REMARKABLE SET OF RETURNS AT THE 2014 TATTERSALLS IRELAND AUGUST NH SALE

The strength in depth at all sectors produced not only a second-best aggregate ever for the August NH Sale of €4,767,000 – beaten only by 2006 when the sale was held over four days – but also an exceptional clearance rate of 78%.

The average price of €9,829 and the median of €6,000 are the best achieved by the sale since 2006 and 2007 respectively. A record-breaking 49 horses sold for €25,000 or more, considerably surpassing 2013’s figure of 21.

The top price of €80,000 for a store horse was given by Paul Nicholls and Ryan Mahon for a son of Milan and matches last year’s best price, while Back To Bracka topped the inaugural horses in training section selling for €50,000. The average price for the HIT session of €18,571 and median of €16,500 were very encouraging figures and the support received for the session by both vendors and purchasers has provided a strong platform to be built on next year.

At the conclusion of the outstanding renewal of the August Sale on Thursday afternoon, Managing Director Roger Casey said;

“After the ferocious level of trade witnessed at this year’s flagship Derby Sale we were confident that the insatiable demand for stores would continue at this weeks’ August Sale and this has certainly been borne out by the results in the sales ring over the past three days. The existing level of demand and buoyancy in the NH market was reflected in the second highest turnover in the history of this sale, the highest median since 2007 of €6,000, the highest average since 2006 of €9,829 and the highest clearance rate since 2000 of 78% with trade on Wednesday achieving a clearance rate of 86% which is the highest on record for the August Sale. The newly introduced Horses in Training category on Tuesday produced an encouraging start for this new section with a top price of €50,000, an average of €18,571 and a 61% clearance rate with a significant number of the HIT lots sold going in to training in the UK and we can look forward with confidence to building on this section further next year.

We would like to thank our ever supportive vendors and the significant bench of domestic and UK purchasers that were here this week, many returning from the Derby Sale, with UK trade again accounting for more than 30% of the overall turnover this week. The €100,000 George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper also continues to be a big incentive for trainers to buy at this Sale and indeed this year’s winner Moon Racer, was a graduate of last year’s August Sale when purchased for only €5,000. Following the success of both the 2014 Derby and August Sales we now look forward with optimism to our November National Sale where demand for places is already at an all time high and this sale will again commence with the 2014 NH Yearling Show on Sunday November 9th’.

Today’s trade, while at a lower level than Days 1 and 2, saw Welsh trainer Peter Bowen take his purchases this week to six when going to €40,000 for a quality Oscar gelding from Milltown Park Stud.

Another five horses fetched over €20,000, including a Stowaway gelding bought by trainer Denis Murphy for €25,000. The good-walking three-year-old is out of an own-sister to the Grade 2-winning racemare Dyrick Daybreak and has a point-to-point race on his future agenda.

Tattersalls Ireland next Sale, the September Yearling Sale will take place on the 23-25 September. Catalogues are now available.