Record-Breaking Season Concludes at the Tattersalls Cheltenham May Sale
For the second year in succession the Tattersalls Cheltenham point-to-point sales season has produced a record-breaking turnover of £22,750,500, and an average price of £87,502 for 260 horses sold.
The May Sale, which has not been held at Cheltenham since 2019, saw good commercial trade, a strong clearance rate of 97% and produced a two-way tie for the top price at £160,000.
The honours were shared between the Affinisea four-year-old gelding I SEE THE SEA (Lot 33), sold by Donnacha Doyle of Monbeg Stables, and the Walk In The Park five-year-old BINGE WORTHY (Lot 13), consigned by trainer Denis Murphy’s Ballyboy Stables.
I SEE THE SEA, who is out of a Bob's Return half-sister to the Grade 2 winner and Grade 1-placed Racing Demon, has run once when second in a four-year-olds maiden at Bartlemy on May 7. He was bought by the new training combination of Philip Hobbs and Johnson White.
"He is for a client in the yard," said Hobbs. "He has a good pedigree; his first run was good. Apparently, he was nearly not going to run but came right at the right time so, hopefully, he will be an improver with a bit more time."
Johnson White, who joined the licence in March and reported that he is enjoying the new role, said: "We both looked at the horse together, we both liked him a lot and we are very much looking forward to getting him home. We both wanted to train him, which is a major part of it.”
Agent Mouse O’Ryan and trainer Gordon Elliot signed for BINGE WORTHY, who won on his career debut at Dromahane on April 23.
"He has been bought on spec," explained O’Ryan. "We saw him work and school a couple of times, he was very impressive. The sire speaks for himself, the vendor speaks for himself, and he is for sale! He has a lovely pedigree; it is a brilliant page – come and speak to us!"
The four-year-old gelding is out of Carrigeen Lonicera, a winning half-sister to the Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup and Spa Hurdle (G1) winner Minella Indo. She is dam of three winners from four runners, including Carrigeen Lotus, who has been placed in a Grade 2 mares’ bumper, hurdle, and chase.
Hamish Macauley Bloodstock signed for two lots – FOXY WALK, a son of Walk in the Park who has run twice and finished a good second on his latest start at £145,000, and IRELANDS CALL, who was a £100,000 purchase. He is a son of Jack Hobbs and has been bought to race in the US for trainer Leslie Young and owner Gill Johnston.
Both were sold by the session’s leading consignor Monbeg Stables, the former sold by Cormac Doyle and the latter by Donnacha Doyle.
Matt Prior, Tattersalls’ Head of Sales, said: “We have come to the end of a brilliant season at Tattersalls Cheltenham and to have achieved a record-breaking turnover is very satisfying and testament to hard work by the whole team.
“There have been some wonderful highlights in the sale ring, headlined by a top price of £420,000, which was given twice at the Festival Sale. Over the six sales, 22 horses have fetched £200,000 or more.
"There have been some brilliant performances by Cheltenham graduates on the racecourse and the 2022-23 season has produced eight winners of ten Grade 1 races.
"The successes went right through to Punchestown Festival and Feronily’s Champion Novice Chase (G1) win – he was bought at last November’s Cheltenham Sale for just £45,000; he looks a hugely exciting type and is already being talked about as a Gold Cup prospect.
"The production of these top-class point-to-pointers and horses-in-training should never be underestimated. We thank all the vendors for their skills and ability at producing these horses to their very best and as hugely exciting ongoing prospects for new connections, who take the horses forward to their full potential.
“We wish everyone the very best for the summer and would like to remind them that the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale takes place at Fairyhouse on June 28-29.
“We look forward to seeing you all back here next autumn for the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale on November 17.”