Opening Day Record Foal Price Set at November National Hunt Sale

The best was saved for last in the opening session of the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale when the day’s final lot, a colt by the late Jukebox Jury offered by Burgage Stud, made €88,000, bought by Timmy Hillman (Lot 203).

The result concluded an excellent first day’s trade that showed a four per cent gain in the turnover to €1,859,950 despite a smaller catalogue, a 15 per cent increase in the average price to €14,645, and a 29 per cent growth in the median price to €11,000.

There was also an improved clearance rate with 67 per cent of the horses offered changing hands.

The top lot hails from Burgage Stud’s leading family being out of the unraced Shantou mare Easeaway, a full-sister to the Grade 1 Champion Bumper winner Briar Hill. Their dam Backaway is a full-sister to the multiple Grade 1 winner Boston Bob.

After the sale a delighted Victor Connolly said: “I am just hugely relieved. We knew he was a nice horse. He was very popular but, until it happens, you just don’t know. From day one, he was a very straightforward horse with a great temperament.

“There is every hope that the pedigree will improve further. We have the mare, and she has a four-year-old full-brother with Donnchadh Doyle. I spoke to him this morning, and he’s happy with the horse. It is a pedigree that’s done us very well, it’s been around for decades. We’ve had great days, and now it’s fantastic to see this young mare doing the same thing.”

Connolly added: “Jukebox was a leading sire at the Cheltenham Festival this March, and that wasn’t from covering huge numbers of mares, so this is just another great reflection on him.”

Hillman, who outbid Tim and Peter Nolan, said: “I have bought him for myself and Tally-Ho Stud. He is a lovely individual and will have some value when he comes back for resale. There are few better pedigrees and I just hope he will be lucky. He was the best on offer today.”

Ross and Case Combine to Purchase Son of Luxembourg

A colt from the first crop of the four-time Group 1 winner Luxembourg, offered by Kilbarry Lodge Stud, sold for €85,000 (Lot 135). The March-born foal was bought by George Case, working with his father Ben Case, and Kevin Ross.

“As he is by Luxembourg, we think he could be a nice forward-going sort,” said Ross. “He has been bought for Lady Jane Grosvenor and will be for resale. We have seen everything by the sire, and this was the one for us. They are good-walking foals and this colt has plenty of size and scope.

“His half-brother by Santiago made €135,000 at the Derby Sale and has gone to Willie Mullins; hopefully he will do something before this colt comes back here.”

The colt is out of the Kayf Tara mare Alighting, who was Listed-placed over hurdles and is a three-parts sister to Don Poli, a three-time Grade 1 winner whose victories included the RSA Chase.

Rohan’s Crystal Ocean Colt Purchased by Frisbys

Richard Frisby and his son JJ went to €56,000 for the March-born Crystal Ocean colt out of the Walk In The Park mare Cuchavira (Lot 183).

“What Crystal Ocean has done so far has been excellent,” said JJ Frisby of the foal sold by first-time November National Hunt Sale consignor Sarah Rohan of Ballytrasna Farm. “This is an outstanding foal, a bit light in pedigree, but he has the physique and the movement. The mare is by Walk In The Park, you can’t get better than that. He will be back as a store horse.”

While the first two dams were unraced, the colt’s third dam Bilboa won seven races, including the Grade 2 Anniversary Novices’ Hurdle and Adonis Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle. She also finished third in the Grade 1 Champion Hurdle.

It was a good session for Crystal Ocean – the leading young jumps stallion also responsible for the day’s top-priced yearling. That gelding was sold by Ballincurrig House Stud for €32,000 to Garrett Barry’s Conlon’s Farm (Lot 7). He is out of the Flemensfirth mare Maid Of Might, a full-sister to the Grade 1-placed hurdler O O Seven.

The evening concluded on a hugely generous note, with a charity auction in aid of Kaitlyn Ryan raising an impressive €55,000.

The November National Hunt Sale will continue tomorrow from 10am.