Red hot prices at Tattersalls opening day
The soaring temperatures seen across Ireland were replicated by the prices on day one of the Derby Sale at Tattersalls of Ratoath where trade was brisk and demand was high from the outset.
Comparing the figures with last year show an improvement in the median by 7% to a record €48,000 from €45,000, while the average grew 3% to a record €54,792 from €53,209. Of the 197 lots offered, 82% found new owners and sold for an aggregate of €8,821,500.
There were plenty of potential buyers in the ring for Fletch (Lot 22), a son of Kayf Tara sold by Norman Williamson's Oak Tree Farm, the consignor of the last year's Derby Sale top lot. The three-year-old gelding was bought by agent Aiden Murphy and trainer Olly Murphy for €250,000.
Murphy was purchasing on behalf of owner Barbara Hester and the gelding, a fourth foal out of a Robin des Champs own-sister to the Grade 1 Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle winner Un Atout, goes into training with his son.
"He is lovely, strong quality horse," said Murphy Jnr. "He looks a racehorse and is by a great sire. He is for Barbara Hester, who has supported me from the start and let's hope he is a good horse. I have a string of lovely young horses for this season."
From the further family of Sir Des Champs, the gelding was bought as a foal from Throckmorton Stud by Michael Moore for €42,000 at the November NH Sale 2015 and the top three lots of the first session of this year's Derby Sale can all trace their debut sale ring appearances to that November NH Sale; the autumn sale proving to be a happy hunting ground for pinhookers.
Lot 130, a son of Presenting, had cost Redpender Stud €40,000 as a foal, but he proved to be value for that investment when selling as a three-year-old for €200,000, purchased by Gordon Elliott.
The gelding is out of a four-time-winning Saint Des Saints mare, a half-sister to Violin Davis and from the family of Klairon Davis, a three-time Grade 1 winner of the Arkle, the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown
Redpender Stud also sold Lot 101, a Stowaway second foal out of the Grade 3 winner and Grade 1-placed mare Shop DJ. The three-year-old, who had cost Redpender €42,000 as a foal, was bought by David Minton of Highflyer Bloodstock on behalf of owner and regular Tattersalls Ireland buyer, Trevor Hemmings.
Hemmings was in the ring to oversee Minton and the pair went to €190,000 to secure the good-looking gelding. Hemmings said: "This is a very good looking horse and he is one for the Grand National....!
"We have also bought Lot 6, Lot 14, Lot 65 and we've a few more to follow through too."
Of immediate plans for the horses purchased, Hemmings said: "We keep them in Ireland initially with Damian Murphy to check them out, and then they will come to the UK. We don't have any training plans yet."
The Stowaway is the second foal out of Shop DJ, a Grade 3 winner over hurdles and Grade 1 placed over fences. It is the further family of the multiple Grade 1-winning chaser and hurdler First Lieutenant.