February National Hunt Sale starts 2017 off on the right note

Following on from a robust
renewal of the November National Hunt Sale, the February National Hunt Sale got
the 2017 sales season at Tattersalls Ireland off to a satisfactory start. The
sale finished with an increased aggregate of €1,666,900 (+13%), with considerable
rises in the average of 6% to €6,805 and median of 24% to €7,200.

The highlight of the one
day February National Hunt Sale was Lot 54, a colt by the sire of Derby Sale
graduate DEATH DUTY and Cheltenham Sale graduate SHANTOU FLYER, in Shantou. The
colt, consigned by Limekiln Stud stood out as the popular lot of the sale and
was knocked down to Ormond Bloodstock for €46,000. He is out of the Listed
winning mare LAREN and is a half-brother to the Sholokhov gelding L’Aigle
Royal, a Grade 2 placed horse himself.

Michael Moore of
Ballincurrig House Stud, who was leading consignor at the sale, was responsible
for the next top lot when purchasing Lot 247 for €40,000, a colt by Montmarte out
of a half-sister to Ryanair Chase hero UXIZANDRE and offered by Ms Caroline J
Berry.

A Presenting colt from
Yellowford Farm took the next highest spot of the day’s sale when selling to
Kevin Ross Bloodstock for €37,000. Out of Ballycloven Oscar, the dam is an own
sister to the Willie Mullins trained FELIX YONGER, a twelve-time winner
including the Grade 1 Champion Chase at Punchestown along with an additional
five Grade 2 wins to his name.

At the conclusion of the
sale, Managing Director of Tattersalls Ireland Roger Casey commented;

“Following on from the
encouraging trade for foals at the November National Hunt Sale, we were
confident of an improved renewal of the February National Hunt Sale and today’s
sale met our expectations for those lots with the necessary commercial appeal.
Today’s turnover of €1,666,900 is the best on record for a one day February
National Hunt Sale, an increase of 13% on last year and 72 lots surpassed
€10,000 or more, a 25% increase on 2016. Our attention here at Tattersalls
Ireland now turns to market leading Derby Sale with last year’s record breaking
sale resulting in increased nominations and inspections already well under
way’’.