the back off it. You have to take your hat off to Horse Racing Ireland and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing for supporting the industry so well with this scheme – it is unbelievable. 

"We thought he was the nicest horse in the sale, and he will go to the breeze-up sales. If he doesn't sell, we can always race him."

Always likely to be a stand-out was the Invincible Spirit full-brother to Spirit d'Or, the winner of the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes run at The Curragh at the Irish Champions Festival (Lot 417). 

It was a second career success for the filly, who has also been Listed-placed at Deauville in France for trainer Gavin Hernon and is rated 95.

"He is by the right sire and his full-sister was very good at The Curragh last week," reported Logan. "He is an attractive colt, and was very well prepared by the Irish National Stud. If he is as good as his sister we will be happy. It is a lovely family, the mare is by Dubawi and the stallion can do no more.”

Of his purchases at the sale, Logan said: "I have bought eight so far. The stock is fantastic and it is very hard to buy the nice horse as there are so many people here and from all around the world. In fairness to ITM and Tattersalls Ireland they have done a great job getting people here. The stock is good but the people are here, too – the numbers following in a nice horse is unbelievable."

The colt was bred and sold by the Irish National Stud, and the stud's Chief Executive Cathal Beale said: “We are absolutely delighted. We bought Across The Sea for 45,000gns [Tattersalls December Mares Sale 2020], and now she has produced a very good filly in Spirit d'Or, and now another one to Invincible Spirit for €100,000. 

"We bought her really to try the Dubawi/Invincible Spirit cross, so it has worked out well. The colt has gone to a very good home, and is going to get every chance to progress the mare."

Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins commented:

"The trade at the September Yearling Sale over the last two days has been excellent, reflected in a strong clearance rate of 84% and an impressive turnover of €12,433,500 - the third best in the sale's history. This sale has once again proven itself as a progressive and popular sale, with buyers at every level engaging in competition not witnessed anywhere else this year.

"The profile of the September Yearling Sale has grown significantly in recent years, with graduates making their mark on the track which has further strengthened buyer confidence . This year’s key indicators remain strong,  nine lots sold for six figures, and a record number of lots sold for over €60,000 highlights the remarkable strength of the middle market. Surpassing the strong 2023 figures is a real achievement for us.

"We’ve welcomed clients from all over the world and to witness the footfall on site this week has been phenomenal to say the least. The level of competition from our UK, Irish and European buyers has been tremendous and there has been a real positive feel to this sale from the weekend through to the sale. Flat racing is a sport of international appeal, and seeing significant sums spent on yearlings destined for top European jurisdictions speaks volumes. Credit must go to the team at Tattersalls Ireland, our overseas agents and to Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, whose efforts have been essential to the success of this sale.

"I would like to extend my thanks to the vendors, and without their support it would not have been possible to compile a catalogue of such depth and quality. Their confidence has been key to the success of this sale.

"Following the record-breaking results of the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze Up Sale in May, it’s incredibly satisfying to build on that momentum this week. Year after year, this sale continues to grow, and we feel we can build on this year and into the future.

Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale Part II concludes tomorrow at 10am. All lots are eligible for the €250,000 Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes 2025 at The Curragh.