Record Renewal of Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale
The Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale’s record-breaking aggregate has capped a record-breaking year for the Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale division, which has witnessed the highest-ever turnover achieved by the six sales staged through from November to April.
The April Sale’s own turnover of £3,506,000 was an increase of 63 per cent on 2021, while the median of £53,500 and the average of £67,423 are both the second-best ever for the April Sale
Nine horses sold for £100,000 or more and session’s top price of £200,000, the highest price given at the sale since 2017, went to the five-year-old point-to-point winner Search For Glory.
Lot 59 SEARCH FOR GLORY
The son of the late Fame And Glory won his point-to-point at Quakerstown last Sunday on his career debut and was sold by John Costello of Fenloe House in County Clare, bought by trainer Gordon Elliott.
“It is the first horse I have ever sold here,” said Costello, son of NH legend Tom Costello who famously produced six Gold Cup winners, including the three-time winner Best Mate.
“We have owned Search For Glory since he was a foal, we bought him privately from breeder Pat Connell – I also bought Ballyadam from him, and he was later sold by Colin McKeever at the Cheltenham November Sale for £330,000.
“My son Conor rode Search For Glory on Sunday and he won like a very nice horse. He is a super athlete from a lovely family. He was perhaps a bit slow to mature, but he is the first of our young horses to run as our horses have been off colour. I would think once he gets the sun on his back this summer he will be a beautiful horse next year.”
Of the decision to come to Cheltenham to sell, Costello said: “There was a little bit of interest in him after his win. There was this sale today, we have never been over, so we thought we would show him off to the public.”
Lot 19 SHANBALLY KID
The early April Clonmel bumper winner Shanbally Kid (Lot 19) was sold by Richard O’Brien Racing to Harold Kirk/WP Muillins for £190,000.
Kirk said of the five-year-old son of Presenting: "This looks a nice horse to go forward. He comes from a good family. He was very impressive when he won his bumper, Willie [Mullins] trains the second horse and we think he is nice.”
Breeder and owner John Hayes was at Cheltenham to see Shanbally Kid sell.
He said: "I liked him from day one, he is a good-moving horse, by a proper sire. I think he sold well enough today. We thought that the bumper route would suit, and it has all come right, he won only eight days ago – it has all happened so fast!
Hayes added: "I am mainly a farmer of beef cattle and suckler cows. I didn't think I'd ever get here – I was always hoping!"
Lot 58 MAN AT WORK
Man At Work (Lot 58) was a faller at the last at Lingstown in March in one of the best four-year-old point-to-points held in Ireland this season, and trainer David Pipe with Tom Malone went to £155,000 to ensure the horse is heading next to Pipe’s West Country yard.
"He has very good form, and he is a lovely individual,” said Pipe. “He is only four and will progress with a summer's grass. He looks an old-fashioned steeplechaser, and the form of the race is rock solid so hopefully he can go on like the others from the race.”
Man At Work, a son of Workforce, was trained and ridden by Benny Walsh, who was not at Cheltenham, his wife Jenny representing the County Wexford team.
"He is owned in partnership with Denis and Conor Hayes, who are from Waterford," said Walsh, who added: "The fall was not the plan, but it was obvious he was going to finish second. He was behind Barry The Butcher, who is highly regarded, and the eventual second-placed Croke Park and the third Ballybeg Boss have both gone on to win.
"We have had a great year – we sold a Sea Moon gelding called Crossgales Moon at The Festival Sale for £100,000, we had paid just €10,000 for him."
Matthew Prior, Head Of Sales said;
“We have enjoyed a tremendous Tattersalls Cheltenham sales season with some outstanding results both in the sale ring on the track.
“To achieve a seasonal record-breaking turnover is a wonderful result and a great recognition of the strength in depth of the Tattersalls Cheltenham sale division – we have sold 73 horses for over £100,000 across the six sales, which is a fabulous reflection of the demand from the NH buying bench.
“The season’s highlight in the ring has to be the record-breaking Cheltenham December Sale that produced an aggregate of £5,584,000, the highest turnover ever achieved by a bespoke point-to-point sale.
“Tattersalls Cheltenham graduates continue to shine at the highest level and since June 2021 we have enjoyed watching nine Grade 1 winners in action, such stars as Envoi Allen, Shishkin, Sir Gerhard, Chantry House, Bravemansgame and Ferny Hollow.
“We now look ahead to our inaugural Tattersalls May NH Sale to be held on Thursday, May 26th at our headquarters at Park Paddocks in Newmarket.
“Alongside the customary point-to-pointers and horses in training, the sale will feature a section of store horses as well as the part dispersal of Ann and Alan Potts Ltd. We look forward to seeing you all in Newmarket.”