Matching the giddy highs of last year's September Yearling Sale was never going to be easy, but the latest edition of Tattersalls Ireland's flagship flat auction can already boast a higher top price after Lot 231, a son of Chaldean out of the Showcasing mare Amazing Show, fetched €210,000 (US$240,946, 1€=US$1.15) late in the piece.
Ken Condon put up a bold show, but the winning bid came from Ed Sackville, standing alongside Hugo Palmer and Michael Owen. The col was consigned by Rathbarry Stud.
"All three of us thought he was an incredibly nice colt," said Sackville, who also works as Juddmonte's head of European sales. "No doubt I'll be perceived as being biased towards Chaldean, but I thought he was a very, very nice horse. Any time you have what the market perceives to be a nice horse, you have to expect to pay."
Palmer added: "What excites me about Chaldean is that Frankel's previous sire sons have all been successful, but this is the only one, like Frankel, who was a champion 2-year-old and a Two Thousand Guineas winner. I'm really excited about his prospects."
This sale has been a happy hunting ground for Palmer, both during his time in Newmarket and in his current role at Owen's Manor House Stables.
"This sale has been so good to me," the classic-winning handler said. "My first stakes winner Making Eyes came from here, not that I bought her myself. Then there was Galileo Gold and Hawksmoor, through to last year with Adaay of Scarlett and Sale Shark. The sale has been so good to us.
"I love the fact that we can come here and feel that we can buy any horse in the ring, which you can't really do at any other sale. We can buy the horses we feel are the best, and let's hope this is the best horse."
Rathbarry's Paul Cashman was understandably delighted with the transaction. He said: "I didn't see that coming! I was hoping, and with the interest in him, we thought he might make six figures, but I didn't think he'd make double six figures! There were some great people on him and I'm delighted with where he is going."
Trade warmed up as the day wore on and by the end of over 10 hours of selling, the key market indices all showed healthy enough returns, albeit without matching the unprecedented levels witnessed 12 months ago.
Turnover was down 10% year-on-year at €8,841,500 (US$10,184,383); the average price was clipped in by 4% at €41,705 (US$47,851); and the median was down by 11 points at €34,000 (US$39,010), having been €38,000 during the corresponding session last year. The clearance rate was 85% as 212 lots sold from 250 offered.
For much of the session, the market was led by Lot 104, a Sea The Stars filly who cost €160,000. She ended up being the top-priced filly of the day. Agent Alex Elliott and trainer Joe Murphy, standing with his son, Joseph, fought out the latter stages, for the former party eventually striking the decisive bid.
She is out of Snigger, a daughter of Dubawi and Laugh Out Loud, winner of the 2012 Prix de Sandringham (G2) and third in the 2013 De La Rose Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. That breeding means the dam is a half sister to Platinum Warrior, who won the 2019 San Marcos Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park. She was bred by the Hanbury family of Triermore Stud and sold through Castledillon Stud.
The September Yearling Sale continues at 10 a.m. local time Sept. 23.
