Springhill Stud's Dispersal ensures a Lasting Legacy

The Tattersalls Ireland November NH Sale began today with a 36-lot dispersal sale from Springhill Stud, stock sold by Breda Lennon, widow of the late Kieran Lennon.

Before selling began Tattersalls Ireland’s CEO Simon Kerins gave some time to recall a consummate horseman and a true gentleman, highly regarded in the sports horse world and whose ability transcended to the racing sector – the Grade 1 winner Banbridge and Grade 2 Knappers Hill two highlights of his thoroughbred career. 

And just ten minutes before the Springhill stock went through the ring, Knappers Hill, pinhooked by Kieran at the Tattersalls Ireland November NH Foal Sale for €20,000 and resold as a store for €155,000, paid Lennon the ultimate compliment when winning the Grade 2 Rising Stars Chase at Wincanton. 

The dispersal’s best was saved to nearly last with the sale of the two-year-old Getaway gelding (Lot 35) out of Morning Run (King’s Theatre). He was bought by owner David L’Estrange for €75,000 having been pinhooked by Lennon for €28,000 at the November NH Sale in 2021.

“He looks a long-term project, he is a big horse!” said L’Estrange. “He looks all over a chaser and might make up into a point-to-pointer to sell on or I might keep him to race. He will go to Cleaboy Stud from here.”

L’Estrange, this time signing under the Cleaboy Stud banner, also went to €62,000 for the 2021-born Capri gelding (Lot 22) out of the Grade 3-winning chase mare Shivermetimber (Arctic Lord), the dam of three black-type winners. He had been pinhooked as a foal here at the November NH Sale by Lennon for €31,000.

"He will go and do a bit of pre-training, he will then get a summer break, probably a bit more pre-training and then go into training at Easter, he is a project,” said the new owner.

The €40,000 purchase of Lot 3, a yearling by Crystal Ocean out of Siberian Vixen (Flemensfirth), a half-sister to the Grade 3 Cork Grand National winner Mattock Ranger, was an emotional one for Ian Ferguson.

"Kieran was a good friend and he was very lucky for me, I bought Banbridge from him,” he said. “I like this yearling – he has been bought as a racing prospect for a client. He is coming home to me now and he will stay there until he is broken in. I am a fan of Crystal Ocean and I like the Flemensfirth mare."

He added: "Kieran always bought a nice foal and he could go out there blindfolded and buy a horse; he had so many nice ones through his hands."

An emotional Breda Lennon, who was in the sale ring to watch the dispersal, said: “I would just like to thank Marie Harding and Glen Stables, they have done a fantastic job. Also, Tom and Siobhan Meagher of Monanore Stables and JP King – they have been my stalwarts.”