Electric Trade Leads To Record Derby Sale

A record price of €285,000 for a Store sold anywhere in Ireland, combined with a record number of 38 lots, sold for over €100,000 and above, were among the highlights at this year’s Derby Sale. The final figures also showcase that four made over €200,000, the quartet achieving the distinction of being the highest priced three-year-old Stores sold in a sale ring in 2025.

The sale also recorded its highest turnover since 2022, with an increase of 25 per cent on 2024’s aggregate, while today’s trade secured honours by producing the best-ever turnover for a single session at the Derby Sale, topping €10 million for the first time.

The attractive Walk In The Park gelding out of Posh Trish (Lot 338) was widely expected to put his name in lights as the 2025 sale topper, and the Ballyreddin Stud and Bushertown-consigned three-year-old did not let the sale forecasters down.

Those involved in the bidding for the first foal out of the Listed-winning Stowaway mare included trainer Gordon Elliott and Megan Nicholls, but when the handsome bay was led out of the ring with his €285,000 sales tag as the most expensive National Hunt Store horse sold in the sale ring this year, he was heading for a new stable with Dan Skelton Racing.

“He has incredible movement, he has good size, and has everything we want,” enthused Skelton. “He is a proper athlete, comes from a good hotel, he is out of a great mare and by the right sire. We thought he’d make €250,000, and then it was just a few arm wrestles after. He deserves to be a lot of money because he is a beauty – he is the most expensive Store we have ever bought!”

Of ownership plans, he outlined: “He is for some fantastic American ladies, Myrteel Ward and Margaret Duprey, who have supported us for some time – this is a definite step up for them, and for all of us!”

It has been a fabulous Derby Sale for consignor Ballyreddin Stud and Bushertown, the duo also selling yesterday’s top priced two-year-old, the filly by Ectot (Lot 216), prepped on behalf of Louis Vambeck who made €100,000 and was also bought by Skelton and Mahon.

“I will be watching the form of the yard closely!” laughed Dwan, adding: “This horse came to us to prep and has been a star. He is very straightforward and is an intelligent horse. He never missed a beat and, though he has been busy over the four days here, it has not affected him one bit.”

The gelding was bought as a foal by Joey Logan at the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale from breeder Oliver Loughlin for €85,000.

“He was a beautiful foal and he has just been a gentleman,” said Logan. “He grew into himself and obviously the stallion has done very well this year, the dam was a very good racemare and I am delighted Dan Skelton bought him.”

Agent Tom Malone, buying with trainer Gavin Cromwell and on behalf of owner Owen Daley, went to €260,000 for Lot 370, a filly by Tunis named Moscovite and sold by Moanmore Stables, who enjoyed a fine pinhook return having bought her just last year for €43,000.

The filly is a half-sister to four winners in France and her Network dam Russie is a half-sister to Natal, who won 11 races, graded races over hurdles and fences, and was also placed in the two-mile Champion Chase (G1) at Punchestown.

“Owen was looking for a lovely horse and I said that this filly was a standout, she is a very smart,” said Malone. “I have ticked the box for the MSL Mercedes-Benz Sale Bumper, as I have done with all the horses I have bought over the two days, including those going to England – it is small amount of money for a valuable race.”

The athletic Blue Bresil half-brother (Lot 432) to this year’s Grade 1 Scilly Isle Novices’ Chase winner Handstands, a graduate of the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale 2023, was bought by Gordon Elliott for €235,000.

“He is a lovely athletic horse, one we have been waiting for all week,” said Elliott of the Glenvale Stud-consigned gelding, who was pinhooked at the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale for €70,000. “We will get him home now and broken in. His half-brother, Handstands, is very talented.”

The half-siblings hail from the talented further family that features black-type winners Be My Belle, Snake Eyes, Boreen Belle, Rose Of Inchiquin, Empire Of Dirt, Monalee and Monty’s Star.

The fourth lot to sell for over €200,000 was another gelding by the sale’s leading sire Walk In The Park – Aiden Murphy going to €210,000 for the Glenvale Stud-consigned three-year-old gelding out of the unraced Presenting mare La Bella Roma, a half-sister to the Listed bumper winner Vegas Blue (Lot 239). It is the family of the 11-time winner Bellshill, whose victories included the Punchestown Champion Bumper (G1), two Grade 1 novice hurdles, and the Punchestown Gold Cup (G1) and the Irish Gold Cup (G1).

“For me, this is the nicest Walk In The Park at the sale,” said Murphy, adding: “I loved him, he is for Olly [Murphy] and for a new partnership in the yard – existing owners who have got together to increase their firepower.”

The final purchaser table featured some of National Hunt racing’s most high profile trainers, with Willie Mullins / Harold Kirk , Olly / Aiden Murphy, Dan Skelton / Ryan Mahon, Gordon Elliott and O’Neill Racing all featuring strongly over the course of the two days.

The sale’s leading buyer Monbeg Stables, a position held since 2018, purchased 27 horses for an outlay of €1,407,000, with the team spending €100,000 twice – on Day 1 going to the six-figure sum for the Nathaniel gelding from leading consignor Castledillon Stud (Lot 65) and in the second session for Lot 386 – a Walk In The Park gelding out of the Listed-winning hurdler She Ranks Me from the family of Cooldine.

Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins commented:

“The Derby Sale continues to deliver – not just in headline prices, but in real depth of trade. This week saw the highest-priced Store sold this year, and across every key metric the sale has significantly surpassed last year’s strong figures. A record breaking 38 lots sold for €100,000 or more, while today’s session saw us exceed the €10 million mark for the first time. The confidence shown by leading buyers, both in Ireland and in the UK, is a direct reflection of the quality on offer.

“The 14 Grade 1 winners in the 2024/25 season tell their own story. That level of success isn’t a coincidence, and it’s what brings the best agents, owners, and trainers back to Fairyhouse year after year.

“The Irish point-to-point community were out in force once again, and that cohort of the industry make sure that the Irish point-to-point field remains a trusted nursery and source of racecourse talent.

“We welcomed MSL Mercedes-Benz as our partner for the first time, and their presence has helped to elevate the sale. All horses catalogued and offered at the Derby Sale are eligible for the new €100,000 Tattersalls Ireland MSL Mercedes-Benz Sales Bumper.

“My thanks also to Irish Thoroughbred Marketing – their support plays an important part in strengthening the UK buying bench and complementing our own marketing teams’ efforts.”

Derby Sale Part II will begin at 10:30am tomorrow.