After this week’s record-breaking two-day Derby Sale, demand for the best lots through Part II of the Derby Sale, in partnership with MSL Mercedes-Benz, saw no let up with the one-day session, staged for the first time since 2017, achieving a top price of €52,000.

Point-to-point buyers were busy throughout the session and, with three-year-olds by stallions popular earlier in the week still keenly sought, the sale was topped by a Poet’s Word gelding purchased by Denis Murphy’s Ballyboy Stables (Lot 451).

Sold by Drumloose Stables, the gelding just the second lot in the ring, Murphy said: “I know this pedigree well and I love Poet’s Word – this is the first by him that I have bought, I have not been able to buy them! He is one for myself and Cormac Doyle.”

Although this is the first by the sire bought by Murphy, the gelding will not be the first through his hands – Murphy trained Taurus Bay, who was the sire’s first Irish point-to-point winner, victorious at Comea in the early spring subsequently sold at the Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale for £155,000.

The gelding is a three-year-old half-brother to four winners, including Wild Romance, a runner-up in the Hyde Novices Hurdle (G2). She was produced by Murphy to finish second in her point-to-point.

Murphy, who bought six horses in the session and was the day’s busiest purchaser, also spent €41,000 on a gelding by Walk In The Park out of Karen Mag (Lot 559) and sold by Meelin Stud for Karen O’Driscoll, and €32,000 on the Maxios filly (Lot 565) from the family of the talented mare La Bague Au Roi. She was offered by the day’s leading consignor Glen Stables.

Many of the point-to-point trainers were in the ring for the athletic gelding by Doyen (Lot 627) offered by Churchlands Stables, but it was the partnership of Jim O’Neill of Cametigue Horses and James Doyle of Baltimore Stables who were successful at €50,000.

“We always buy a few together and have done so for a long time,” said Doyle. “This lad was on a lot of radars, and Jamie [Codd] mentioned him to us right back on Monday, he is a lovely horse. We will go pointing with him.”

O’Neill, who has had luck buying from Churchlands before, said: “I bought the Festival Cross Country winner Stumptown from Jamie and he was a good horse, so hopefully his one will be the same!”

The gelding is a half-brother to Pic Roc, a winner over hurdles and Grade 3-placed, while his dam South Africa (Turtle Bowl) is a half-sister to the Grade 1-winning French chaser Top Of The Sky, and to the dam of the Thyestes Chase (G1) winner Coko Beach.

After buying the Liss House-offered Lot 643 for €46,000, a son of Linda’s Lad from the family of the Midlands Grand National (G3) winner Miss Orchestra, the Punchestown Champion INH Flat Race (G1) winner Value At Risk, and the Royal and SunAlliance Novice Chase (G1) placed Battlecry, trainer Stuart Crawford laughed: “I should have gone home!”

He added: “We always buy a horse or two from the Bleahens every year and hadn’t managed to until now. I liked this horse, he is quite racy, and he stood out on his pedigree and Linda’s Lad is capable of getting a good horse.”

Of plans, he said: “I ticked the box for the bumper and as I have done for all the horses we have bought his week, it is a way off but gives options.”

The Crawford Brothers have purchased five lots through the Part II Sale and the buyer said: “We have bought more than a lorry load; I need to go and work out how we are going to get them home now!”

Owner John Doyle and trainer Mark McNiff went to €45,000 to buy Lot 517, an attractive son of Maxios sold by the day’s second-leading consignor Parkville Stud, who sold five horses today for a turnover of €103,000.

“We will get him home and see how he comes on,” said McNiff, who is based in Sligo. “He is a lovely looking horse and has a pedigree, being out of the good mare Ebony Empress.”

The mare is a daughter of Kris Kin and was third in a Listed EBF/TBA chase at Cheltenham. She is the dam of two winners from two runners, including Bay Empress, the debut winner of a bumper in February. The family traces to the Grade 2 Lightning Novices Chase winner Woolcombe Folly, and the Grade 2 Persian War Novice Hurdle El Bandit.

Point-to-point trainer Sam Curling had already purchased nine lots earlier in the week. He bought the only lot catalogued in Derby Sale Part II by sire Tirwanako (Lot 564) going to €42,000 for the first foal out of Lady Dashing (Yeats), while Monbeg Stables, leading purchaser in the two-day Derby Sale with 27 lots bought, added another five to the shopping list today, including a €40,000 gelding by Sumbal (Lot 471) and out of the well-related Court Cave mare Bellingham Court.

Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins commented:

“After two electric days of trade earlier this week, we approached Part II of the Derby Sale sale with measured expectations. While the market remains selective, the demand followed through from Wednesday and Thursday and it was encouraging to see strong competition on a good number of horses and several new faces ringside once again.

“We’re grateful to the vendors who supported today’s session and to the buyers – particularly those active in the point-to-point sphere – who remain such an important part of this trade. We are confident we can build further on this section next year.

“We thank all those who took part this week and look forward to seeing these horses succeed on the track in the seasons ahead.”

A record price of €285,000 for a Store sold anywhere in Ireland, combined with a record number of 38 lots, sold for over €100,000 and above, were among the highlights at this year’s Derby Sale. The final figures also showcase that four made over €200,000, the quartet achieving the distinction of being the highest priced three-year-old Stores sold in a sale ring in 2025.

The sale also recorded its highest turnover since 2022, with an increase of 25 per cent on 2024’s aggregate, while today’s trade secured honours by producing the best-ever turnover for a single session at the Derby Sale, topping €10 million for the first time.

The attractive Walk In The Park gelding out of Posh Trish (Lot 338) was widely expected to put his name in lights as the 2025 sale topper, and the Ballyreddin Stud and Bushertown-consigned three-year-old did not let the sale forecasters down.

Those involved in the bidding for the first foal out of the Listed-winning Stowaway mare included trainer Gordon Elliott and Megan Nicholls, but when the handsome bay was led out of the ring with his €285,000 sales tag as the most expensive National Hunt Store horse sold in the sale ring this year, he was heading for a new stable with Dan Skelton Racing.

“He has incredible movement, he has good size, and has everything we want,” enthused Skelton. “He is a proper athlete, comes from a good hotel, he is out of a great mare and by the right sire. We thought he’d make €250,000, and then it was just a few arm wrestles after. He deserves to be a lot of money because he is a beauty – he is the most expensive Store we have ever bought!”

Of ownership plans, he outlined: “He is for some fantastic American ladies, Myrteel Ward and Margaret Duprey, who have supported us for some time – this is a definite step up for them, and for all of us!”

It has been a fabulous Derby Sale for consignor Ballyreddin Stud and Bushertown, the duo also selling yesterday’s top priced two-year-old, the filly by Ectot (Lot 216), prepped on behalf of Louis Vambeck who made €100,000 and was also bought by Skelton and Mahon.

“I will be watching the form of the yard closely!” laughed Dwan, adding: “This horse came to us to prep and has been a star. He is very straightforward and is an intelligent horse. He never missed a beat and, though he has been busy over the four days here, it has not affected him one bit.”

The gelding was bought as a foal by Joey Logan at the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale from breeder Oliver Loughlin for €85,000.

“He was a beautiful foal and he has just been a gentleman,” said Logan. “He grew into himself and obviously the stallion has done very well this year, the dam was a very good racemare and I am delighted Dan Skelton bought him.”

Agent Tom Malone, buying with trainer Gavin Cromwell and on behalf of owner Owen Daley, went to €260,000 for Lot 370, a filly by Tunis named Moscovite and sold by Moanmore Stables, who enjoyed a fine pinhook return having bought her just last year for €43,000.

The filly is a half-sister to four winners in France and her Network dam Russie is a half-sister to Natal, who won 11 races, graded races over hurdles and fences, and was also placed in the two-mile Champion Chase (G1) at Punchestown.

“Owen was looking for a lovely horse and I said that this filly was a standout, she is a very smart,” said Malone. “I have ticked the box for the MSL Mercedes-Benz Sale Bumper, as I have done with all the horses I have bought over the two days, including those going to England – it is small amount of money for a valuable race.”

The athletic Blue Bresil half-brother (Lot 432) to this year’s Grade 1 Scilly Isle Novices’ Chase winner Handstands, a graduate of the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale 2023, was bought by Gordon Elliott for €235,000.

“He is a lovely athletic horse, one we have been waiting for all week,” said Elliott of the Glenvale Stud-consigned gelding, who was pinhooked at the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale for €70,000. “We will get him home now and broken in. His half-brother, Handstands, is very talented.”

The half-siblings hail from the talented further family that features black-type winners Be My Belle, Snake Eyes, Boreen Belle, Rose Of Inchiquin, Empire Of Dirt, Monalee and Monty’s Star.

The fourth lot to sell for over €200,000 was another gelding by the sale’s leading sire Walk In The Park – Aiden Murphy going to €210,000 for the Glenvale Stud-consigned three-year-old gelding out of the unraced Presenting mare La Bella Roma, a half-sister to the Listed bumper winner Vegas Blue (Lot 239). It is the family of the 11-time winner Bellshill, whose victories included the Punchestown Champion Bumper (G1), two Grade 1 novice hurdles, and the Punchestown Gold Cup (G1) and the Irish Gold Cup (G1).

“For me, this is the nicest Walk In The Park at the sale,” said Murphy, adding: “I loved him, he is for Olly [Murphy] and for a new partnership in the yard – existing owners who have got together to increase their firepower.”

The final purchaser table featured some of National Hunt racing’s most high profile trainers, with Willie Mullins / Harold Kirk , Olly / Aiden Murphy, Dan Skelton / Ryan Mahon, Gordon Elliott and O’Neill Racing all featuring strongly over the course of the two days.

The sale’s leading buyer Monbeg Stables, a position held since 2018, purchased 27 horses for an outlay of €1,407,000, with the team spending €100,000 twice – on Day 1 going to the six-figure sum for the Nathaniel gelding from leading consignor Castledillon Stud (Lot 65) and in the second session for Lot 386 – a Walk In The Park gelding out of the Listed-winning hurdler She Ranks Me from the family of Cooldine.

Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins commented:

“The Derby Sale continues to deliver – not just in headline prices, but in real depth of trade. This week saw the highest-priced Store sold this year, and across every key metric the sale has significantly surpassed last year’s strong figures. A record breaking 38 lots sold for €100,000 or more, while today’s session saw us exceed the €10 million mark for the first time. The confidence shown by leading buyers, both in Ireland and in the UK, is a direct reflection of the quality on offer.

“The 14 Grade 1 winners in the 2024/25 season tell their own story. That level of success isn’t a coincidence, and it’s what brings the best agents, owners, and trainers back to Fairyhouse year after year.

“The Irish point-to-point community were out in force once again, and that cohort of the industry make sure that the Irish point-to-point field remains a trusted nursery and source of racecourse talent.

“We welcomed MSL Mercedes-Benz as our partner for the first time, and their presence has helped to elevate the sale. All horses catalogued and offered at the Derby Sale are eligible for the new €100,000 Tattersalls Ireland MSL Mercedes-Benz Sales Bumper.

“My thanks also to Irish Thoroughbred Marketing – their support plays an important part in strengthening the UK buying bench and complementing our own marketing teams’ efforts.”

Derby Sale Part II will begin at 10:30am tomorrow.

The first day’s trade of the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale was headlined by Timmy Hillman’s Castledillon Stud with its three-year-old gelding by Nathaniel, who sold for €180,000 (Lot 138).

The March-born gelding is the first foal out of the dual Listed winner, Grade 2 and Grade 1-placed jumps mare Floressa (Poliglote), and he was bought by Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins, buyers of the day’s top three lots and four lots in total.

The gelding was pinhooked by Hillman as a yearling for €87,000 from Goldford Stud and the smiling consignor reported: “I bought three by Nathaniel and I did go out to target his stock for this year’s Derby Sale. He is a serious sire on the Flat and I thought his stock would work well here.

“This is his first proper crop from National Hunt mares – he has had good results jumping from Flat mares, so why wouldn’t he do it again, and better, with jumping mares?”

Kirk, with Mullins in attendance, said: “It has been hard to get a Nathaniel out of a jumping pedigree, and this horse is out of a Poliglote mare, which I love, and it is a very good jumping family – Don Lino lower down the pedigree was a top horse in France.”

He added: “A lot of the Nathaniels who have gone jumping are out of Flat mares so you’re hoping that, when they have jumping pedigrees, they will be even better.”

Of ongoing plans, he said: “All the horses I am buying here will be purchased with the €100,000 Tattersalls Ireland MSL Mercedes-Benz Sales Bumper in mind – moving the race to a December date works well for us and it gives us options.”

Kirk and Mullins went to €150,000 for Miss Mam (Lot 105), a three-year-old filly by Masked Marvel, out of the Network mare Donna Mam and sold by the Williamson’s Oak Tree Farm, who had purchased her as a two-year-old in 2024 for €47,000.

“She is a gorgeous filly and I am a big fan of the sire’s fillies,” said Kirk. “In the pedigree is Quel Esprit and Ashroe Diamond, both Grade 1 horses and both were with us – Quel Esprit was one of the first very good horses we had.”

He added: “She is a beautiful individual, a beautiful mover and from a very good consignor. She is one of the top fillies in the sale and is definitely one we could target at the bumper in December.”

Peter Vaughan’s Moanmore Stables also found itself on the Kirk-Mullins shopping list – its Doctor Dino gelding out of the three-time-winning Elegante Du Chenet and named Mystere Du Chenet (Lot 111) bought by the duo for €120,000.

“He is a beautiful horse by one of our favourite sires in Doctor Dino – we have had so many Grade 1 horses by him,” said Kirk. “This is one of the best pedigrees in France, it’s a fantastic family. His dam is by Turgeon, and Allaho is out of a Turgeon mare. We have had a lot of success with horses out of mares by the stallion.”

It is certainly a fine pedigree with nine black-type winners on the gelding’s page, including the Grade 1 winners Saint Du Chenet and Tanais Du Chenet.

Bloodstock agent Aiden Murphy broke the Kirk-Mullins dominance when going to €120,000 for Mirage D’Ainay (Lot 120), a gelding by Moises Has, the young Martaline sire who can already boast of a Grade 3-placed hurdler from his first crop of three-year-olds.

“He is a gorgeous horse by a French sire who has made a good start,” reported Murphy. “He is for Olly [Murphy], but will go from here to be broken-in by Jack and Paddy Kennedy, and then onto Michael Kennedy in Cork where he will spend a year just going up the gallops and be given time to develop.”

The gelding was consigned by the John Bleahen’s Lakefield Farm, and Murphy was full of praise saying: “The Bleahens are brilliant at what they do, they are great producers. We have been very lucky with them and Olly has plenty of horses to come from them.”

The inaugural Derby Sale two-year-old session was topped by Lot 216, an Ectot half-sister to the Grade 1 winner Hearts Are Trumps and the Listed chase winner Go Fast Du Berlais, bought by Dan Skelton and Ryan Mahon for €100,000.

Sold by Ballyreddin & Bushertown, the filly’s second dam Polly Puttens is the dam of the nine winners, including the Grade 1 Gold Cup winner Denman and the Tolworth Hurdle (G1) winner Silverburn.

Skelton, who bought six lots throughout the day and was the third-leading purchaser, reported: “We have got stuck in today! This filly is lovely, she is very rangy and is from a very good family, one that I know well. And it is a pedigree that looks as though it will only get stronger – her four-year-old full-sister is heading for a Listed race next.

“She is for someone who wants to breed so she has great residual value, and she has also got the chance to be a nice racehorse.”

Of buying as a two-year-old he outlined: “We are more than happy to buy at this stage – we have room and space at home, so why not?”

And of future plans, he added: “She would get a 22lb allowance in the MSL Mercedes-Benz Sales Bumper and, being by Ectot, she well might be forward; it is an option and will be something we can consider.”

The Poet’s Word half-brother (Lot 207) to the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle heroes A Wave Of The Sea, and Hello Neighbour, winner of the Leopardstown juvenile hurdle last season, was bought by Mags O’Toole for €90,000.

The two-year-old was consigned by The Glebe House Stud and O’Toole said: “He is a lovely horse, has a great pedigree and does not look as though he will take long to come to hand. He is for an end-user and stays in Ireland.”

The opening day turnover showed an increase on the corresponding day last year, with a turnover of €7,142,000, an average price of €47,613 (+2 per cent) and a median figure of €42,000 (+11 per cent). There was a 77 per cent clearance rate with 150 horses sold from 196 offered, and 11 lots fetched €100,000 and above.

The second day of the Derby Sale begins at 10:00am tomorrow.

An additional wildcard has been added to the Derby Sale catalogue with a son of Poet’s Word now catalogued as Lot 307A.

He will be offered by F & H Bloodstock, and his page includes the Grade 2 bumper winner CROCODILES ROCK and FICKLE FORTUNE.

September Yearling Sale graduates TIME FOR SANDALS and CERCENE completed a remarkable Group 1 double for the yearling sale at Royal Ascot. Today’s result means three of the four Group 1 winners so far, that were sold as yearlings, were purchased at the September Yearling Sale.

TIME FOR SANDALS produced a devastating turn of foot to claim the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup.

Her victory was a second Group 1 Royal Ascot success this week for trainer Harry Eustace, whose Newmarket stable won the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes with September Yearling Sale graduate Docklands on Tuesday.

She hails from the first crop of Group 1 winning sprinter Sands Of Mali, and she travelled strongly among a group of six on the far side, that raced away from the main body of the field.

She hit the front a furlong-and-a-half from home, and although without company for that final part of the race, she responded bravely to land the prestigious Group 1 sprint confined to three-year-olds.

Owned by D Bevan and Mrs D Bevan, she had a strong level of form last year that featured a close second in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes, before returning with two placed efforts in Group 3 company earlier this season.

She was sold by Rathbride Farm to Harry Eustace and David Appleton for €35,000 at the 2023 September Yearling Sale.

CERCENE completed the Group 1 double for the September Yearling Sale in the Coronation Stakes, as Joe Murphy’s filly fended off some persistent challengers in the straight and provided her trainer and rider Gary Carroll with their first Group 1 successes.

She was ridden just behind the pace, but when angled out to deliver her challenge at the two furlong pole, she quickened decisively and held on to win by half-a-length.

She is owned by Shane Stafford, and was a €50,000 purchase by her trainer’s Crampscastle Bloodstock from Baroda Stud at the 2023 September Yearling Sale.

Entries for the 2025 September Yearling Sale close on Monday 7^th July.

The Newry based consignor will offer Stores with Grade 1 winners on their pages. Among her draft is a son of Crystal Ocean out of the dual Grade 1 winner Petite Parisienne.

Where does the name Stone Lodge Stud originate from?

We are located just outside Newry and built the yard ourselves from scratch. We had to get a rock hammer in and remove masses of stone. We built stone walls everywhere. The amount of stone around the place meant we were left with no option than to call the place Stone Lodge Stud.

You are originally from the UK. What brought you to Ireland?

I met my husband in the UK initially, and you could say he is the reason I’m now living here.

How did you go down the route of consigning Stores?

I’m from a showing and hunting background. There’s a strong equine presence in the Newry region with lots of trainers and breeders. I rode out for Sarah Dawson and Jerry Cosgrave initially. I knew riding horses was not a long-term option, and I was adamant that I wanted to do something on my own. I also recognised that training is a tough profession to break into and make your mark, so it was a matter of trying to find something that complimented my skillset.

You consign for a number of different clients. At what point do they come to you?

Some clients send them to me as yearlings after buying them as foals. I get some education into them and don’t see them again until they are three-year-olds. Others send them as foals, and other clients might not send them to me until they are three-year-olds. I like to get them in the yard for a couple of weeks prior to the sales prep work commencing. It helps them acclimatize to their new surroundings and with the transition into sales prep.

My job is to nurture and prepare them to be at their optimum as three-year-old Stores. Most of my clients are National Hunt breeders or foal purchasers that are in the business of pinhooking.

I love the process and relish the challenge of preparing young horses. A lot of hard work and graft goes into getting them to the point of looking their very best, and appealing to potential purchasers.

I get massive satisfaction in watching them develop through their initial years. They could arrive here at Stone Lodge Stud with the mare, so I wean them and then they go through the whole process with the end goal to produce them for the Store sales.

Let’s Go Champ was the first horse I ever prepped. He was sold at the Derby Sale for €90,000, and that gave me the confidence and belief in myself that I could do this job to a high level. I remember the day he won his four-year-old maiden on debut for Donnchadh Doyle, and the pride and satisfaction it gave me to think I played a part in this horse getting to that level. He then sold ten days later for £375,000.

What does a normal day look like for you?

Nothing fancy ! It’s just my husband and I. He is a full-time plumber as well. We start at 5am every morning. We feed and muck out, and after that I just get on with lunging, taking them on and off the walker, long reigning them, getting them used to tack. I try to let them in and out of the field as much as possible during their prep. I want them to enjoy being a horse while they are young.

What is the most enjoyable aspect to your job?

Without a doubt seeing them succeed on the racecourse. This is also important from a business perspective because you build a rapport and trust with purchasers, and they tend to look at what we are offering when they are in the market to purchase next time.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

It can be tough to keep everyone happy, but I suppose it’s no different to most jobs. Another challenge is to keep the horses sound, as there’s a lot for them to do in a short period of time.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I’m a bit of an adrenalin junkie. I used to race motocross, which is off-road motorcycle racing. I struggle to find the time to get out on the bike as much anymore, but when I do, I absolutely love it. I have a 19-month-old boy and I’m expecting a baby in September so it might be a while before I’m back on it! My toddler is mad for ponies, and my spare time is now tipping about with him, and he is crazy for it.

If you could achieve one thing what would it be?

I have a couple of broodmares, and I would love to breed a Group 1 winner.

Tell me about your Derby Sale draft?

My first lot through the ring will be a Walk In The Park gelding (Lot 75) out of a half-sister to the Coral Cup winner Bleu Berry. He has plenty size but he is light on his feet. He is a standout model.

A son of Soldier of Fortune (Lot 160) will be the second lot offered and he is a racy individual. He has an excellent pedigree with his dam being out of Grade 1 winner Kates Charm, and a half-sister to black type mare Dancingwithbubbles, who is the dam of Grade 1 winner Captain Teague and Cheltenham Festival winner Sky Pirate.

The third horse will sell on Thursday and he’s a son of Crystal Ocean (Lot 334) out of the dual Grade 1 winner Petite Parisienne. The sire is doing very well, and his colouring is unusual as he’s a roan colour. He has everything, with movement and a gorgeous big head. I’d be confident we will be very busy with him given page and his physical conformation.

A son of Maxios (Lot 468) is my sole offering in Derby Sale Part II. He is quite striking and is the type that will catch peoples eye around the complex. His page is light, but he has size, great movement and as an individual he will stand out.

What has been your path towards consigning at the Derby Sale?

We are located in Limerick and always had sport horses. I’m still showjumping, and we would have sold horses all over the world. My dad and uncle have pinhooked horses for a long time, and I was exposed to it from a young age. I decided to take an interest in a couple, and there has been a natural gravitation towards it. My mother was in the background too, and always encouraged me to pursue it. I would say we always bought a nice type, while pedigrees and sires might not have been our strong point. The Stores I got involved in initially all did well, and that gave us belief and encouragement to build our interest.

Tom Rudd (Tattersalls Ireland Inspector) was very helpful during my early years. He provided invaluable insight, and having someone like that to provide some guidance is excellent.

I did Ag Science in UCD, and regularly took a bus to the sales where I’d meet my dad. My uncle pinhooked Imperial Commander and its great to have a horse of that quality to come from Lismakeera.

You had a good result at the 2024 Derby Sale. Tell us a bit more about that.

Yes, we sold a son of Jukebox Jury to Olly and Aiden Murphy for €75,000. He was a fabulous three-year-old. He had size and scope to him, and that combined with being by a stallion who was in demand, it meant people wanted him. Jukebox Jury has gone from strength to strength with the likes of Il Etait Temps and Honesty Policy. It was great that he was sold to such well respected people in the industry too.

What do you consider to be the most enjoyable aspect of your job?

I love working with young horses. I’m looking forward to getting the two-year-olds in after the Derby Sale, and doing that initial work. It gives me great satisfaction and pride to see our graduates achieve their full potential on the racecourse. It is so important that horses start with a good education, as failure to do so means they pick up bad habits and it will be evident in the future. Similar to humans, horses have their own traits and characteristics, and it’s great to see them on display in competition.

What would you consider to be the most challenging aspect of your job?

I would say sourcing the stock. I find the three-year-olds are all or nothing, and they have to meet all the criteria. It often happens that the good foal is the good three-year-old and there is a lot of competition to get those nice foals. It also has to make business sense, and needs to provide a pinhook opportunity. The National Hunt sales are also more commercial, and people are influenced by trends and results. It is important that you are chasing the right stallions at the right time, and the optimum time is when they are on that upward trajectory. I would recommend observing the stock of different stallion at the Store sales, and identifying how they have developed from foals.

Is there any advice that you would give to your younger self?

My advice would be to go and work with some of the leading consignors. It will save you a few mistakes and a few quid ! I have learned on the job, which is no bad thing but it’s a massive jigsaw with lots of moving parts. From getting horses fit and sound to the sales, maintaining their movement, and having the right value on your horse.

Tell us about your draft for next week’s Derby Sale?

We are taking a nice bunch of three-year-olds to the Derby Sale. A son of Order of St George (Lot 124) is a very athletic, good looking horse out of a mare called Famous Milly. The dam won a Listed juvenile hurdle for Gavin Cromwell, and he was bought as a foal at the November National Hunt Sale in 2022. He strikes as a sharp type, and hopefully if he could win a four-year-old maiden next spring he could be a candidate for one of the boutique sales.

We will offer a fabulous loose moving son of Maxios (Lot 289) and the stallion is proving popular. His half-brother SOBER GLORY looks a very promising sort having won three bumpers last season, having been purchased after winning his four-year-old maiden. His dam is a half-sister to FINGAL BAY who was a Grade 1 winning novice hurdler. We have a lot in our favour with the stallion and his half-brother winning the Listed bumper earlier in the season.

A son of Kew Gardens (Lot 625) will be offered in Part II on the Friday. He is a very commercial type, good moving and will make a lovely racehorse. He is from the family of the Grade 1 Betfair Chase winner SNOOPY LOOPY.

The preparation has gone well with them. It’s just a matter of keeping them sound, we are in a good place and we want to get them to Tattersalls Ireland in one piece.

The admirably consistent DOCKLANDS made his breakthrough at the top level as he landed the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Harry Eustace-trained five-year-old broke slowly and was ridden with restraint, but worked his way into the contest from the three furlong marker and was sent to the front at the final furlong pole.

He faced a persistent challenge from the three-time Group 1 winner Rosallion, with the pair quickening clear, but DOCKLANDS prevailed by the minimum margin.

He was maintaining his outstanding record on the straight course at Ascot, where in seven starts he has never finished outside the first three.

As a three-year-old he won the Britannia Stakes, and returned 12 months ago to chase home Charyn in the 2024 Queen Anne Stakes, and then competed in Group 1 company across the globe through the autumn.

DOCKLANDS was sold at the 2021 September Yearling Sale from Clenagh Castle Stud to Blandford Bloodstock for £16,000.

Entries for the 2025 September Yearling Sale close on Monday 7th July.

The four-year-old NITTI powered home in the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes and provided trainer Leonard Powell and rider Armando Ayuso with a memorable first win in the race.

He is a son of the Ballylinch Stud stallion Make Believe and was returning to the racecourse for the first time since March 2024. He was also taking a marked step up in trip and grade, as the furthest distance that he had ever competed over was 1m1f.

He was ridden with restraint for the majority of the contest, and still had five lengths to make up as they made the turn for home. Once they straightened he lengthened impressively for his rider and had two-and-a-half lengths to spare at the line.

NITTI started his racing career in Ireland with trainer Noel Meade, who purchased him in partnership with Peter Nolan Bloodstock from Bishopstown Stud in Part II of the 2022 September Yearling Sale.

He had three starts on turf in two-year-old maidens in Ireland, where his best effort was third in a seven furlong Down Royal maiden.

This Grade 3 win for NITTI was a big step forward on his previous efforts, and it will be interesting to follow the career path of this September Yearling Sale graduate.

COPACABANA SANDS maintained her rapid rate of improvement with victory in the Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown.

The three-year-old filly is a graduate of the September Yearling Sale where she was consigned by Springfort Park Stud and purchased by D.N.A Equine for €7,000.

It was a second successive stakes success for the Michael O’Callaghan-trained filly, who won the Listed Owenstown Stud Stakes on her penultimate start.

The filly was running for the first time in the colours of Barbara Keller, and her trainer stated afterwards that an ambitious autumn campaign is likely to be mapped out for her, given her effectiveness on soft ground.

The 2023 September Yearling Sale has now produced eight stakes winners, including the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes winner COOL HOOF LUKE.

The 2024 September Yearling Sale has produced 15 individual winners, the latest of which was the Charlie Johnston-trained CHAMPION ISLAND who opened his account at Chelmsford on Thursday.