Tatts Ireland August National Hunt Sales 2017 Review

Sales Overview

This sale is traditionally the reserve of the Irish Point-to-Point community, where horses are bought with the near future in mind.
That future is often lucrative for the buyer.
For, after an education and training regime in a small yard, by the owner, the family or a friend, the purchase is aimed at a Point-to-Point 'chase for maiden 4 year olds the following year and if successfully placed or better, the big jumping yards of Eire and England come-a-calling with open cheque-books.
This can be through a direct sale, or at any of the monthly NH Sales that have been littering the scene in recent years.
And some mighty fine horses, and even more mighty fine prices have ensued, with the Doyle brothers under the banner of Monbeg Stables being the leader in this field.

Jealous? Er, now whatever makes you think that...........

This year's edition followed that trait. Wandering round the sales complex, there were a few 'northern' trainers present in tow with their respective bloodstock agents - Grand National Winning Trainer Lucinda (with Malone) and Cumbria based Nicky R (with Griffin) who both made several purchases at the higher end of the market. Ian Gray (an owner with George Bewley) has a good eye for a horse and had several nice types on his 'wanted' list. He acquired a Kalanisi gelding and likewise trainers such as Chris Grant (at least one purchase) were working hard with owners to find the right horse over the 2 days.
Keep a look out for these horses hitting the racecourse at a location near you over the next 18 months.

The larger bloodstock agency names could also be heard announced by the auctioneer as the gavel fell - Matt Coleman (of Stroud Coleman), David Minton (of Highflyer), Kevin Ross who all regularly represent English yards such as Alan King, Venetia, etc.

But the vast majority of horses sold found new homes in established Irish training establishments or within the Point-to-Point fraternity.

Team Whillans in serious mode - inspecting a potential purchase at the sales this week

This year's Sales Statistics

Sale		Horses Catalogued	Horses Offered	Sold	Average	Median
Tattersalls August 2017 NH Store Sale	2-day	672	545	383	€9,839	€6,500
......previous years' statistics
Tattersalls August 2016 NH Store Sale	2-day	662	545	365	€8,291	€5,000
Tattersalls August 2015 NH Store Sale	3-day	730	586	398	€9,100	€5,500
Tattersalls August 2014 NH Store Sale	3-day	756	622	471	€9,569	€6,000
Tattersalls August 2013 NH Store Sale	2-day	635	522	365	€7,485	€4,800

*  Average : total aggregate of sold horses ÷ no. of horses sold
** Median : place all horses sold in order, highest price to lowest price, the median is the price attained by the midpoint horse
NB : as a comparison, the average price at this years Tatts Ireland Derby Sale (NH Stores) held in June was €50,000

Quite a boost for Tattersalls at this, the lesser of their two main National Hunt Store Sales this summer.
Comparing the statistics with 2016 showed a 30% improvement in the median to €6,500, a rise of 19% in the average to €9,839, while the aggregate grew by 25%. The clearance rate remained above 70% throughout the two days, while 22 lots sold for €30,000 or more compared with 17 in 2016.

We're pleased for them!
Didn't make our job of seeking economically priced purchases below the 2016 median of €5,000 any easier though.............

Dodlands Steading purchases

Together with Callum, Donald had a well researched list of potential purchases from the Sales Catalogue, and a few 'angles' to explore in the search for horses who, either on breeding or conformation, may not be in vogue this year and therefore priced at an affordable level. Last year, Scorpion as a sire was clearly out of favour but he went on to have a very successful jumps season with several Grade 1 success recorded by his sons (Might Bite for one). Sons of the great German flat performer and top class sire Monsun have proven popular as National Hunt stallions in recent years but whilst the progeny likes of Shirocco, Manduro and even young sires such as Getaway and Salutino are much sought after, off-spring from his sons Arcadio and Aizavoski are less so these days.

So after a lot of work, and great fun, two lots found a new home at Dodlands Steading, a Getaway filly and an Arakan gelding. We were the underbidders for a couple more, and there were also several more (as always) who we'd loved to have been able to bring back to Scotland budget permitting.

Lot 188 : an attractive, athletic bay filly by the promising NH sire Getaway whose oldest progeny are just 5 years old in 2017. The team were delighted to pick up her up for €2,200. She is the first foal of the unraced Milan mare Pocket Call who is out of a full sister to Grade 1 chaser Cooldine.

 An athletic Getaway filly, delighted with her!

Our second purchase was a couple of hours later in the afternoon, and this time a gelding by Arakan was secured (Lot 270).
Now Arakan was a high class miler on the flat, and is the sire of several Group 1 winning flat performers over a mile such as Toormore and Dick Turpin (who was also runner-up in a £2,000 Guineas). But he is not viewed as a source of stamina required by jumpers, hence the modest appeal of his stock.
However, his NH record does stand up to scrutiny and in the last couple of years sons such as Swaledale Lad and Vosne Romanee have racked up multiple wins over jumps at a useful level.
Our gelding is the son of an unraced Old Vic mare, and is an athletic, attractive sort not overbig at present but being a late foal (June), it is reasonable to think that the 3 year old may have a fair bit of growing to put into his frame over the next year.
He hails from the immediate family of Kid Cassidy, Shuil Royale and River City, and we're very pleased to secure this fellow.

 The Arakan gelding that will be heading back to The Borders  

Any that got away?

The recently deceased multiple Group 1 Flat winner Fame and Glory only had 5 seasons at stud, and although he had large crops (250 plus) in those years, going by the conformation and quality of this oldest crop (this year's 3 year olds) he will be sorely missed.
Fillies and geldings alike were very attractive and one we thought may be within our reach was Lot 394, not overbig (so may not have been top of the Irish Point-to-Point lads lists), but very well put together, athletic with a wonderful temperament.

Our own French bred gelding Dali Mail (by Satri) is a promising sort for next season, and we liked the look of the another French-bred gelding - the only Satri for sale over the 2 days. Lot 614 doesn't resemble our lad at all but is a well balanced, medium sized (over 16hh though), athletic type - easily the sort to fall in love with at the sales.

In a similar vein, the team just had to cast an eye over the only Sulamani on show (he shares the same sire as our unraced 4 year old filly Eternally Yours). Now the family resemblance on this occasion was remarkable, and the attractive, good moving gelding (Lot 515) is just that bit bigger (as befits) than our filly but seemed overlooked on the day being led out unsold.
A bit strange as we only found this out later on, thinking she was knocked down to a buyer on the day.

It'd be just our luck that any of these three hit the mark over the next couple of seasons, but the team are most delighted with our purchases who'll be heading off to be educated and a bit of pre-training before joining the yard later in the autumn.