A 3-year-old store by Doctor Dino (Fr) rounded out Day 2 of the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale when going to Gordon Elliott Racing for €350,000. The gelding is the highest-priced Store horse sold in 2024 and the joint-second highest-priced store horse ever sold at public auction. Consigned by Sluggara Farm, Lot 283 is out of 17-year-old Matnie (Fr) (Laveron {GB}), who has produced five winners, all of whom are Grade 1 or Grade 2 scorers to date.
“Once again, the Derby Sale has proven why it is held in the highest regard by National Hunt vendors and purchasers,” said Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins. “The previous 49 editions have produced an illustrious roll of honour, and I have no doubt that our class of 2024 will produce horses competing on the biggest stage. The Derby Sale has yet again produced the highest-priced Store sold anywhere in Ireland and the UK, a milestone particularly celebrated in its 50th year. This year's sale also saw 25 lots surpassing €100,000, more than any other Store sale.”
Elliott has had great success with the gelding's half-siblings as trainer of the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle winner Caldwell Potter (Fr) (Martaline {GB}), who was sold at February's Tattersalls Ireland as part of the Andy & Gemma Brown Dispersal Sale for a top price of €740,000, the multiple Grade 1 hurdle and chase winner Mighty Potter (Fr) (Martaline {GB}), and the five-year-old mare Brighterdaysahead (Fr) (Kapgarde {Fr}), winner of April's G1 Mersey Novices' Hurdle.
Bidding kicked off at €100,000 and raced through to €270,000 with trainer Emmet Mullins on the telephone, while Eddie O'Leary joined the action at €275,000. The two traded blows, Mullins being the one to round up to €300,000, but it was the quick-bidding O'Leary, standing on the balcony and by the bid board with trainer Gordon Elliott and agent Mouse O'Ryan, who claimed the final honours at the year's best store horse price.
“We have had most of the family and we have been very lucky with it, and we are looking forward to him,” said Elliott. “He is a very athletic horse; he is not unlike Mighty Potter and is for an existing client. We will be hoping we could bring him back for the Tattersalls Ireland George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper, that is the first plan.”
Thursday's second-best priced horse, Lot 282 by Harzand (Ire), was bought for €185,000 by Tom Malone and Paul Nicholls.
Sold by Oaks Farm Stables, the 3-year-old is a half-brother to Arizona Cardinal (GB) (Kayf Tara {GB}), winner of this year's G3 Topham Chase and out of Mathine (Fr) (Malinas {Ger}), a half-sister to the G1 Gold Cup and two-time King George VI winner Long Run (Fr). The gelding was bought last year in France as a 2-year-old by Church Farm for €80,000.
“He is a beautiful horse, and his half-sister was the Grade 3 winner at Aintree this spring, it is just a happening pedigree,” said Malone.
A total of 203 horses were catalogued on Day 2, with 149 selling for gross receipts of €7,293,000. The median for the final day of trading was €38,000 while the day's average closed out at €48,946.
Through two days, a total of 292 head found buyers, for €13,969,500, down 13% from 2023 when 300 realized €16,075,000.
“While achieving a €350,000 top price is a notable success, it's crucial to note that the market remains selective,” said Kerins. “With a clearance rate of 79% and average and median prices of €47,841 and €38,000 [for the two-day sale], respectively, we observe a market that, while solid, reflects cautious buyer sentiment compared to previous years.”
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