Exceptional start to Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze Up Sale
The inaugural Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze Up Sale got off to a fantastic start with seven lots making over €100,000 and a top price of €175,000. With the day's aggregate just shy of €5 million, an average price of €28,037, a median of €18,000 and a healthy clearance of 91%, the day provided an excellent foundation for the new sale.
The session's leading lot was a colt by Lope De Vega (Lot 61), sold by Norman Williamson's Oak Tree Farm and bought by Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock.
"I am a huge fan of the stallion - he is a global sire and I believe his best is still to come," said Brown. "This horse has a lot of quality and class and he did a very good time - for a horse who will be a 7f horse / miler, he showed a lot of speed. He is going into training with John Gosden."
The colt was a €28,000 Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale purchase by Oak Tree Farm and it has capped a good week for the farm - its breeze up graduate War Of Will won last weekend's Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, the son of War Front gaining recompense for his impeded run in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Blandford Bloodstock ended the day as leading purchaser with 11 lots bought for a total spend of €835,000. Brown's three other six-figure purchases included a Kodiac colt (Lot 108) from Tally-Ho Stud who cost €125,000, a Muhaarar colt (Lot 111) bought for €115,000 from Glending Stables and a €100,000 Camacho filly (Lot 41) sold by Meadowview Stables.
"The Kodiac colt is for Sheikh Hamed, he said he wanted to buy one proper colt. This colt came highly recommended from Tally-Ho and we have had a lot of luck with the farm previously having bought horses such as Ardad and Dream Ahead", said Brown.
"When we saw the colt we liked what we saw and when that matches up with a good recommendation, you have to take note."
Of the Camacho filly, Brown said: "She did a very good breeze and was well clear on times - from a breeze up of 200 horses that is impressive."
A daughter of the exciting Juddmonte sire Kingman (Lot 101) was bought by Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland for €165,000 from Kilminfoyle Stud.
"We are delighted to get her," said Donohoe. "She is by a sire who could turn out to be an exceptional stallion and is out of a Listed mare whose first runner was a two-year-old winner.
"This filly looks as though she will be a back-end two-year-old and a three-year-old type, however she still did a good breeze time. She took a while to get going, but then didn't stop until she got to the top of Ballyhack! She is for a new client to race, she could be for him to breed from or for resale further down the line."
Trainer Michael O'Callaghan bought successive lots; the first a colt by Night Of Thunder (Lot 147) was sold by Greenhills Farm and fetched €135,000 and the second is a filly by Dark Angel (Lot 148). She made €125,000 and was sold by Knockatrina House.
"The Night of Thunder colts looks a very fast horse and did a good breeze. The stallion has been doing well and this colt has a good pedigree," said O
'Callaghan.
Of the filly, O'Callaghan said: "She has residual value being by Dark Angel and she is a three-quarters sister to Lethal Force. She is a lovely physical and is for Robert Moran."
He added: "When this sale was at Goresbridge it was lucky for me, and the September Yearling Sale has also been good. Let's hope it continues!"
It was an exceptional day for Skryne Stables. Colin Magnier offered two lots, a colt by Morpheus (Lot 130) and a filly by Canford Cliffs (Lot 198) they sold for €90,000 apiece with the colt producing considerable profit on his yearling purchase price of €5,000. It is easily the farm's best day in the Tattersalls Ireland sales ring.
Commenting on a very successful sale, Tattersalls Ireland CEO Matt Mitchell said;
"The relocation of Tattersalls Ireland Breeze Up Sale to the Fairyhouse sales complex has resulted in an extremely successful sale.
"A clearance rate of 91% with an average of €28,037 and a median of €18,000 is indicative of the sale's strength with the middle market particularly strong.
"We wish to thank firstly our loyal vendors who supported the sale with a quality selection of two-year-olds, purchasers who came from 12 countries, Fairyhouse Racecourse Management who provided the track for the breeze up and ITM who ensure a large number of foreign purchasers attended the sale. The assistance and that Martin Donohoe provided has contributed very much to the success of the sale."