Lively start to July Store Sale

Part 1 of the Tattersalls Ireland July Store Sale produced a lively one-day session and saw point-to-pointer trainers, UK and Irish trainers, as well as racehorse owners all making the most of their penultimate opportunity to buy a National Hunt Store horse in 2023.

It was a two-way tie at €55,000 for the day’s top honours between a son of the late sire Shantou (Lot 77), the three-year-old gelding bought by Hamish Macauley and Ballycrystal Stables, and a gelding by Noroit. He is named Kow Boy Sivola (Lot 236), was consigned by Liss House and was bought by trainer John McConnell.

Macauley admitted that he and Matthew Flynn O'Connor of Ballycrystal Stables are hoping that they can do another “Stay Away Fay”, referencing the son of Shantou whom they purchased at the Derby Sale and O’Connor trained to win a point-to-point in December 2021.

Subsequently sold for £305,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale, the gelding went on to succeed at the very top with victory in this spring’s Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

"We saw this horse yesterday," reported Macauley of the Railstown Stud-offered son of The Princetonian (Oscar), an own-sister to the Champion Hurdle (G1) winner Rock On Ruby. “We were not going home without him. He is by Shantou out of an Oscar mare and from a fine family – let's hope we can do the same again!"

McConnell also has big plans for Kow Boy Sivola, a full-brother to the dual Game Spirit Chase (G2) winner and Queen Mother Champion Chase (G1) runner-up Funambule Sivola.

"He is not overly big, but he is athletic, a great mover and is a full-brother to a good horse," said McConnell. "He is from a very good farm and came highly recommended, the vendor has promised me that he is one for the €100,000 George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper!

"Being a bit smaller does not concern me – I would be just as happy to win the Champion Hurdle as the Gold Cup! I don't have an owner yet – he is for sale."

Wildcard catalogue entries filled the next two spots with Lot 66A, the named gelding Krishna Bellevue (Buck’s Boum), sold by Brown Island Stables to David Phelan for €54,000.

"He is for a client as a racing prospect, will be staying in Ireland and a trainer has not been decided yet," said Phelan. "He is a fine horse and Alan King had a good one from the family – Oh Crick who was a talented, hardy horse and a two-time Grade 3 winner.”

Consignor Johnny Collins of Brown Island Stables said: "I bought him as a foal in France. He was due to go to an earlier store sale but pulled a muscle. I entered him here as soon as I knew that all was back on track."

A son of the Glenview Stud-based sire Shirocco (Lot 220A) was bought by trainer Stuart Crawford as a trading prospect – sold by Galbertstown Stables the gelding, who is the second foal out of the winning mare Kayf Hampshire (Kayf Tara), fetched €50,000.

"I thought he was the best of the day,” enthused Crawford. "I have been waiting on him all day and I had to go a bit further than I wanted to, but it is hard to buy a bit of quality without spending a bit of money.”

Of plans he outlined: "Hopefully, I will have a big decision to make and he will show me enough that I will have to decide between pointing or going down the bumper route. He will be trained to sell."

“I have seen some horses for Part 2 tomorrow and I like what I have seen, hopefully will do a bit of business tomorrow, too.”

Trade for Part 1 of the July Store Sale produced a turnover of €2,610,300, an average price of €13,595 and a median of €11,000.