A yearling by Blue Bresil (Fr) led the final session of the Tattersalls Ireland November NH Sale NH Sale Thursday. Out of the Shantou mare Thanks For Tea (Ire) (lot 992), the colt was purchased for €58,000 by Kevin Ross Bloodtsock. Sold by Ballyhampshire Stud, the yearling was the 18th foal or yearling by Blue Bresil to sell for €50,000 or more over the five days' sale, and was the week's third session topper for the Rathbarry Stud stallion.
“The gelding has been bought on spec,” said Anna Ross. “We have the 4-year-old half-brother by Mount Nelson (GB), he goes pointing next spring and we like him. The two are quite different types of horses. The sire speaks for himself and we have been very lucky with the broodmare sire Shantou.”
Consignor Edmond Kent added, “We had a lot of fun with Thanks For Tea, she won some bonuses for us, picked up black-type and was a hardy mare. She is back in-foal to Blue Bresil and is due on Jan. 12–she looks very big at the minute, I won't be taking any holidays in January!”
Of this yearling, he said, “This was always a nice foal, he was born a bit late and I said I'd keep him until he was a yearling.”
It was a two-way split for leading honours in the NH broodmares session with the Grade 3 winner and Grade 1-placed Bonny Kate (Ire) (Beneficial {GB}) from Clonbonny Stud, and The Twelve Pins (Ire) (Beat Hollow {GB}) out of Sixhills (Fr) (Sabrehill) from the Closutton Stables draft, both bringing €40,000.
The Twelve Pins was purchased by Temple Bloodstock.
Aubrey McMahon said, “She has been bought to stay in Willie's. She is a sound racemare, she will race on and has been bought as a broodmare prospect, hopefully, she will do the two jobs.”
At the conclusion of the November NH Sale, Simon Kerins, CEO of Tattersalls Ireland commented, “It was always going to be a tough ask to follow two years of record-breaking trade at the November NH Sale, so for the foal section to return an average just off €18,000 and a commercially-bred yearling to fetch €58,000, the best price given for a yearling at the sale since 2021, is a satisfying result.
“The mares' session lacked the stars from previous years reflecting the desire for owners to retain good racemares as breeding prospects. We recognise that the yearling format on the last day did not prove effective, and we are committed to a thorough reflection on improving this particular section for 2024.”
A total of 641 head sold this season, down 17% from 772 sold in 2022, while gross also dipped to €11,395,200 from €13,883,050 last term. This year's average was €17,777, down slightly from €17,983 in 2022 while media fell 14% from €14,000 to €12,000. Lots listed as unsold stood at 371–a 12% decrease–after this season's five-day run.
“Foals sold at that top level were a feature of all four days' trade, but whilst that top bracket of foals sold this week over €50,000 was a joint record and more foals were sold in excess of €80,000 than ever before, undoubtedly there are trade gaps further down the level and there is no denying the current market is selective.”
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