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| Staff Writer |
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The Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up Sale on 24th May saw a remarkable surge in sales, breaking records for total receipts and average price. Katie Walsh, a Grade One -winning jockey, achieved great success at the 2023 sale by selling a Sioux Nation colt for US$2,60,412.00 to Mark McStay for Paddy Twomey.
The colt, named Letsbefrankaboutit, later won the Gr.3 Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh. Twelve months later, Walsh brought Lot 83, a daughter of the 2017 Gr.1 Phoenix Stakes winner, to Tattersalls Ireland, once again drawing significant attention.
The filly, a half-sister to six winners, garnered high demand among buyers. The Avenue Bloodstock mainstay and the trainer, who could saddle his first classic winner at the Curragh, were among the successful purchasers.
Notably, both fillies, including Purple Lily, a first-crop daughter of Calyx, were bought in this sales ring, with Purple Lily acquired by McStay for US$1,68,178.10 from Brian O'Connell's Chasefield Stables at last year's breeze-up sale.
McStay had to bid US$4,01,457.40 to secure the third-crop daughter of Sioux Nation, fending off rivals including Anthony Stroud. Walsh had originally purchased the filly for US$65,101.20 as a yearling.
"The filly was extremely well produced and did a superb breeze. I'm not a clock worshipper but she did clock very well, and Katie got paid accordingly," McStay said
The filly, from the family of 2022 Gr.1 Irish Champion Stakes and 2023 Gr.1 Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Luxembourg, was one of four purchases by McStay for Twomey.
The sale recorded a notable increase in the number of six-figure price tags year-on-year, with 20 horses fetching at least US$1,08,505.00 compared to 18 the previous year. The clearance rate hit 89%, indicative of the diverse and enthusiastic group of buyers. A total of 219 horses out of 245 offered found buyers during almost 11 hours of trade at Fairyhouse.
The aggregate of US$10,359,123 set an all-time high for this auction, representing an 11% increase from the previous record turnover. The average of US$47,302 showed a gain of 1% from last year's sale, which was also a record figure. However, the median declined by 7% to US$30,390.