Derby Sale Graduates Dominate Christmas Grade 1 Racing

Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale graduates were the outstanding performers of the Christmas racing programme, landing three Grade 1’s victories and continuing to produce more Grade 1 winners than any other Store sale.

Those graduates that claimed top level prizes were ROMEO COOLIO, SKYLIGHT HUSTLE, AFFORDALE FURY, and FINAL DEMAND, while there was also performances of note from graduates in supporting races across the busy festive schedule.

The Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase returned to the Christmas schedule after a year’s absence, and Derby Sale graduate Romeo Coolio maintained his unbeaten record over fences and secured a third career Grade 1 in the process.

It was a brave effort from the Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old, who overhauled the runner-up inside the last 50 yards.

He is another Grade 1 winning graduate to have started his career between the flags. It was Monbeg Stables that purchased him for €92,000 at the 2022 Derby Sale from Clononeen Stud. After winning his four-year-old maiden on debut at Belclare, he emerged from the 2023 Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale as the top priced lot when purchased by Aidan O’Ryan on behalf of KTDA Racing for £420,000.

The Future Champions Novice Hurdle served up a dramatic conclusion with Derby Sale graduate Skylight Hustle providing trainer Gordon Elliott with another Grade 1 success and a third successive victory in the race.

The Robcour-owned five-year-old is a graduate of the 2023 Derby Sale where he was sold by Michael Fitzpatrick’s Kilminfoyle House Stud to Colin Bowe’s Milestone Bloodstock for €100,000.

He won on his debut in a four-year-old maiden at Umma House in October 2024, and was adding his name to the likes of Romeo Coolio, Appreciate It, The Tullow Tank and First Lieutenant all of whom are graduates of Ireland’s Premier Store Sale to have won the Grade 1 contest.

The success of Affordale Fury in the Grade 1 Savills Chase was hugely popular because it saw former Irish Champion National Hunt trainer Noel Meade with a high profile winner in a race that he had won four times previously.

The seven-year-old son of Affinisea is a Store sale graduate, having been purchased in 2021 from Ballynoe Castle Farm by Dreamers Bloodstock.

He won his four-year-old maiden on debut at Ballycahane for trainer Gary Murphy, and was subsequently sold to his current owner Phil Polly.

His career to date had featured two second placed efforts in Grade 1 company as a novice hurdler, but Sunday’s success was a career best from a still relatively lightly raced chaser.

The appearance of Derby Sale graduate Final Demand in the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick was eagerly anticipated, and the talented six-year-old son of Walk In The Park coasted home with eight lengths to spare. It was a third successive win in the Grade 1 contest for trainer Willie Mullins.

Described by winning rider Patrick Mullins as “an armchair ride”, he is likely to be seen next at the Dublin Racing Festival in February according to his part-owner Bryan Drew.

Final Demand is a graduate of the 2022 Derby Sale where he was sold by his breeder Ken Parkhill’s Castletown Quarry Stud to Matthew Flynn O’Connor and Joey Logan for €230,000.

He was a dual Grade 1 winning novice hurdler last season, but he appears to have the size, scope and talent to excel as a chaser and his future looks bright.

Elsewhere over the Christmas period, Derby Sale graduate Kazansky contributed to Gordon Elliott’s remarkable run of success when taking the Grade 2 feature race at Limerick on St Stephen’s Day.

The five-year-old son of Milan hails from a smart jumping family, being out of a full-sister to the Irish Grand National winner Thunder And Roses and the Kerry National winner Wrath Of Titans.

He won his maiden at Rathcannon in April this year for Sam Curling, who had previously purchased him from Jimmy and Brian Murphy’s Redpender Stud in 2023.

Willie Mullins opted to take Grade 1 winner Spindleberry to Doncaster for the Listed Mares’ Chase on Monday, and she proved too strong for her four rivals.

Owned by Fearghal and Bronagh Eastwood, the seven-year-old Store sale graduate is now unbeaten in five starts over fences, and will be a big player in the Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, should connections take that route with her.

She was purchased from Richard Busher by Banbridge based Mark O’Hare in May 2021, and was subsequently purchased by her current connections after winning her four-year-old maiden at Dromahane.

Interestingly, it was Mark O’Hare who purchased 13-time Grade 1 winner Honeysuckle at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale, and she also won her four-year-old maiden at Dromahane.

Lazare De Star looks another smart future prospect for Robcour and Gordon Elliott after effortlessly landing a four-year-old maiden hurdle. He’s a graduate of the 2024 Derby Sale and was purchased from Liss House by his current connections after finishing second on his sole start between the flags for Rob James. He looks a ready-made graded prospect, and has an exciting future ahead of him.

Finally, two graduates that impressed onlookers were The Mourne Rambler and Bentraghhill, both of whom made winning bumper debuts at Leopardstown.

The Mourne Rambler was purchased by Peter Nolan at the November National Hunt Sale and formed part of a memorable meeting for Noel Meade and owner Phil Polly, while Bentraghhill quickened impressively to come home with four-and-a-half lengths to spare in Sunday’s bumper.

He formed part of Caroline McCaldin’s Loughanmore Farms draft at the May Point-to-Point and Horses in Training Sale earlier this year, where Willie Mullins and Harold Kirk combined to purchase him for €150,000.

Inspections for the 2026 Derby Sale will be commencing over the coming weeks, and vendors are reminded that nominations can now be made online.