A Rich History half-brother to Grade 1 winner Old Park Star (lot 218) topped the first session of the Tattersalls Ireland August National Hunt Sale at €70,000 at Fairyhouse on Wednesday.
The Hillview Stud-consigned gelding was purchased by Tom Malone and Paul Nicholls. The price is the highest at the sale since 2019.
Jimmy Kelly, acting for Malone and Nicholls, had good reason to be attracted to lot 218, as they purchased Old Park Star as a three-year-old store.
“Tom couldn't be here today, but he was all over this horse when he knew he was coming here,” said Kelly, who bid from the balcony. “Paul was keen to get back in with the family again. The horse deserved to make that as he's a quality horse with a very good pedigree with two of his half-brothers both very good horses.”
Two other lots made €50,000 or more, with a Nirvana Du Berlais gelding (lot 131) bringing €55,000 from Tom Lacey/UK P2P; and a Soldier Of Fortune gelding hammering for €50,000 to Toby Bulgin. The single session saw three lots sell for €50,000 or more, and nine sold for €40,000 or more–the highest number to reach those levels at the sale since 2022. Overall, 151 horses sold (62%) for €1,873,100. The average was €12,405 and the median was €8,000.
All horses catalogued and offered at the August National Hunt Sale are eligible for the €100,000 Tattersalls Ireland MSL Mercedes-Benz Sales Bumper, run the 2027 Leopardstown Christmas Festival. The second day of the August National Hunt Sale begins at 10:00am tomorrow.
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