The 6-year-old Instit (Fr) (Saint Des Saints {Fr}) topped the fourth and final day of the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale at Fairyhouse on Wednesday.
Consigned by Neilstown Stud, lot 847 brought €125,000 from Will Kinsey of Peel Bloodstock, one of three lots to break the six-figure mark on the day. In foal to Walk In The Park (Ire), the sale's overall topper who was placed at listed level over hurdles, won a listed chase at Fairyhouse and was also second in the G2 Glencarraig Lady Mares Chase twice at Punchestown.
“Like the foal we purchased earlier today [Lot 821] she is for a partnership with my brother-in-law Richard Burton,” said Kinsey. “We have also got a few partners who are new into breeding, all fellow former amateur riders, it is a bit of an ex-amateur riders' syndicate.
“Again she is a rare sort, a Saint des Saints broodmare–I have not got one and have been trying to buy one for a long time. She is going back to Richard's from here and we have to make some plans for her next covering, luckily, there are lots of good options in the UK now.”
A pair of colt foals earlier in the day shared the highest foal price of €110,000, the top price given for a foal at this sale since 2021. First was a son of No Risk At All (Fr) and Zarkareva (Fr) (Authorized {Ire}) (lot 673) from Coolmara Stables, Ltd. He was knocked down to NBB Racing and is from the family of undefeated Arc heroine Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar).
“It is expensive coming here,” said NBB Racing's Nicolas Bertran de Balanda. “He has been bought for owner Sofiane Benaroussi, who is building a team in France and the colt is going to race in France.”
De Balanda added, “This is a very good first foal, by a top stallion, and he has a great pedigree. He is probably going to be a tall horse and we will need to give him a bit of time. Sofiane is buying a lot of very good young stock and is going to have a nice team in France moving forward.”
The second foal to reach that price was lot 774, a son of Saint Des Saints from the Clonmult Farm draft. Named Saint Of Saints (Fr), he went the way of Jerry McGrath. He is a half-brother to Kapkiline (Fr) (Kapgarde {Fr}), who has won at listed level over hurdles and was third in the G1 Prix Ferdinand Dufaure Chase.
“He has been bought to race in France,” said McGrath. “He is for a client who will probably bring in a few friends now as he cost a bit more than we expected. He is a lovely colt, and Saint des Saints does not need any explaining.
“I am spending a lot of time now in France and have seen Olympic Story (Fr) (Masked Marvel {GB}), who is out of the half-sister, she is the best three-year-old filly racing in France.”
McGrath added, “He won't be gelded–the dream will be to keep him as an entire, and if he gets to the required level of form we might be able to retire him to stud in France.”
A total of 22 foals made €50,000 or higher, with 40 marked as sold for €40,000 or more. The leading consignor was Ballincurrig House Stud, with Michael Moore's operation grossing €601,500 for 25 lots sold.
After four sessions, the sale grossed €7,894,900 for 481 lots sold (60%), down 26% on last year's total. The average dropped 7% to €16,414, while the median was €11,000 (-8%).
Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins said, “After four days of trading there were positives to extract from this week's sale, with two foals selling for €110,000 today, while the black type mare Instit, saw her top the sale, at €125,000.
“Whilst there has been sustained demand for what the market sees as commercially attractive foals, the selective nature of the National Hunt market is clear to see and has been evident throughout the year at other National Hunt sales.
“We recognise that a percentage of foals failed to meet what the market requires, and we empathise with consignors that found this week a challenge and despite a smaller catalogue we still witnessed a slight drop in the clearance rate on last year's sale. That said there were vendors who attained excellent prices and went away satisfied with their results. It was also encouraging to see buyers drawn to a broader range of stallions, with the progeny of six different stallions among the top 10 purchases.
“It was pleasing to have an increased presence from UK buyers over the four days, while both of our top priced foals have been purchased to race in France.
“We would like to thank our vendors for their support and to wish all our purchasers well with their new acquisitions, and we look forward to seeing those foals bought this week returning to the Tattersalls Ireland sales ring in the future or excelling on the racetrack.”
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