Maiden winner Starzand (Ire) (Harzand {Ire}) (lot 6) became just the third horse to clear the £200,000 barrier at the Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale when selling to former NH jockey Richard Johnson for £230,000 on Saturday.
Secured for Dave Lewis's Gwent Holdings, the 5-year-old gelding is bound for the yard of Philip Hobbs and Johnson White. Formerly a €21,000 store at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale, Starzand was consigned by James Doyle's Baltimore House Stables and his price is the second-highest ever recorded at the sale.
“Dave is keen to have a few more, we bought last year, they have run well and he is keen to move forward again,” said Johnson, who is helping Lewis with purchasing plans.
“Everyone wants winners at Cheltenham and that is where we want to get. This looks a lovely horse, and will be one for the future, he is a proper long-term three-mile chaser and it might take him two years for him to reach his potential.”
Debut bumper winner Kilwaughter (Ire) (Milan {GB}) (lot 22), who struck at Down Royal on Boxing Day, caught the eye of Tom Malone at £120,000 in a private sale. A half-brother to seven winners from the family of Grade 2 winner and Grade 1-placed Ghizao (Ger) (Tiger Hill {Ire}), the 5-year-old gelding was consigned by Stuart Crawford's Newlands Stables. His previous trips through the sales ring were as a €24,000 Tattersalls Ireland November NH foal and a €30,000 store buy.
Malone said, “He might go for one of the decent late-spring bumpers, he has been bought on spec, and I thought he had a lovely level of form. He is a beautiful horse with a lovely winning pedigree, and he came highly recommended.”
Rounding out the six-figure lots was Leopardstown bumper winner Karate Kid (Ire) (Spanish Moon) (lot 10), who changed hands for £100,000 when purchased by Tessa Greatrex of Highflyer Bloodstock. Consigned by Colm Ryan Racing, he is intended for Jim and Clare Bryce, owners of Rhonehurst Stables, the training base for Warren Greatrex. His dam is a half-sister to the Grade 1-winning chaser Arzal (Fr) (Vendangeur {Ire}).
“Jim and Clare had a runner here today, and I don't think they were initially intending to buy, but I saw the horse yesterday and recommended him,” said Greatrex. “We were impressed with his bumper win, he beat some nice horses and he looks a smart horse for the future.”
The aggregate almost doubled, rising by 90% to £1,667,000 for 24 lots sold from 30 offered. Last year's sale garnered £876,000. The average rose 27% to £69,458 and the median increased by 102% to £62,500.
Tattersalls Online sales manager Shirley Anderson-Jolag said, “The Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale has been highly satisfactory producing a clearance rate of 80%, a turnover over £1,600,000, alongside increases in both the average and medians, all figures which show a strong improvement on 2024.
“Today's across-the-card Grade 3 double with Docpickedme (Ire) (Getaway {Ger}), winner of Doncaster's Great Yorkshire Chase, and Moon D'Orange (Fr) (Spanish Moon)'s success at Cheltenham, prove yet again that buyers who are interested in purchasing high-quality jumps horse should look no further than the Tattersalls Cheltenham sales.”
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