Strong trade continues at the November NH Sale
The strong trade seen all week at the November National Hunt Sale continued through to the third foal session, and it was regular Tattersalls Ireland buyer Lennie Walker who led proceedings when outbidding owner John Nallen of "Minella" fame to buy the session-topping Flemensfirth colt (Lot 896) from consignor Ballincurrig House Stud.
Walker sealed the deal for the son of Morning Supreme, a Listed winning Supreme Leader mare for €88,000.
"He will come back to the Derby Sale, I like trading them and let's hope he is another Captain Chris," said Walker.
Captain Chris was bought here as a foal by Walker for €66,000 and sold at the Derby Sale for €250,000. He went on to be rated 169, win three Grade 1 races and £407,713 in earnings.
Yellowford Farm sold the second highest-priced lot through day 3 and filled the same spot on day 4 when their colt, also by champion National Hunt sire Flemensfirth, fetched €85,000 bought by pin-hooker Adrian Costello of Park Farm (Lot 782).
"He is by Flemensfirth, out of a Milan mare, with Presenting in the third dam," said Costello of his seventh purchase this week. "He is a gorgeous horse and foals such as him are very hard to see, let alone get. He'll be back here as a three-year-old."
Grange Hill Stud's prolific winning family of Oscar Whisky once again delivered. Their Walk In The Park colt out of Poppy Baloo, an own sister to the dual Grade 1 winner was bought by Timmy Hillman for €72,000 (Lot 787).
The pedigree has been long nurtured by Grange Hill Stud as breeder Stephanie Hanly exclaimed: "I've had the pedigree further back than what's on this page! It has just been a wonderful pedigree for us."
Son Mark Hanly added: "It is a great result and he is a gorgeous individual. We sent Poppy Baloo to Walk In The Park because he has been such a good sire. We have a two-year-old full-sister and we hope to bring her to the Derby Sale."
The day concluded with an aggregate of €3,477,850, a median price of €16,000 and an average price of €18,499. The clearance, comparable to 2018, finished on 72%.
Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale concludes tomorrow, Thursday 14 November starting at 10am with the sale of foals followed by broodmares.