Strong Sapphire Sale Ends Successful Tattersalls Ireland Year

The Tattersalls Ireland sale year concluded today with a buoyant and record-breaking Sapphire Sale.

Held for the first time in December, the session was topped by a Make Believe colt foal (Lot 84), who sold for a sale record-equalling €60,000. The price was last achieved at the sale in 2018.

The day’s average and median prices of €9,826 and €6,250 are also sale records, and increases of 50 per cent and 127 per cent on last year’s returns, while the turnover of €609,200 is the highest produced at the sale since 2017. The overall clearance rate was 60 per cent, while the foal session yielded a clearance rate of 70 per cent.

The sale top lot was consigned by the Irish National Stud, and bought by Apollo Bloodstock / Ben Hensey.

“I love the foal, and I saw him when the videos came up on the website a few weeks ago,” said Fearghal Hogan of Apollo Bloodstock. “I like the sire and I just thought he was the best foal on the day. He’s out of a young black-type Sea The Stars mare, who has bred two good horses. When you see a horse like him, you just want to buy him.”

Cathal Beale, Irish National Stud CEO commented: “He’s always been a nice colt and he has improved as the year has gone on. He needed the extra few weeks, but his preparation has been faultless. There was strong competition for him in the ring, and I’ve been really impressed by the level of footfall here.”

The day’s leading consignor Kildallan Farm offered five lots and sold all five. The quintet was headlined by Lot 77, a Mehmas colt out of She’s Different (Epaulette) and an own-brother to the Marble Hill Stakes (G3) placed Mehmar. He was bought by Conor Walsh, who signed under Richdale Partnership, for €50,000.

“Mehmas is an unbelievable sire and this colt is a bit of a stand-out today, we will get him home and make a plan – this lad has the sire power anyway,” reported the buyer.

Dermot Kilmartin of Kildallan Farm delegated speaking duties to his 16-year-old son Rory.

“We have had a great day here,” said Kilmartin Jnr. “We like to target this sale, and we got on well here last year selling the top lot, and Dad was keen to come back. The extra few weeks have helped and worked out for us.”

He added: “I am still at school, but it was important to be here today.”

This year’s leading first-season sire Starman has been making the headlines, and his daughter out of the Muhaarar mare Stellar Queen, from James Sheehan’s Clonmult Farm (Lot 81), became the session’s top-priced filly when bought by Darren O’Dwyer Bloodstock for €38,000.

Sheehan said: “She is a great moving filly, she is by the right sire, and I think she stood out a little bit in this sale. That was the plan, and we like to support this sale, too. We are more than happy with that price and moving the sale back has definitely been helpful. The right people are here, which is important.”

The yearling section was topped by Lot 50, a Nando Parrado colt out of the Dawn Approach mare Divine Approach, bought from Drumachon Stud by Noel Meade and Peter Nolan.

Commenting on today’s trade, Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins said:

“The Sapphire Sale brings the curtain down on another successful year here at Tattersalls Ireland.

“After consultation with breeders and vendors earlier this year, and taking into account their feedback, we moved the sale to a standalone and later date. The final results indicate that this sale has a place in the market, as shown by the strong demand for commercial foals.

“As always, we will digest the feedback from the sale and put into action any learnings that come from it. We are however confident that we can build on this sale with further support from breeders and vendors.

“I would like to thank all the vendors and purchasers for supporting the Sapphire Sale, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to Tattersalls Ireland in 2026.

“Finally, I would like to wish everyone a happy and peaceful Christmas.”