The first day of the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale was topped by the Saddler Maker (Ire) gelding Defi Bleu (Fr) (lot 50) on a bid of €255,000 to Harold Kirk, agent. Consigned by John Bleahen's Lakefield Farm, who also sold the 2015 topper to Kirk for €320,000, the dark bay, a half-brother to Grade 2 placed chaser Upsilon Bleu (Fr) (Panoramic), was one of three lots to clear the €200,000 mark and one of 15 horses to reach the six-figure mark compared to six last year.
Only €5,000 removed from the top lot, an unnamed gelding (lot 195) by Robin des Champs (Fr) brought €250,000 from Mouse Morris. Katie & Tom Rudd of Bushertown consigned the 3-year-old, who is out of Present Gesture (Ire) (Presenting), herself a half-sister to listed winner Me and Ben (Ire) (Revoque {Ire}). The extended family features MGISW Rhinestone Cowboy (Ire) and GISW Wichita Lineman (Ire).
Overall, 149 horses found new homes from 186 offered, grossing €7,131,000, a 20% rise on 2015's Day 1 gross of €5,939,500. The average of €47,859 rose 13.9% (€42,032 in 2015) and the median shaded slightly down at €36,000, off 2.7% from 2015's €37,000. The clearance rate was a solid 80.1%.
The second day of the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale begins Thursday at 10:30 a.m. local time, with the Part II sale scheduled for Friday, June 24.
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