Extraordinary trade on the opening day of Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale
A superb opening day's trade kicked off proceedings for the 2017 renewal of the World's Premier store sale, the two-day Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale.
Sixteen horses fetched six-figure sums, with a top price of €220,000 given for a son of Kapgarde (Lot 62) sold by Norman Williamson's Oak Tree Farm.
Tom Malone Bloodstock, buying on behalf of owners Mr and Mrs Alan Potts, purchased the three-year-old gelding already named Kap Ocean.
He is a first foal out of the French Listed chase-winning Kingsalsa mare, Line Salse. Her dam was a Grade 3 chase winner and Grade 1-placed daughter of Cadoudal, and the pedigree stretches to the Grade 1 winner Escartefigure.
"He is a lovely individual," said Malone, before laughing: "I've been thinking about him so much that I even woke up the other night thinking about him after I'd seen him.
"He is a lovely horse, a special horse out of a black-type mare and from a proper pedigree. I am delighted to get him."
Underbidder was Aiden Murphy who came back for more even after Malone rounded the bid up to €200,000 from their mark of €180,000. In the end, though, they had to give way to a determined Malone.
Alan and Ann Potts enjoyed considerable success through the 2016-17 season with their Tattersalls Ireland graduates, headlined by Sizing John's Cheltenham Gold Cup victory, Finian's Oscar storming on the scene with two Grade 1 wins and Sizing Granite's Guinness Handicap Chase win at Punchestown in April.
Oak Tree Farm's successful day continued with the second of its two lots - a son of Al Namix (Lot 159) sold for €150,000 bought by Henry de Bromhead's Knockeen Racing. The three-year-old gelding's half-sister Daring Rose did her bit for the pedigree earlier this month when second in the Grade 3 Prix Christian de Tredernat Auteil.
"I bought them both privately out of a field in France last year," said Williamson.
"The Al Namix obviously had a big pedigree update last week, but both are fine horses with nice pedigrees. I am delighted, I hope they are lucky for their new connections."
Mouse O'Ryan spent €205,000 on a son of Stowaway (Lot 102) sold by Castletown Quarry Stud. Underbidders included de Bromhead and Joseph O'Brien.
"He is a gorgeous horse and a half-brother to a very good horse at Gordon's [Elliott]," said O'Ryan. "He will be staying in Ireland."
The three-year-old's half-brother is the five-year-old Monbeg Worldwide(Lucarno), who has an unblemished racing record - he is unbeaten from one start in a point-to-point and three runs in bumpers. He is trained by Elliott and owned by Gigginstown House Stud.
After Monbeg Worldwide's latest success, when ridden by Tattersalls Ireland's Lisa O'Neil, Elliott said: "He's a big galloper, a massive horse and when he fills into himself he could be nice."
British owner-breeder Robert Waley-Cohen, with Highflyer as agent, spent €155,000 on a Shirocco filly (Lot 112) from a family steeped in black-type. She is a daughter of the Grade 1 Prix Alain de Breuil 3yo Summer Hurdle winner N'Avoue Jamais(Marignan) and a half-sister to three Flat and jumping black-type winners. Under the second dam is No Risk At All, a Group 3 winner and placed in the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan, the multiple Grade 1-winning chaser and hurdler Nickname, as well as five further black-type horses.
"She's got a fabulous pedigree and is a lovely individual," said owner-breeder Robert Waley-Cohen. "She will come home briefly to us at Upton Viva, and then go into training."
Day one trade showed improvement across the board on the opening day in 2016 - the median of €45,000 was an increase of 25%, the average rose by 13% to €53,448, while the aggregate jumped up by 35% to €9,674,000 from €7,175,500. Horses sold at an outstanding clearance rate of 86% an increase off 5 points on last year.
The Derby Sale continues tomorrow, Thursday 29 June with the sale commencing at 10.30am. Derby Sale Part II takes place on Friday 30 June, again starting at 10.30am. All lots and results can be viewed on www.tattersalls.ie.