UNRIVALLED QUALITY ON OFFER AT THE FEBRUARY NATIONAL HUNT SALE
GRADUATES TAKE THEIR CUE
The February Sale is a consistent source of top class National Hunt performers as once again proven by its graduates this winter. It’s leading graduate, Gold Cup hopeful CUE CARD, produced a career-best performance at Kempton on Boxing Day to take the Grade 1 King George VI Chase, the resurgent FLEMENSTAR won the Grade 1 Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown and the dual Grade 1 winning chaser ROAD TO RICHES will also be hoping to add the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup to his list of accolades this March. In addition, a winner of a Grade 3 Novice Hurdle last season, BLACK HERCULES added an impressive Listed Novice Chase victory at Warwick to his five previous victories and in turn securing his status as a leading hope for victory at the Festival in March.
CHELTENHAM CREDENTIALS
Cheltenham credentials once again feature highly in this year’s sale, headlined by Lot 260 Yellowford Stud’s Presenting weanling half-brother to the supremely talented Champion Hurdle and multiple Grade 1 winner BINOCULAR. The colt is one of an 11-strong draft from the farm, which also includes a colt by Milan who is the first foal out of a half-sister to JADANLI, winner of the Grade 1 Powers Gold Cup Chase.
There is also a Champion Hurdle winner in the pedigree in Lot 226, Mill Race Stables’ daughter of Jeremy. She is out of Wigwambrave (Lord Americo), a half-sister to the 15-time winner (10 at Grade 1 level) and Champion Hurdle star, BRAVE INCA. It is also the family of THE TULLOW TANK, MERRY GALE and RACING DEMON.
Lot 192 from Annaghroe Stables is a Shirocco colt who is out of half-sister to the three-time Grade 1 hurdle winner MACS JOY. Ashwood Stud offer an eye catching Arcadio colt (Lot 178) on behalf of his breeder Marilyn Syme, he is a half-brother to two high class horses in BRIGHT NEW DAWN and LYRICAL THEATRE.
Lots related to the very best chasers of recent years, include Lot 155, a Shantou colt out of a half-sister to the 14-time winner and Gold Cup hero DENMAN from Ballyhampshire Stud, also Lot 257 is a son of the popular Stowaway and out of a half-sister to Gold Cup winner IMPERIAL COMMANDER, while Gold Cup-winning form is also available in the pedigree of Lot 211 – by Presenting this colt is out of Tizzy Blue (Oscar) an own-sister to LORD WINDERMERE, the 2014 Gold Cup and 2013 RSA Chase winner. He is to be sold by Oliver Loughlin.
DEPTH OF QUALITY
Lot 37 from Copper Lodge Stud is an Imperial Monarch colt out of a half-sister to last season’s Grand National winner MANY CLOUDS, the stud also offerLot 228, a Mahler colt from the family of Grade 1 winners NATIVE UPMANSHIP, OSCAR ROCK and GILGAMBOA.
Boasting a Grade 2-winning full-brother is Limekiln Stud’s Oscar colt ( Lot 151)whose sibling GALLANT OSCAR is a graded winner over fences. The family is deeply talented and includes names such as THE LISTENER, OFFSHORE ACCOUNT, DISTANT THUNDER, FORK LIGHTNING and this January’s Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle hero YORKHILL.
Robin Des Champs has two eye-catching entries in the sale, Rathbarry Stud consign a colt ( Lot 85) out of a Presenting mare from the family of Cheltenham winner GLENS MELODY and Kenilworth House Stud offer a colt( Lot 236) out of Amber Light from their prolific EBONY JANE family.
There is one additional entry for the sale; it is a Yeats colt from Ballinamurragh Stables who is out of a half-sister to dual Grade 2 winner UIMHIRACEATHAIR and from the family of LISS A PAORAIGH and IRISH HUSAR. He will be offered as Lot 84A and can be viewed in Barn A Box 19, his pedigree is available online and will be available on the day throughout the sales complex.
WELL RELATED FILLIES
Well-related fillies include Lot 166, , a Presenting filly offered by perennial leading consignor Ballincurrig House Stud – she is out of a half-sister to BLACK JACK KETCHUM and APACHE JACK. Kenilworth House sends a Court Cave grand-daughter of the Irish Grand National winner EBONY JANE( Lot 42). By leading sire Kayf Tara, whose progeny enjoyed a successful Christmas period, is Clanville Stud’s daughter of the Grade 2 runner-up, R de Rien Sivola ( Lot 157).
The broodmare section includes Native Girl (Lot 295), a young Winged Love half-sister to the three-time Grade 1 hurdle winner GO NATIVE. She is to be consigned by Mount Brown Farm and is in-foal to Libertarian. The farm is also sending Going For Glory ( Lot 303) a Kayf Tara grand-daughter of a Listed-winning mare and related to the Grade 1 Lexus Chase winner and multiple graded race performer EXOTIC DANCER.
Lot 305 is Johnsalice, the dam of the 2015 Grade 1 Albert Bartlett winner MARTELLO TOWER (Milan), the mare carrying again to Milan. Due to follow her into the ring is Tokenella (Witness Box), a Listed runner-up and an own-sister to Grade 3-placed Special Token ( Lot 306).
The February National Hunt Sale catalogue is available on the Tattersalls Ireland website or by contacting the Tattersalls Ireland office at Fairyhouse.