Let's Dance sells for €200,000 to complete an outstanding November NH Sale

The strong trade seen throughout the week at the four-day foal sale continued apace into today's one-day mares session of the November NH Sale, the competitive bidding producing a record-breaking average of €23,923 (+55%) and a median of €13,000 (+100%), huge gains on 2017's renewal. The turnover increased from last year's €786,900 to €1,004,750 (+27%).

The top lot of the session Let's Dance became the highest-priced mare sold at the November NH Sale since 2007 when fetching €200,000. Katie Rudd was in charge of bidding and was acting on behalf of Bertrand le Meteyer's BLM Bloodstock."She is going to France," said Rudd. "She was a good racemare, has a lovely French pedigree, is by a good sire in Poliglote and is a maiden mare."

From the always-popular Closutton draft, Let's Dance (Lot 1359) was a dual Grade 2 winner for trainer Willie Mullins and a runner-up in the Champion 4yo Hurdle (G1) and the Fairyhouse Mares' Novice Hurdle (G1).

She is out of the French Listed, Grade 2-placed mare Baraka Du Berlais (Bonnet Rouge) and it is the further family of Gitane Du Berlais, winner of the Scilly Isles Novice Chase (G1). 

Former Republic of Ireland international footballer Kevin Doyle went to €85,000 for the Grade 1 winner and multiple Grade 1-placed Augusta Kate (Lot 1358), who ran in the colours of Lee Westwood's The Masters syndicate, a daughter of Yeats and out of the Grade 1 mare Feathered Leader.Doyle, who plays for Colorado Rapids, will be sending the mare, who is carrying a May cover to Champs Elysees, to his father Paddy's Slaney River Stud.

"She is a lovely mare with good form and a great page, we will be selling her progeny," added Doyle, who was sat with his father Paddy and bloodstock consignor Peter Nolan.

Herve Bunel, underbidder on today's top lot, had the final bid when buying the Martaline mare Laskaline (Lot 1391) for €70,000 from Ridge Manor Stud.She is a Grade 3 and Listed winner in France and has had three foals by Mutathir, Authorized and Kapgarde. The oldest named Alaskan Boy is a three-year-old and has already been placed over fences in France. 

Two further mares fetched over €60,000: the Grade 1-placed Karalee (Lot 1364), also from the Closutton draft, made €65,000 and was purchased by Rudd on behalf of NBB Racing, while Treasa O'Keeffe went to €60,000 for the wildcard entry Sizing Stephanie (Lot 1367A) sold by Rahinston Stud.

The mare will be heading to Roland Crellin's Brook Farm at Penhow, near Newport in Wales. Crellin's significant claim to fame is as the breeder of the star chaser Cue Card.

"She is a young mare and we actually saw her at the Derby Sale and loved her - let's hope she is lucky, " said O'Keeffe.

The Beneficial mare is a daughter of the top class racemare and producer Spirit Leader, and is a half-sister to black-type winners Prince Of Scars and Folsom Blue. It is also the family of That's My Man, Crocodiles Rock and The Game Changer.

At the conclusion of the 2018 Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale, Tattersalls Ireland CEO Matt Mitchell commented;

"This week's sale has witnessed excellent trade with outstanding results throughout the whole week. The yearling section on Sunday witnessed a top price of €42,000 and following on from this, there was the four-day foal sale, where the highest average in the sales history for this section was achieved but more notably, there was consistent demand for the better foals producing an increased aggregate of €11,201,200, a median of €11,500, an average of €17,206 and the best price achieved for a foal since 2015 of €92,000. The strong demand for foals reinforces the strength of the National Hunt market following on from the superb results witnessed at this summer's May Store Sale and Derby Sale. However, it was worth noting that whilst it is very competitive in the middle and top end of the market there is no appetite for individuals that fall below that level as reflected in the reduction in the clearance rate.

"Graduates continue to form the best promotion for this sale and both Native River and Sizing John, the last two years Gold Cup winners were both sold at the November NH Sale and reinforce the view that this sale prevails as the leading choice to source National Hunt stock. It was immensely satisfying to see so many UK buyers in addition to our loyal Irish buyers along with some new faces throughout the week. We are delighted for our loyal vendors, who have sent us their best National Hunt stock and have been duly rewarded.  

"We would like to extend a thank you to everyone who has contributed to a successful 2018 at Tattersalls Ireland, and wish all our purchasers success on the track.  We now turn our efforts towards the February NH Sale on 29 - 30 January 2019."