Exceptional Trade Continues In Derby Sale Part II

The strong trade seen in the Derby Sale continued into this Part II session, and the top price is the highest price given so far in the sale’s history.

All key indicators showed improved and on par returns – turnover rose to €2,814,500 up 41 per cent, the average price of €18,889 was an increase of seven per cent, the median of €16,000 matched last year, and 81 per cent of horses sold compared to 70 per cent previously.

A gelding by the popular Affinisea topped the one-day Derby Sale Part II when selling for €80,000. He was bought by owner Basil Holian, with John Staunton ringside and in charge of bidding.

Staunton said of plans for the top lot: “He has been bought to race. He might learn his trade in point-to-points or go straight to the track. Plans are fluid, and he could also be one for the MSL Mercedes-Benz Sales Bumper – who knows? All options are open and the dream is still alive!”

Asked what stood out about the horse, he said: “He is a lovely individual, he looks to have a good mind, is a lovely walker and Affinisea is a great sire. Basil said if I spotted a real nice one to have a good go.”

Sold by the session’s leading consignor Clock Tower Stud, the gelding was pinhooked for €15,500 by Clock Tower Farm’s Tommy Newton and his friend James Walsh at the November National Hunt Sale.

Newton said: “We pick the foals together, we looked at 60 or so when we bought this horse and he was the one who caught our eye. We loved him the minute we bought him and he has been straightforward from day one. He is a lovely balanced horse with a great attitude. Affinisea had a great winter, and we struck it right.

“We sold a lovely Marcel [Lot 71] on the first day for €85,000, and a Harzand [Lot 415], who made €100,000 bought by JP McManus. We look at a lot of foals, and we always want one with a good step.”

The good results continued for the astute pair – later in the session, the duo sold a filly by Behesht (Lot 578) for €60,000, one of five fillies bought as point-to-point prospects by the session’s second leading purchaser Ballycrystal Stables.

“I am a farrier by trade, I was in to do the late Ronnie O’Neill’s horses, and he asked me to dress a bunch of foals,” recalled Newton. “She just caught my eye and I said to James that we needed to look at her at the sale; we both loved her and bought her for just €3,500, and she has just blossomed. She has been here since Sunday and has done the same show every time.”

With a smile, the pair said together: “We’ve had a good day!”

The Success Days gelding (Lot 544) from Cabragh Lodge was bought for €66,000 by Rebecca Menzies / Matt Coleman Bloodstock, trainer James Griffin in charge of bidding in Coleman’s absence.

“Matt loved him when he saw him yesterday,” said Griffin, a long-time friend of Menzies. “The gelding is related to a 135-rated horse [Charles Uberalles], and Rebecca is looking to get some nice horses to improve the quality in the yard.

“From limited stock the sire has been very successful, and this lad looks a real bumper horse and could be one for the MSL Mercedes-Benz Sales Bumper. He is a sharp sort, comes from a good hotel, is a lovely model and I think he looks value.”

He was a foal pinhook for consignor Kieran Ryan, who said: “We gave €7,000 for him and I bought him for my twin sons James and Ivan to produce – James [2024 champion apprentice] is at The Curragh today.

“We just try to pinhook a few, we tip away, we don’t like to spend big money, this doesn’t happen all the time, but we try!”

As to what stood out to him as a foal, Ryan said: “I loved his walk, Success Days is by Jeremy and they are hard to get. I have Kool One by Kool Company by Jeremy, whom I bought here at the Sapphire Sale as a yearling. He is now Grade 3 placed, he has won four races and both my sons have won on him.”

The “mammy of the sales” Brenda Shortt was in tears when the first-ever store horse sold under her own name, a filly by Crystal Ocean (Lot 569), made €55,000, bought by Kevin Ross for trainer Gavin Cromwell.

Shortt explained how she became the filly’s owner.

“I was showing her for a friend, led her through the ring and she was not sold,” recalled Shortt. “I rang my partner Barty [Walzcak] and said, ‘Can you get the two-box to the yard? I have another member to join the family!”

The sale professional has led up many horses, but this filly was the one Shortt decided to take on as a debut sales project.

“I loved her the minute I laid eyes on her and decided to take the chance,” she explained. “My health was not good then, it is stable now, but it was something I wanted to do, it was on the bucket list. She has been an absolute dream.”

Shortt was keen to give credit to those who have helped along the way. “I do need to thank Dan Doyle, without him we could not have had her. He minded her and she babysat his precious foals.

“This year, Barty and I went on a lifetime trip to the southern hemisphere, and I need to thank two very special people who have been wonderful to us, Katy and Peter Nolan. They did her prep, did the most amazing job, they are exceptional.

“And Barty, he has been amazing – he gave her education, she went to school with him last July at Colin Bowe’s and he has been brilliant, so thank you darling!”

All horses catalogued and offered in Derby Sale Part II are eligible for the 2027 edition of the €100,000 Tattersalls Ireland MSL Mercedes-Benz Sales Bumper, which is run at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. The vendor of the winning horse will drive away in a brand-new Mercedes-Benz GLC.

Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins commented:

“After two days of spectacular trade, the demand has followed through to today’s Part II. We did expect demand to be healthy with many having outstanding orders to fill, but it exceeded our expectations with buoyant trade from early morning.

“Turnover for the day was an impressive €2.8 million, an excellent 40 per cent increase on last year’s sale. There was also a significant increase in the average which showed a rise of 9 per cent, while the median of €16,000 mirrored last year’s equivalent figure and there was a healthy clearance rate of 81%.

“We saw strong activity from point-to-point handlers whose ambition and drive for success means demand for stores at all levels is as strong as ever.

“I am hugely appreciative of the support from our vendors, and without their support we would not witness these figures. We do not take anything for granted and we will continue to work hard and improve on the spectacular success of this week.

“We thank everyone that has contributed to the past three days and look forward to seeing these horses excel in the seasons ahead.”