Over €17m changes hands as racing's biggest names splash cash and records broke

Irish Daily Mirror

5 hours ago

Records were smashed as €17,576,000 changed hands at this year's Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale. A record price of €285,000 was paid for a Store sold anywhere in Ireland, while a record number of 38 lots were sold for over €100,000.
Four horses were sold for over €200,000 with a Walk In The Park gelding out of Posh Trish (Lot 338) topping the sale at €285,000. Those involved in the bidding for the first foal out of the Listed-winning Stowaway mare included Gordon Elliott and Megan Nicholls.
However, it was Dan Skelton Racing and Ryan Mahon who won the bidding war and a delighted Skelton said afterwards: "He has incredible movement, he has good size, and has everything we want. He is a proper athlete, comes from a good hotel, he is out of a great mare and by the right sire. We thought he'd make €250,000, and then it was just a few arm wrestles after. He deserves to be a lot of money because he is a beauty – he is the most expensive Store we have ever bought!"
He added on ownership plans: "He is for some fantastic American ladies, Myrteel Ward and Margaret Duprey, who have supported us for some time – this is a definite step up for them, and for all of us!"
Agent Tom Malone, teaming up with trainer Gavin Cromwell and representing owner Owen Daley, splashed out €260,000 for Lot 370, a filly by Tunis named Moscovite from Moanmore Stables, who scored a lucrative profit after snapping her up last year for just €43,000.
The filly is a half-sister to four winners in France, and her dam Russie, by Network, is a half-sibling to Natal, a horse with 11 wins under its belt, including graded races over hurdles and fences, and finished runner-up in the prestigious two-mile Champion Chase (G1) at Punchestown.
"Owen was looking for a lovely horse and I said that this filly was a standout, she is a very smart," Malone commented. "I have ticked the box for the MSL Mercedes-Benz Sale Bumper, as I have done with all the horses I have bought over the two days, including those going to England – it is small amount of money for a valuable race."
Meanwhile, Gordon Elliott secured the Blue Bresil half-brother (Lot 432) to this year's Grade 1 Scilly Isle Novices' Chase victor Handstands, a Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale 2023 graduate, for a cool €235,000.
"He is a lovely athletic horse, one we have been waiting for all week," Elliott expressed about the Glenvale Stud-consigned gelding, who had previously been pinhooked at the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale for €70,000. "We will get him home now and broken in. His half-brother, Handstands, is very talented."
The half-siblings come from a talented extended family that includes black-type winners Be My Belle, Snake Eyes, Boreen Belle, Rose Of Inchiquin, Empire Of Dirt, Monalee and Monty's Star.
The fourth lot to fetch over €200,000 was another gelding by the sale's leading sire Walk In The Park – Aiden Murphy shelled out €210,000 for the Glenvale Stud-consigned three year old gelding out of the unraced Presenting mare La Bella Roma, a half-sister to the Listed bumper winner Vegas Blue (Lot 239). This is the family of the 11-time winner Bellshill, whose victories included the Punchestown Champion Bumper (G1), two Grade 1 novice hurdles, and the Punchestown Gold Cup (G1) and the Irish Gold Cup (G1).
"For me, this is the nicest Walk In The Park at the sale," said Murphy, adding: "I loved him, he is for Olly [Murphy] and for a new partnership in the yard – existing owners who have got together to increase their firepower."
The final buyer table featured some of National Hunt racing's most high profile trainers, with Willie Mullins / Harold Kirk , Olly / Aiden Murphy, Dan Skelton / Ryan Mahon, Gordon Elliott and O'Neill Racing all featuring prominently over the two days.
Simon Kerins, CEO of Tattersalls Ireland, expressed his satisfaction with the sale's performance: "The Derby Sale continues to deliver – not just in headline prices, but in real depth of trade. This week saw the highest-priced Store sold this year, and across every key metric the sale has significantly surpassed last year's strong figures. A record breaking 38 lots sold for €100,000 or more, while today's session saw us exceed the €10 million mark for the first time. The confidence shown by leading buyers, both in Ireland and in the UK, is a direct reflection of the quality on offer.
"The 14 Grade 1 winners in the 2024/25 season tell their own story. That level of success isn't a coincidence, and it's what brings the best agents, owners, and trainers back to Fairyhouse year after year.
"The Irish point-to-point community were out in force once again, and that cohort of the industry make sure that the Irish point-to-point field remains a trusted nursery and source of racecourse talent.
"We welcomed MSL Mercedes-Benz as our partner for the first time, and their presence has helped to elevate the sale. All horses catalogued and offered at the Derby Sale are eligible for the new €100,000 Tattersalls Ireland MSL Mercedes-Benz Sales Bumper.
"My thanks also to Irish Thoroughbred Marketing – their support plays an important part in strengthening the UK buying bench and complementing our own marketing teams' efforts."