Tattersalls Ireland Hails Best Group of Horses Yet
A Barometer for the Market
Tattersalls Ireland's September Yearling Sale opened this week at Fairyhouse with a strong catalogue and turnover up 51% on the previous year. David Ryan, who manages Jaber Abdullah's Kilfrush Stud, predicted the sale would serve as a proper barometer for the market. Ryan, operating through Rabbah Bloodstock, spent roughly €2 million (US$2.2 million) on 27 yearlings at the sale twelve months earlier, a haul that included the filly Star Of State.
Star Of State, bought for €85,000 (US$92,650), finished second to Libertango in the Gr.2 Lowther Stakes at York before winning the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes at the Curragh, beating Fine Line by two and a quarter lengths under Ryan Moore for trainer Joseph O'Brien.
Abdullah's connection to Irish sales runs deeper than a single purchase. Ryan explained that the owner has bought horses including Music Show, sourced from the old Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale, and America Queen more recently. "The boss has a very close affinity to Ireland," Ryan said. "You usually go back to where you have been lucky before, don't you?"
Ryan described the team surrounding Abdullah's decision-making at the sale, naming trainers Richard Hughes, James Tate and Kevin Ryan as present alongside the owner himself. "He has a great team around him and he listens to everyone before ultimately making his own decision," Ryan said. "What we're always looking for is value — value is the bottom line. At this sale, you can find a lot of value."
Searching for the Next One
Ryan has spent the days since Saturday scouting the barns at Fairyhouse for the next filly capable of following Star Of State's path. "We're looking for something that will go on and something that will have a bit of substance — not just a horse that will win a couple of races," Ryan said. "We're looking for a horse who could be stakes class, especially fillies."
Star Of State showed her quality early, according to Ryan, who traced her back through her page before buying. "Star Of State came to hand fairly quickly so we knew she was fairly decent from an early stage," he said. "Her dam was pinhooked by Paul McCartan and Rathbarry Stud, so I followed her through. Now, the dam had been a little disappointing, it has to be said, but this one looked like 'the one' and we were lucky to get her."
Star Of State's dam, Nations Alexander, was Group Two-placed and won the Gr.3 Sweet Solera Stakes, and the filly is one of three winners from seven foals out of her. Joseph O'Brien, who trains her, had underbid the yearling himself before Ryan secured her — a detail Ryan says shaped what happened next. "He sent a text straight away asking could he train her and I replied saying I would see what I could do," Ryan said. "Of course, he trained the sire, and the fact he underbid her, it made sense to send the filly to him."
Building on a Royal Ascot Legacy
Tattersalls Ireland has had no shortage of results to point to beyond Star Of State. Three graduates of the September Yearling Sale — Docklands, Time For Sandals and Cercene — won Group One races at Royal Ascot in June 2025, having cost a combined total of roughly €101,000 (US$110,090) as yearlings. Docklands took the Queen Anne Stakes, Time For Sandals won the Commonwealth Cup for trainer Harry Eustace, and Cercene claimed the Coronation Stakes for trainer Joe Murphy.
Tattersalls Ireland boss Simon Kerins said the sale's catalogue reflected that momentum. "The horses are here and so are the buyers," Kerins said. "It's probably the best catalogue we've ever assembled, and to be honest, we knew that we were going to have the best group of horses at this sale when we were going through our inspections earlier in the year."
Kerins also pointed to Star Of State when discussing the sale. "The demand for places has been very strong and that has stemmed from the three Royal Ascot winners last year and then of course we had Star Of State this year and she looks potentially high-class," he said. "I thought she was a bit unlucky in the Lowther and she showed her class in the sales race the other day."
Turnover at the September Yearling Sale reached €18,759,500 (US$20,447,855) in 2025, a rise of 51% on the previous year, with a 93% clearance rate recorded in Part 1 of the sale. Ryan said he expects strong trade at Fairyhouse again this week, pointing to growing interest from buyers outside Ireland. "It has been very, very tough for both the breeder and the pinhooker, but hopefully things will pick up here this week because there is always a great representation of foreign buyers here," Ryan said.