Mare Trade Strong At Tatts Ireland

The strong trade of the four-day Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Foal Sale earlier this week carried over into the single-session Mare Sale on Friday, returning a record-breaking average of €23,923, up 55% from last year. The median rose 100% to €13,000, while turnover cracked the seven-figure barrier at €1,004,750 (+27%).

The top lot of the session was Closutton Stables's Let's Dance (Fr) (Poliglote {GB}) (lot 1359), who brought a record-breaking €200,000 from Bertrand le Metayer's BLM Bloodstock. The 6-year-old maiden was a multiple group winner and Group 1-placed for Willie Mullins. Katie Rudd did the bidding on behalf of le Metayer, and she said, “She is going to France. She was a good racemare, has a lovely French pedigree, is by a good sire in Poliglote and is a maiden mare.”

Former Republic of Ireland international footballer Kevin Doyle spent €85,000 on Augusta Kate (GB) (Yeats {Ire}) (lot 1358), a multiple stakes winner who is also group placed. The 7-year-old is in foal to Champs Elysees (GB).

“She is a lovely mare with good form and a great page–we will be selling her progeny,” said Doyle.

Tattersalls Ireland Chief Executive Officer Matt Mitchell said at the close of a week's trade, “This week's sale has witnessed excellent trade with outstanding results throughout the whole week. The yearling section on Sunday witnessed a top price of €42,000 and following on from this, there was the four-day foal sale, where the highest average in the sales history for this section was achieved but more notably, there was consistent demand for the better foals producing an increased aggregate of €11,201,200, a median of €11,500, an average of €17,206 and the best price achieved for a foal since 2015 of €92,000. The strong demand for foals reinforces the strength of the National Hunt market following on from the superb results witnessed at this summer's May Store Sale and Derby Sale. However, it was worth noting that whilst it is very competitive in the middle and top end of the market there is no appetite for individuals that fall below that level as reflected in the reduction in the clearance rate.

“Graduates continue to form the best promotion for this sale and both Native River and Sizing John, the last two years' Gold Cup winners were both sold at the November NH Sale and reinforce the view that this sale prevails as the leading choice to source National Hunt stock. It was immensely satisfying to see so many UK buyers in addition to our loyal Irish buyers along with some new faces throughout the week. We are delighted for our loyal vendors, who have sent us their best National Hunt stock and have been duly rewarded.”