The single day Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale came to a close with 15 lots selling for over £100,000, two lots over £300,000 and a top price of £335,000 for lot 8, Tumuch (Fr) (Buck's Boum {Fr}).
After an impressive showing in his debut maiden at Lingstown where he posted an authoritative victory, Tumuch proved a hot commodity as bidding sailed through the ranks with Robbie Power, Tom Malone, Gordon Elliott, and Mouse O'Ryan putting up a spirited battle for the 4-year-old with the last coming out successful.
“He is a lovely horse, he is a well-made horse, who won well. He was very eye-catching. We had seen him in January, and we were waiting for him to run,” said O'Ryan. “We are building up a big team of young horses and they are starting to come to fruition. We have bought a Gold Cup horse out of the point-to-point field–we have only had one, but we'd like another!”
Out of the Maille Pistol dual-winning mare Pistol Girl, a half-sister to the dam of the Grade 2 winner and Grade 1-placed Sir Valentino (Fr) (Early March {GB}), Tumuch was sold by the 2021 Tattersalls Cheltenham December top consignor Ballycrystal Stables.
Wildcard entry Port Joulain (Fr) (Cokoriko {Fr}), consigned by Denis Murphy of Ballyboy Stables as Lot 20, was the second highest price on the evening, bringing £300,000 from Harold Kirk. He hails from the family of 11-time Grade 1 winner Apple's Jade (Fr).
The purchaser said: “He is going to Willie's; he was my pick of the sale. I love the sire, he gets the most winners in France. Apple's Jade is in the pedigree, and I love this horse as an individual. I think he has got loads of class.”
Third highest price on the sale was Belliano (GB) (Black Sam Bellamy {Ire}), lot 18 out of G3 Prix de Flore victress Miliana (Ire), who was bought by Tom Malone and Paul Nicholls for £255,000. This is also the family of G1 Galway Hurdle-placed Mirpour (Ire).
Sustained demand saw the flagship sale produce an aggregate of £3,448,000, a best-ever average of £104,485-up 15 per cent and the first time it has achieved a six-figure sum–and a record median of £85,000, up 26 per cent from last season. The seven Tattersalls Jockey Club Sales held in 2023 achieved a new record for annual aggregate with a turnover of £20,965,500.
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