Store Sale season gets underway at Tattersalls Ireland
Tattersalls Ireland National Hunt Store sale season got underway with today’s one-day May Store Sale, and it was a session that saw young and progressive National Hunt sires get a chance to shine.
The top two lots were both consigned by Niall Bleahen’s Liss House – the top price of €65,000 was given by Tom Malone for the French-bred son of Cokoriko, already named Kalao Coko (Lot 214), while a son of Nom de d'La and named Kicour La, made €50,000 and was purchased by Virginia Considine Racing (Lot 219).
Malone, who handed over the bidding duties to point-to-point trainer Jimmy Kelly, said "I saw Kalao Coko yesterday and he is typical of one from the Bleahens, they buy and produce a beautiful horse.
"This is a racy bumper type, a sharp type of horse. He is a lovely scopey sort and has a nice bit of pedigree and is one for the future. I have just sold him to owner Gary Gillies, and he will go pointing for a season with Jimmy and then into training with Jamie Snowdon."
Bleahen pinhooked Kalao Coko as a yearling from a field in France and the consignor recalled an interesting first viewing: "We went into the field with him, he got a bit excited and just started doing this amazing extended trot before popping out over the fence. I guess we knew then he could jump! He was one of those that was an instantly likeable horse."
Kicour La (FR) 2020 B.G. BY Nom de d'La (FR) EX Paquerette des Champs (FR)
Amateur jockey Rob James spoke on behalf of Virginia Considine Racing: "For us Kicour La was the nicest horse of the day and we thought we'd have a good go at him and luckily enough it came off. When you come across a nice horse like that you must pull out a bit extra. Hopefully, he will run in a point-to-point next February, and we will get to one of next spring’s Tattersalls Cheltenham sales."
The Bleahens have regularly secured top prices at the Derby Sale, including at last year's renewal when selling a son of Kapgarde to Gordon Elliott Racing for €310,000, and the three brothers – John, Niall and Hugh – are looking forward to next month’s premier Store horse sale with 22 lots catalogued between their three consigning operations Liss House, Lakefield Farm and Clifton Farm.
Harzand (IRE) / Byrners Bid (IRE) 2020 B.G. (IRE)
Today’s leading buyer Malone also bought a Harzand gelding (Lot 61), offered by Clonsast Stud, for €46,000, and went to €40,000 for the Castledillon Stud-consigned Getaway filly out of Dusty Too (Terimon). She is a half-sister to five winners, including the Neptune Investment Managemen Novices' Hurdle (Gr1) and Arkle Chase (Gr1) winner Simonsig.
Malone said: "The gelding is for myself, we will get him broken in and see where we go, while the filly has been bought for owner and client Gary Gillies. She is a very nice filly with a big pedigree. Like the Cokoroiko she will be broken in Ireland, and will go into training with Jamie Snowden after a year point-to-pointing with Jimmy."
Consignor Heather Kemp of Glebe Barn Stables enjoyed her best result in the sale ring with a filly when selling the daughter of Diamond Boy out of the old Vic mare Jigs'n Reels, the dam of four winners and a half-sister to Back In Front, winner of the Supreme Hurdle (Gr1), for €40,000 to Mark McCausland and Ian Ferguson (Lot 142).
It was a fine pinhooking result for Kemp, who under her Mayfair Bloodstock banner, paid just €7,000 for the filly as a yearling in 2021.
The one-day sale produced a turnover of €2,341,500, and 161 horses sold for an average price of €14,543 and a median price of €12,000.
Commenting on the May Store Sale, Simon Kerins CEO of Tattersalls Ireland said;
"This sale provides vendors the first opportunity to sell their three-year-olds and the demand for quality individuals remained strong. The footfall seen over the last two days was impressive and we extend our gratitude to the large contingent of Irish and UK buyers who actively participated, alongside many first-time visitors who contributed to the bustling atmosphere at Fairyhouse.
"The early timing of the May Store Sale has always been eagerly anticipated by point-to-point handlers, and this year was no exception with plenty of demand for the choice lots throughout the day.
"Our attention now turns to the highly anticipated market-leading Derby Sale, which takes place on Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 June. Our team eagerly anticipates welcoming back our valued clients and presenting the cream of the Store sale crop in a catalogue full of quality."