Robust Trade At The November National Hunt Sale 2016

Valyssa Monterg (Lot 1394), a Grade 2-winning mare by Network and in-foal to Shantou, claimed top lot honours in the broodmare session held on the last day of the November National Hunt Sale. She was sold for €160,000, the second-highest price given for a mare at the November sale since 2007.

Offered by trainer Willie Mullins's Closutton Stables, she became subject of a head-to-head bidding battle between Michael Carty of Kilmoney Cottage Stud and eventual purchaser Colm Murphy's Tomgar Bloodstock.

Murphy also bought the preceding lot, Bayside Belle (Lot 1393) for €42,000.  She is an unraced mare by Old Vic and half-sister to four black-type siblings, including Pique Sous, an eight-time winner who finished third in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper Grade 1 and won a Grade 2 over hurdles.

"Both have been bought for a client," said Murphy. "Both have good pedigrees and Valyssa is a fabulous looking mare - she has a pedigree and did it on the track too."

Leading foal consignor Peter Nolan Bloodstock turned purchaser when buying the Goldford Stud-offered Prettyasapicture (Lot 1422), in-foal to Walk in the Park, for €56,000. She is a half and full-sister to the black-type quartet of Diamond Sal, Ring The Boss, Theatre Girl and Conflictofinterest.

"She is for a client in Wexford, they have mares but this is a big upgrade - they are looking to reduce the numbers and improve the quality. She is a lovely mare with a solid family. The Walk in the Park is a good covering, hopefully she'll be lucky," said Nolan.

The mares' session saw a 15% increase in the average to €16,729, a 25% rise in the median to €10,000 and a turnover of €786,250. Overall the six-day November National Hunt Sale produced a solid and satisfactory set of returns on a par with 2015. 

The average of €14,264 for the 844 horses sold was an increase of 3% on 2015, while the median of €10,500 was exactly equal to 2015. There was a slight fall in aggregate from €12,753,750 to €12,038,950, a reflection of this year's smaller catalogue. 

At the conclusion of the sale, Managing Director, Roger Casey said;

"The trade at the November National Hunt Sale this week, especially the significant foal section has been encouraging. It was extremely pleasing to observe growth in the key statistics for this category, a comparably robust clearance rate of 71% and 37 foals realising €40,000 or more. The foal trade is always referenced as an important indicator of the health of the national hunt industry and the results in the ring are positive in this context while also acknowledging that the market would still appear to have a finite appetite for the volumes of stock being offered at this stage. 

Whilst demand for the other categories of stock on offer was more discerning it was still pleasing to have three yearlings selling in excess of €50,000 and a broodmare selling for €160,000. We are ever grateful to our loyal vendors and purchasers who supported the sale. 

We now turn our attention to the 2017 February National Hunt Sale."