Derry White – DAR Bloodstock takes the August NH Sale Q&A

How long are you consigning stores and how did you get into the industry?
This is my fourth year consigning stores. We always had horses at home here in Rathkeale. We were into hunting and showjumping, and when I finished up with school I rode out for plenty of local trainers. I always had an interest in sales, and went to work for John Bleahen at Lakefield Farm. I then started to buy a few of my own, and things got busier at home and here I am today. I learned a lot at Lakefield Farm, and it was a brilliant time working for John and Elaine. It was the equivalent of an apprenticeship, and you are learning from the best. The Bleahen’s have put plenty of top-class horses through their hands.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
I was told a long time ago that if you don’t get too excited on the good days, then you won’t be too disappointed on the bad days. The same man said you will get plenty of both in this game, so if you stay grounded you will be alright!

What do you enjoy most about consigning young National Hunt horses?
I like watching horses develop – from the time they come home from the sales as foals to getting back on the lorry and heading to the store sales. We all want to find the next star!

Where would you like to see yourself in 10 years’ time?
I’d like to be heading to the big sales with stronger drafts, and hopefully producing higher profile graduates. Having that association with good horses, and building your reputation as being a credible source of quality is important.

You have 12 lots catalogued in the August National Hunt Sale. What are they like as a draft?
I have two really nice horses that were entered in the Derby Sale but unfortunately they didn’t make it for various reasons. The extra four weeks have done them the world of good.

Lot 445 is a son of Ivanhowe called Napoleon Duplessis. He is a half-brother to Milady Du Plessis (pictured below) who I sold at the Derby Sale last year, and she made a winning debut for Mark O’Hare in February. Mark puts her in the same bracket as Honeysuckle and Spindleberry at that stage of her career. He’s a gorgeous looking chestnut horse. Hopefully, given the ability of his half-sister, people will be interested in him.

Lot 323 is a son of Beaumac de Houelle named Observatoire. He has a lot of size and presence about him. He looks a type that could go down the point-to-point route.

Lot 84 is a son of Poet’s Word and a half-brother to three individual winners, including Decision Time who won a bumper for trainer John Kiely. He missed his select sale engagement with a stone bruise, but I’m very happy with him.

I am very keen on Lot 80 whose out of an unraced half-sister to the Irish Grand National winner Shutthefrontdoor. His half-brother was a three-time winner for Hughie Morrison. He’s another with plenty size to him. He’s 16.2 and his sire Affinisea had a good year last season with Affordale Fury his flagship horse.

Lot 246 is a fabulous horse with a good page that includes the graded performers Rory O’Moore and Champagne James. His half-brother was placed on his debut between the flags during the spring.

Lot 222 is a nice son of Vadamos from a French family that includes some graded performers, while Lot 555 is a nice son of Jeu St Eloi named Nino de Loire.

What do you enjoy most about selling at Tattersalls Ireland?
Orla McKenna and her team make the job easy for me from the outset. Once we arrive on site at Fairyhouse it is an easy process. The company continues to attract the strongest National Hunt buyers, and I can’t ask anymore as a vendor. I’m getting quite a bit of repeat business now, and buyers that do well with your horses do tend to come back.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
My spare time is limited with a 10 month old daughter. I love watching Limerick play hurling which is a good past time at the moment. The current Limerick hurling team are phenomenal and they have given us some enjoyment. I think they will be around for a little while yet!

You’ve sold some very nice stores over the last couple of years. Tell me about some of them?
Top of the list is Milady Du Plessis who won her four-year-old maiden in February. She has been bought by Rich Ricci and is now in training with Willie Mullins. I sold a gorgeous Maxios to Tom Malone at last year’s Derby Sale and he is now in training with Paul Nicholls. Hopefully we’ll see him during the autumn. I sold a nice horse called Luxor Love in 2024, and he won a five-year-old maiden for John Staunton at Belharbour in February. He’s now in training with Henry de Bromhead.

Do you buy National Hunt foals later in the year?
We tend to buy foals at the November National Hunt Sale every year. I bought a couple of nice ones last year. I find the nice ones can be very hard to buy. We are trying to buy a foal that will be in demand in two-and-a-half year’s time at a Derby Sale.

What is your two-year-old crop like ahead of the 2027 store sales?
I have a nice bunch of two-year-olds. I have two nice horses by Maxios, Nirvana Du Berlais, Motivator, Silverwave, Roman Candle, and Vadamos. There is a nice mix of horses there. They are all out in the field at the moment, and we’ll take them in later in the autumn. Every year my aim is to increase the quality.

Give me a National Hunt horse to follow for the coming season?
An extremely biased answer but I’ll put up Milady Du Plessis. Hopefully we’ll see her win the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham next March!