Figures Rise at Tattersalls Ireland

A pair of colts shared top billing on bids of €85,000 during Wednesday’s second session of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale as healthy statistical increases were realized against the returns of 2013. A total of 201 lots were reported as sold for turnover of €3,559,500, a gain of 2% versus last year, but significant given that there were 61 fewer horses catalogued. The session average of €17,908 improved by 16.9%, while the median settled on €14,000, a 21.7% improvement from last year’s sale. The overall average of €18,708 and cumulative median of €15,000 represented handsome gains of 27.2% and 25%, respectively. 

About an hour into the day’s trade, hip 274, a son of Kodiac (GB)–Fikrah (GB), by Medicean (GB), was the first to achieve the €85,000 (US$108,625) mark. Consigned by Alice Fitzgerald as the property of a partnership, the Apr. 22 foal from the family of MGSW With Reason (Nashwan) was purchased by JJ Gordon Bloodstock on behalf of Rex Gorell. 

“This is a horse I liked, a good running sort, a good physical,” Gordon commented. 

Several hours later, bloodstock agent Stephen Hillen and trainer Kevin Ryan were extended to the same €85,000 to land a Mastercraftsman (Ire) colt from the consignment of Denis Brosnan’s Croom House Stud. Catalogued as hip 419, the bay son of No Quest (Ire) (Rainbow Quest) is a half-brother to the solid turf runner Macaw (Ire) (Bluebird), winner in the U.S. of the GIII Elkhorn S. and placed in the GI Canadian International S. and GI Sword Dancer Invitational. This is also the extended female family of Champs Elysees (GB) (Danehill). Hillen bought and Ryan trains The Grey Gatsby (Ire), who has flown the flag with distinction this term for Mastercraftsman, with a landmark upset of Australia (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Irish Champion S. 

“We’ve really wanted this horse and he was top of our list,” said Hillen. “He’s for Kevin, but has been bought on spec – hopefully he’ll have an owner soon! He is a lovely well-balanced horse with a great walk, every time he walked, he really swung along like The Grey Gatsby.” 

Said Tattersalls Ireland Managing Director Roger Casey, ‘We have had another extraordinary year with the success of our September Sale graduates as highlighted by the only Royal Ascot winner sold as a yearling in Ireland and Group 1 winning 2-year-old The Wow Signal and this has certainly helped to further raise awareness of a sale that continues to go from strength to strength and is increasingly recognised as a real source of value and quality. This burgeoning reputation was further reflected in the results in the sales ring over the last two days where the trade has been very strong and we have surpassed last year’s turnover from 123 fewer lots, have experienced the second highest average and median since 2007 and 2006 respectively, a clearance rate of 91%, the best since 2000 and over double the number of lots making €40,000 or more compared with last year’s sale.” 

Part II of the sale takes place today. For full results, please visit www.tattersalls.ie.