Record Figures Across the Board at Breeze Up Sale

Records were smashed at the one-day Tattersalls Ireland Breeze Up Sale, which posted best-ever figures for turnover, average and median, and a superb clearance rate of 87 per cent — the best achieved at any breeze-up sale this year.

Domestic buyers, along with purchasers from Europe, America and the Far East, were all in attendance, and the vibrant atmosphere and strong demand at every level took the sale to new heights, ensuring that once again it is the most successful breeze-up sale.

Nine horses sold for €200,000 or more, a sale record, there was a record number making €300,000 or more, while 31 fetched six-figure sums, matching the 2025 total.

Turnover concluded at a record €12,066,500, an increase of four per cent, while the record median of €42,000 represented an astonishing 31 per cent increase on last year. The average broke new ground, too – at €62,198 and it is the first time it has exceeded €60,000.

Leading purchaser was Blandford Bloodstock with five horses bought for a spend of €1,065,000, while Tally-Ho Stud finished the day as the session’s leading consignor with sales totaling €1,106,000.

A filly and a colt by leading second-season sires Starman and St Mark’s Basilica shared top-lot honours at €360,000.

There was strong demand right around the ring for the striking grey Tally-Ho Stud homebred daughter of Starman (Lot 203), but the bidding developed into a straight duel between Mark McStay of Avenue Bloodstock and successful buyer Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock.

“It slightly surprised me that we were pushed that far, but she is the one filly who really got my imagination going,” said Boman. “Certain horses really capture your attention, and she was one of them from the moment I saw her in the pre-breeze.

“She is a lovely filly — hard to miss because of her colour and those lovely big ears. She is a quality filly, has a massive stride, comes from great vendors and breeders, Starman is going from strength to strength and the Tally-Ho stallion machine is flying. Her owner is still to be decided, but Joseph O’Brien will train her.”

Discussing her future racing plans, Boman added: “She is not just a 5f filly; her stride length is very good, she sustained her gallop and saw it out strongly and I think she will stay 7f.”

The colt by St Mark’s Basilica (Lot 234) was bought by Saudi Arabian buyer Abdul Rahman Saeed Al Sayed, a first purchase for connections at a Tattersalls Ireland sale.

“We liked his breeze, his pedigree is good, he is very good-looking horse,” said the purchaser. “We will discuss with the new owner, but we might leave him in England to be trained, and we have many friends in Newmarket to choose from!”

The colt’s dam is a half-sister to the Group 3 winner One Voice, and he was sold by Rockfield Farm.

“We had him to breeze, and he has been a very straightforward horse all the way through,” reported consignor Jason Titley. “He is a lovely big horse with a great stride and attitude. The sire is going well and the colt’s brother Respond won at Chester earlier this month so all came together well.”

It was a good day for Rockfield Farm and who also sold a Starman colt (Lot 89) for €200,000 to Stephen Hillen.

Bloodstock agent Anthony Stroud had to go to €325,000 to see off Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland for the Starspangledbanner (Lot 212) colt from Ballynure Park Stud.

“He was very wisely bought as a yearling,” said Stroud. “The colt has done very well, he did a very good breeze and impressed us, and we are very happy to have him. His owner and trainer are to be decided.”

The March-born colt is a half-brother to the Listed-placed Baraniya (Iffraaj), and the pair are out of the two-year-old winner and three-year-old Group 3-placed Shamardal mare Balansiya.

Of early racecourse results from this year’s breeze-up season, Stroud added: “I think we have bought some very nice horses. We have run two so far – one won and one finished second.”

He added: “Of all the two-year-old sales I have been to this season, I think here has been the strongest for the middle market and there is a depth, Tattersalls Ireland and ITM have done a very good job of getting people in.”

Consignor Jerry Horan of Ballynure Park said: “This colt had a lot of fans in fairness but, when they’re at that level, you’re never quite sure where they’re going to land. It’s a rollercoaster following the bidding, you’re on a different planet.

“He was a good scopey horse as a yearling – I just like the sire and the pedigree so I said I’d take a chance on him. He’s found everything very easy all year and I’m delighted it’s all come together.”

A colt by champion sire Night Of Thunder (Lot 218) and consigned by Grangeclare was bought by trainer Adrian Keatley and Dan Hussey for €300,000.

Lot 218: Night Of Thunder (IRE) / Birdie Num Num (GB)

Keatley said of his purchase: “He is a beautiful horse, he is a proper horse for the backend, the sire is unbelievable. We have not had any by Night Of Thunder before, but we are very glad to get him!”

James Ryan of Hill of Allen Stud paid the same price for a colt by Starfield Stud’s first-season sire Dubawi Legend (Lot 224).

“He did a lovely breeze, comes from very good consignors,” said the purchaser. “We will take him home and take it nice and slow and see how we go. We will assess him and then make a plan about a trainer. When they breeze as well as that then you have to pay, but hopefully he will be on the racecourse soon.”

Ryan added: “Dubawi has done very well as a sire of sires and, hopefully, Dubawi Legend will be another one.”

The colt was sold by Tally-Ho Stud, who had pinhooked him for just €23,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale.

Commenting on the success of the sale, Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins said:

“We were cautiously optimistic heading into today’s sale given the results at previous breeze-up sales, but we have far exceeded our expectations. We have witnessed a remarkable days trade, and this is showcased in the final figures from the sale.

“The clearance rate of 88 per cent makes it the best performing breeze-up sale this year. Turnover across the day has surpassed €12 million for the first time, and the marked increase in the average and median demonstrate just how far this sale has come.

“We have welcomed buyers from all corners of the world, and the footfall witnessed today was phenomenal. From 8am this morning the sales complex was a hive of activity, and it came to a real crescendo as the evening progressed.

“I have to extend a huge thanks to our vendors for putting faith in this sale, and are now sending us top class juveniles. This in turn is attracting flat racing’s most powerful buyers, and we’ve illustrated again that once we get the horses, we will attract the buyers.

“I would like to extend my gratitude to Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, and Fairyhouse Racecourse for their contribution in making the sale the success it was.”