Top Lot Lady Blackmore Purchased By Bowe And Kenny

The already-named Lady Blackmore, a three-year-old daughter of the progressive Haras de la Hetraie-based sire Bathyrhon, was the top-priced lot at the Tattersalls Ireland May Store Sale, purchased by Milestone Bloodstock and James Kenny for €45,000 as a point-to-point prospect.

"We have bought her with Colin Bowe," said Kenny. "I love her, she has a very good temperament, has a lovely way of going, walks well and a lovely presence. Her stallion has not done anything wrong, either. She will go to Colin's and, hopefully, we will see her out in the point-to-point field."

Sold by Galbertstown Stables, Lady Blackmore is out of the five-time winner Pennsylvanie (Dadarissime). She is a sister to the dam of Jango Baie (Tiger Groom), winner of last December’s Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle and a Tattersalls Ireland May Store Sale and Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale graduate.

Sean Doyle of Monbeg Stables, the session’s leading buyer with 15 horses purchased, signed for the Lakefield Farm-offered Jack Hobbs gelding out of the winning bumper mare Penelope Pips (Presenting) at €42,000 (Lot 187).

Doyle reported: "He is a big strong horse, and very good mover, I looked at him three times today and he stood out every time I saw him, I am delighted to have him on the team.

“He comes from a good farm and we have had luck with them before. This is the first by the sire we have had, and I love to buy horses out of Presenting mares."

Lakefield Farm’s John Bleahen added: "I paid €10,500 for the horse as a foal and he was the same horse then as he is today – he just walks. I am a fan of Jack Hobbs, but there is a lot of Presenting in this horse from the mare – she won at four and that does it for me.

“I had some shrewd men on him with Warren Ewing, Sean Doyle and Mick Goff; they have been lucky with our horses in the past and this job is all about developing repeat business.”

Whatever one Bleahen brother can do, the other can match and the Affinisea three-year-old gelding (Lot 190) from Niall Bleahen's Liss House consignment was bought by the Crawford Brothers for €40,000.

Liss House was the leading consignor at last year's sale and the farm has repeated the feat again this year. Bleahen said: "I wanted to bring some good horses to the sale again. I thought this horse deserved that price and it was good to see him get over the line. He is a very nice type and has a very good attitude – I think he'd make up into a four-year-old.

"He has gone to a good customer, and I recommended this horse both to the Crawfords and to underbidder Sean Doyle, but the horse explained himself anyway,” said Bleahen of the gelding pinhooked for €11,000 as a foal at the Tattersalls Ireland November NH Sale from Whytemount Stud.

Trainer Stuart Crawford said of his new purchase: "We will get him home, get him broken in. He might be a bit more of a bumper horse, he is a nice type. There have been two of three Affiniseas in today and they have all been very athletic, nice horses. We have had a few in the past and they have been tight, hardy horses.”

Commenting on the results of the May Store Sale, Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins said:

“The trade today has indeed been selective, consistent with what we witnessed at the earlier Store sale this month. However, it was pleasing to see an improvement in our clearance rate compared to last year's sale. Whilst the market has been challenging at this level there has been a real sense of pragmatism by the vendors."

“We're hugely appreciative of the support from both vendors and purchasers this week and the later date in the calendar was well-received by both. This Sale has produced some outstanding winners on the track and in the point-to-point sphere, and I wish everyone the best of luck with their purchases.

"Looking ahead, Ireland’s Premier Store Sale will take place on the 26th and 27th June. I am confident that we have attracted the cream of Store horses available for sale across Ireland and the UK. It being the 50th Derby Sale, and the strength of the catalogue should lead to a very competitive trade next month. We eagerly anticipate welcoming back our valued clients and showcasing top-quality horses."

All horses catalogued for the May Store Sale are eligible for the €100,000 Tattersalls Ireland George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper 2025.