Half-brother to Altior lights up the sales ring at Tattersalls Ireland November NH Sale
The anticipated highlight of day 3 of the 2019 November NH Sale lived up to expectations - in front of a packed sales ring the Camelot half-brother to Altior, the 20-time winner, 10-time Grade 1 winner and Nicky Henderson-trained champion, sold for €155,000 (Lot 560).
It is the best price given for a foal at the November NH Sale since 2007, and the second-best price ever paid for a colt at the sale.
The bidding kicked off at €100,000 from a bid given by Hamish Macauley and underbidders included Juliet Minton. The final bid came from the former Irish international footballer Kevin Doyle.
"What was there not to like about him?" said Doyle, who added: "He speaks for himself; he is a half-brother to Altior and by Camelot! I had seen a lot of him through the pre-sale publicity, but we liked him when we saw him. The plan will be for re-sale."
Doyle, who had 62 appearances for Ireland as a professional footballer and scored 14 goals for his country, added; "We like producing them, we enjoy seeing them grow."
Doyle owns Slaney River Stud and at last year's November NH Sale purchased the Grade 1 winning mare Augusta Kate for €85,000. She produced a Champs Elysees filly foal in April.
Paddy Behan Jnr, breeder of the Camelot colt, was understandably thrilled with the price.
"We are over the moon," he smiled. "We just wanted to get him sold and go to a good farm and he is going to a great place."
The Getaway colt from Yellowford Farm, and the first foal out of Dreambaby, sold for €95,000 and was bought by Timmy Hyde signing for Summerhill (Lot 593).
Dreambaby, a dual winner and bred by Pat Tobin, is a Yeats half-sister to the talented Grade 1-winning pair of Rhinestone Cowboy and Wichita Lineman.
"I bought her dam Monumental Gesture and I bred Wichita Lineman," said Tobin the breeder. "I also bred Millys Gesture, who is now the dam of Coney Island. It has been a wonderful family."
Purchaser Timmy Hyde said: "It is a wonderful pedigree, he is a very good-looking horse and a great mover. We have not had anything from this family before. He will be for resale."
The Flemensfirth full sister to the Grade 1 Champion Bumper winner Tornado Flyer, a recent winner of a Beginners' Chase, was bought by Rathmore Stud for €88,000 (Lot 612). It is the best price given for a filly foal at the November NH Sale since 2007.
The filly is out of Mucho Macabi, a half-sister to the brilliant record-breaking Hurricane Fly, the winner of 26 races, 22 of which came at Grade 1 level.
"She is a beautiful filly with a great action. She is a full sister to a talented horse and has the wonderful pedigree of Hurricane Fly. She is a long-term broodmare prospect," said Peter Molony of his fifth purchase so far this week.
Compared with the same day's figures from 2018, the average increased by 1% to €22,023, the median was unchanged at €18,000, while the aggregate of €4,470,600 was up 4%. The clearance rate rose three points to 79%.
Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale continues tomorrow, Wednesday 13 November starting at 10am.