Son of Milan tops Day 2 of the August NH Sale

Day 2 of the Tattersalls Ireland August NH Sale saw demand for choice lots continue, with a healthy clearance rate of 73% (+4% on last year's Day 2). It was a Milan half-brother to the talented four-time Grade 1 winner and Gold Cup runner-up Might Bite (Lot 513) who topped proceedings when selling for €52,000 to trainer Pat Flynn.

"He's a lovely horse with a very good pedigree," said Flynn of the Abbeyleix Stud-offered gelding, whose full-brother Beat That is a dual Grade 1-winning novice hurdler. "We've had three winners at Cheltenham and we want to get back there again. We're looking to improve the quality of horse at home and hope we can move forward."
 
"You can't beat pedigree and this horse has been bought on spec. We'll get him home and break him in and see where we are."
 
The gelding was sold as a foal by The Premier Consignment to Brian Delahunt for €21,000 at the 2016 November NH Sale. At that point Might Bite had won two novice hurdles, one handicap hurdle and had just run once over fences.  

Another sibling to a Cheltenham Festival winner that caught buyers' attention, this time a Court Cave full-brother to Willoughby Court (Lot 384), winner of the 2017 Bingham Novices Hurdle (G1). His younger brother, offered by Boardsmill Stud, fetched €45,000 bought by agent Gerry Hogan.

"This is a lovely type, with a good pedigree," said Hogan of the offered gelding. "He has been bought for Barry Connell and he is a big fan of the sire - he has Speaker Connolly by Court Cave who finished third in a good chase at Leopardstown in February."

"I love buying horses who are out of mares who have produced a good horse," said agent Matt Coleman after going to €44,000 for the Ask half-brother to Ministerforsport (Lot 517), the Grade 2 winner of the Easter Handicap Hurdle at Cork.

"This is a really athletic, good-walking and good-looking type," added Coleman. "He has a good back pedigree that stretches to Mackeson Gold Cup winner Another Coral. He is an old-fashioned type really and will need some time, but he is a fine sort and has been bought to race in England."

The session produced an aggregate of €1,366,600, an average price of €7,427 and a median of €5,350 for 184 horses sold.
 
The August NH Sale concludes tomorrow, Thursday 15 August at 10.00am.