Derby Sale Quality Shines Through Between The Flags

Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale graduates dominated a busy weekend of point-to-point fixtures, landing the majority of four-year-old maidens across four meetings.

MONZON SPORT was a noteworthy winner of division one of the four-year-old maiden at Borris House as he provided Jet Bloodstock with their first winner since launching their new venture last year.

Trained by Pat Doyle, the son of Goliath Du Berlais was a €67,000 purchase from Peter Vaughan’s Moanmore Stables to Highflyer Bloodstock and Jet Bloodstock at last year’s Derby Sale.

Commenting afterwards Anthony Bromley said: “To be fair both Pat and Jack Doyle had been giving him a huge write-up to us over the last couple of weeks. Finny Maguire was very impressed with him as he still felt a bit of a raw baby. He is by probably Europe’s most exciting young National Hunt sire in Goliath Du Berlais, and he is a half-brother to last year’s French champion four-year-old chaser Leader Sport, so he is clearly a very exciting prospect. Our plan has always been to take the first winner to public auction and the next sale will be the Festival Sale at Cheltenham, so that’s where is he heading next.”

The second division of the four-year-old maiden at Borris House went to the Brian Lawless-trained BALLYCRYSTAL BOY.

It was double joy for the trainer who was also on-board the winner, and it was a milestone 100^th winner between the flags as a rider for the Wicklow native. He purchased the son of Crystal Ocean from Timmy Hillman’s Castledillon Stud.

Lawless has made an exceptional start to his training career, and Ballycrystal Boy was providing him with his third four-year-old winner this season. Among his earlier winners was COUNTY PROSPECT, purchased for €130,000 at the Derby Sale, and a runaway 12 length winner on his debut at Punchestown last month.

Donnchadh Doyle saddled his first four-year-old winner of the year with BLUE REBEL taking the four-year-old maiden at Farmacaffley.

The son of Blue Bresil is out of the dual Grade 3 winner Oscar Rebel, and is a half-brother to the black type mare Rebel Og. He was sold by Paddy McCarthy’s Meelin Stud last June.

The rescheduled Lisronagh fixture invariably throws up some above average sorts, and the four-year-old maidens were won by MILADY DU PLESSIS and SEANCHAI, both of whom were purchased at the Derby Sale last year.

Banbridge based Mark O’Hare looks to have unearthed another gem in MILADY DU PLESSIS, who came home with two-and-a-half lengths to spare in the four-year-old mares maiden.

O’Hare is best known for sourcing multiple Grade 1 Derby Sale winning mare Honeysuckle and Spindleberry, and the daughter of Jeu St Eloi was ridden with restraint by Declan Lavery, and was produced to lead after negotiating the final obstacle.

O’Hare is already comparing her favourably with the illustrious names he has put through his hands. He commented: “She is a beautiful filly. She’s always had a lovely, simple way about her. She is physically very strong, and at this point is as good as any of the mares I’ve had in the past.”

A son of Walk In The Park named SEANCHAI initiated a superb weekend for trainer Pat Doyle when taking the four-year-old geldings maiden at Lisronagh.

He was purchased from Michael Moore’s Ballincurrig House Stud by Aubrey McMahon and Carsena Bloodstock, and is out of a half-sister to the dual Grade 1 winner Simonsig.

The performance did not surprise connections, and Aubrey McMahon commented afterwards: “We expected him to do that. He was doing everything right at home, and we think a lot of him.”

Entries for the 2026 Derby Sale are currently being taken. Ireland’s Premier Store Sale year after year attracts National Hunt racing’s most powerful owners, trainers and agents, and continues to consistently produce Grade 1 winners.