No Nay Never Colt Stars at Tattersalls Ireland

FAIRYHOUSE, Ireland–Another day of steady business on Wednesday brought proceedings to a close at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale. With a reduced catalogue, matching last year's turnover was always going to be a challenge and coupled with the absence of some big ticket lots the aggregate of €9,415,500 for the two days came in a bit shy of the 2018 figure of €10,488,000. However the clearance rate was quite encouraging and came in at 86% overall and was indicative of the general current healthy demand for racehorses. Wednesday's average and median were down slightly on both the previous day and the corresponding day last year and thus had a knock on effect on the cumulative figures of €24,267 (down 5% on last year) and €20,000 (no change). There was perhaps a lack of star quality on offer as, compared to last year when there were 10 six-figure lots and a record breaking sale topper of €275,000, only two horses reached or passed the €100,000 mark this time around.

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing works closely with the Irish sales companies to ensure as many buyers as possible participate in the sale, particularly from overseas, and from that respect ITM boss Charles O'Neill was quite happy with proceedings. “The clearance rate was well up on last year and we are very happy with the level of trade, particularly from international purchasers,” said O'Neill. “Irish horses continue to be much sought after the world over and I would like to thank all the people who contributed to the success of the sale.”

Mick Kinane hasn't wasted any time making his mark in his new role with the Hong Kong Jockey Club and having bought the top lot on Tuesday he again held sway on Wednesday when paying €165,000 for a colt by No Nay Never, the overall sale topper. Lot 467 was offered by the Hore family's Mount Eaton Stud out of Rio's Pearl (GB) (Captain Rio {GB}).

Afterwards Kinane said, “He is by an exciting sire in No Nay Never and he is a lovely big horse but one that will need time. It's nice to be able to buy one by the sire.”

Breeder and consignor Philip Hore is no stranger to success both in the sales ring and on the racetrack and he said, “He was always an easy, loose-moving foal. We did have him entered up to sell as a foal but decided to wait to sell as a yearling. He's done really well in the last three months so I am thrilled.”

Wednesday's session didn't take long to kick into gear and while lot 252  from The Castlebridge Consignment was circling the ring, it appeared that Ed Sackville was about to bag the Exceed And Excel (Aus) colt for €90,000. However Eamonn Reilly, taking instructions on the phone, had at least another bid in him and when he offered €95,000 Sackville admitted defeat. Similar to Reilly's main purchase on Tuesday this colt is for a US owner though he may remain in Ireland to be trained initially.

“I've bought him for Magic Cap Stables,” Reilly revealed. “I'm not sure yet whether this colt will be trained in the US or Europe, it is to be decided but we have had winners in Ireland with Jessica Harrington. He was my pick of today.”

Exceed and Excels in Demand

Soon after another yearling by Exceed And Excel (Aus), this time a filly, fetched the sum of €90,000 when knocked down to the formidable breeze up partnership of Jim McCartan and Willie Brown. Lot 260, out of First Party (GB), (Royal Applause {GB}) was pinhooked as a foal by Joanna Morgan at Tattersalls last December for 30,000gns and offered by Morgan's Portlester Stud.

“I thought she was the best filly here and she comes from a good vendor,” McCartan said. “She'll go breezing obviously and we'll pick a sale for her in the spring. She is a great physical and I like Exceed And Excel fillies, we've had plenty of luck with them in the past.”

Joanna Morgan has proved most adept at selecting both foals and yearlings in recent years–Sir Dancealot (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) and Mums Tipple (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) just two of the high profile horses to have passed through her hands– and she predicts a similarly bright future for this filly. “I think she'll be a rocket, she certainly looks it,” Morgan said. “I loved her as a foal and I didn't think we'd buy her for 30,000gns–that is the most I'd ever spend on a foal.”

Footstepsinthesand Colt Attracts Doyles

The above mentioned Mums Tipple was bought by Peter & Ross Doyle last year as a yearling and the father and son duo zoned in on another son of Footstepsinthesand (GB) from Coole House Farm. Lot 359 benefitted from a smart update with his half-brother Intuitive (Ire) (Haatef {GB}) winning for the third time recently and is now rated 95. There was plenty of competition for the brown colt with Jono Mills and Shane Lyons both bidding, but it was Ross Doyle who emerged victorious with a final nod of €90,000. Doyle was accompanied by Tim and Tom Palin and Mike Prince of Middleham Park Racing and the syndicate managers revealed the colt would be trained by Richard Hannon, who also has charge of another high class son of the stallion in Threat (Ire).

“He was our pick of the colts this week,” said Tim Palin. “He was the first horse we vetted on Monday and we went to see him three times and every time there was a queue of people there to pull him out. He is a strong, well-developed horse and is a half-brother to a three-time winner rated 95 who is still progressing so there was plenty to like.”

The Doyles and Middleham Park had earlier combined to land lot 348 from Jonathan Fogarty's Gaynestown Stud for €62,000. The son of Equiano (Fr) represented a good pinhook for connections having been bought as a foal by Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock at Tattersalls last year for 16,000gns.

Sea The Stars Filly Goes to O'Neill

It was no surprise to see French based Irish trainer Eoghan O'Neill enter the bidding fray for lot 297, the Sea The Stars (Ire) filly offered by Kilcarn Park. Not only did O'Neill train the dam Holy Spring (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), but also several other family members including Holy Spring's stakes winning half-sister Nans Joy (Ire) (In The Wings {GB}). O'Neill has also bought stakes winners at this sale in the past.

After signing the docket at €70,000 he said, “I trained her mother Holy Spring and she was very quick for one by Dylan Thomas. She was very talented and twice finished second at listed level. I also trained the listed winner Nans Joy and another filly called Kenouska (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}). This filly is very like her mother and is by a top stallion in Sea The Stars.”

McConnell Acquires Kodiac Miss

Local trainer John McConnell is enjoying another fruitful season with his dual-purpose string and he added a smart filly to his stable in the shape of lot 320. McConnell was pushed to €65,000 to acquire the Kodiac (GB) full-sister to G3 Chipchase S. winner Koropick (Ire) but he was determined to do so.

“I was under-bidder on Koropick and I trained another half-brother [four-time winner Phebes Wish (Ire)], so I was keen not be denied,” he said. “She is a typical Kodiac, not over big, but strong and she has residual value as well. She comes from a good source in Knockatrina House and she is for an existing owner in the yard.”

O'Ryan Just “Dandy”

Bobby O'Ryan was another buyer who was keen to go back to the family well when giving €65,000 for a Camacho (GB) colt from Baroda Stud. O'Ryan had bought a 2-year-old half-sister to lot 447 earlier in the year and subsequently named Auckland Lodge (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), she has won three times this year for Yorkshire trainer Ben Haslam.

“He's a lovely horse,” said O'Ryan. “I bought his half-sister at the breeze-up sales and she has won three now. She is trained by Ben Haslam and this colt is heading there too. He looks a real 2-year-old type.”

The pair are the first two progeny out of the unraced mare Proud Maria (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) and were bred by Richie Galway.

The single session Part II of the sale commences on Thursday at 10 a.m.