Exceptional Quality Shines Through at November NH Foal Sale
The foal section of the November NH Sale 2023 concluded
today with a record-breaking nine foals sold over the four days for €80,000 or
more, while 41 fetched €50,000 and over equalling the previous best-ever
achieved in 2021.
This year’s top price of €100,000 matched last year’s
leading price with a colt by Walk In The Park from Oliver Loughlin taking
principal honours.
The four-day foal sale produced a turnover of €10,185,100, a
median price of €12,000 and an average of €17,900, the third-best ever average
achieved in the foal session at the November NH Sale. Of the 859 foals offered
569 changed hands at a clearance rate of 66 per cent.
The fourth day’s top price of €60,000 went to a son from the
second-crop of the three-time Group 1 winner Old Persian (Lot 954). Offered by
Ballincurrig House Stud, the colt was bought by Kevin Ross Bloodstock.
"We really wanted one by the sire," said Ross.
"We love the line, Old Persian is by Dubawi which we are keen on, and he
was a tough campaigner who won nine races around the world. This is a lovely
model, a good-walking type and his half-brother Slade Steel looked promising
when he won his maiden hurdle at Naas the other day. We had to push the boat
out, but he is a lovely type. He stays in Ireland and will be for resale."
The last day retained the theme seen over much of the week
becoming the 17th foal by Blue Bresil to sell for over €50,000 – Moanmore
Stables going to €55,000 for this Cloney Stud-consigned colt out of the Oscar
mare Oi Oi. She is a half-sister to the Grade 3 winners Alfie Sherrin,
Kimberlite Candy and Hawkes Point, and the Grade 2 runner-up Glenloe.
Peter Vaughan of Moanmore Stables said: "He will be for
resale, he has a very good pedigree and is a very good mover."
The last of the first-crop sire Santiago offering for this
week was sold for €28,000 and was bought by Eimear Fallon, with the underbidder
being Ian Ferguson (Lot 895).
The filly is out of the Alflora mare Floral Spinner, a
half-sister to Sam Spinner, winner of the Long Walk Hurdle (G1) and runner-up
in the World Hurdle (G1), and to the dam of Balbriggan, winner of the Troytown
Handicap Chase (G2).
Paul Cashman of Rathbarry Stud spent €28,000 on a colt by
Vadamos out of Well Set Up (Lot 821), a half-sister to On The Blind Side, a
horse well-known to the Cashman family.
"I had a big association with On The Blind Side as we
had him when he was pointing,” reported Cashman. “This colt comes from a good
home, he had a great prep and I am delighted to buy a nice horse from the farm.
We'll be looking to come back here with him to resell."
"Mum bred Well Set Up and On The Blind Side," said
Kilcoyne, adding: "She passed away three years ago and we have kept the
line going so this means a lot. The Cashmans bought On The Blind Side from Mum
so it has gone full circle.”
The colt was consigned under the Raheendaw Farm banner by
Kilcoyne's cousin Leah Burgess and her partner Stephen Keogh.
It has been a good week for Cashman, who has enjoyed
watching the strong demand for stock by the Rathbarry Stud sire Blue Bresil.
"It has been unbelievable, it is the stuff of
dreams," he smiled. "He is a super sire to have and everyone who has
one by him they say how well natured the horses are; he throws a lovely
physical and they have great minds.”
The November NH Sale concludes tomorrow at 10.30am with
Yearlings and Mares going through the ring.