Cue Card, Barters Hill, Prince Of Scars, Outlander, Don’t Touch It, Ballyoptic, No More Heroes and Identify Thief are impressive list of talented Grade 1 winners in 2015/16 and all graduates of the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale.
Furthermore, an outstanding 18 Derby Sale sold horses won at the four major spring National Hunt Festivals in 2016 including the Grand National winners Rule The World, winner of the Aintree Grand National, Rogue Angel, winner of the Irish Grand National and Mountainous who claimed his brave victory in the Welsh Grand National.
This year’s Derby Sale takes place on June 22-23 and Part II takes place on June 24 and once again offers National Hunt trainers and owners the opportunity to select from a quality line-up of young store horses with bright futures boasting top class pedigrees and produced by leading breeders and consignors in Ireland, England and France. 426 Lots make up the Derby Sale with 192 Lots catalogued for Part II.
Classy pedigrees are aplenty, but one horse bound to attract plenty of attention from buyers will be Lot 313, the Beneficial three-year-old half-brother to the 14-time winner, seven-time Grade 1 winner and BHA 176-rated chaser Cue Card. Offered by Kilmoney Cottage Stud, the bay gelding is a son of the talented Grade 2 placed mare Wicked Crack, a King’s Ride daughter who has proven her ability at passing on her considerable talent to her offspring.
Also closely related to one of the leading performers of the last two National Hunt seasons is Lot 138, a Fracas half-brother to the imperious Willie Mullins-trained Faugheen, the winner of 11 of his 12 starts, seven of which have been at Grade 1 level and including the Champion Hurdle of 2015. Coolnahay Stud consigns the gelding on behalf of owner and breeder Dr John Waldron.
Goldford Stud offers a closely related brother to Hurricane Fly, the dual Champion Hurdler, five-time Irish Champion Hurdler and record-breaking Grade 1 winning son of Montjeu. By Yeats, Lot 237 is closely related to “The Fly” through grand-sire Sadler’s Wells and the three-year-old has already made his mark in the sale ring – he was the top-priced foal at the Tattersalls Ireland November Sale in 2013.
In total, Goldford Stud has eight lots catalogued including a Saint Des Saints half-sister to 2016 Grade 2 placed Amore Alato (Lot 235), a Flemensfirth half-brother to the dual Grade 3 placed Gallant Oscar (Lot 180), and an Oscar second foal out of the five-time and Grade 2 Mares’ Hurdle winner Zarinava (Lot 322).
Yet more winning Champion Hurdle form can be found in the pedigrees of these two well-bred fillies; Lot 375 is a Yeats half-sister to the 2010 winner Binocular from Sunnyhill Stud while Throckmorton Stud offers a half-sister by Shirocco to the 2009 Cheltenham winner Punjabi (Lot 411).
Another boasting close-up Festival form is Lot 35, a Stowaway full-brother to Champagne Fever, winner of Champion Bumpers at Cheltenham and Punchestown, the Grade 1 Supreme Novice Hurdle and the Grade 1 Deloitte Novice Hurdle. He will be sold by Smithstown Stud.
Sunnyhill Stud offers a Shantou half-brother to Gold Cup winner Kicking King (Lot 26) and is also consigning Lot 329, a Doyen half-brother to the Grand National runner-up Balthazar King. Immediately following his sale and hailing from the same family is a bay filly by Presenting from Ballinaroone Stud (Lot 330).
From Peter Nolan Bloodstock, the already named Buck’s Billionaire is a Kapgarde half-brother to seven winners headlined by the brilliant four-time Grade 1 World Hurdle winner Big Buck’s (Lot 382) The following lot, a chestnut gelding by Getaway from Mount Eaton Stud is out of a half-sister to Big Buck’s (Lot 383)
Fillies boasting strong latent paddock value include a Beneficial filly (Lot 258) from Fortbarrington Stud. She is out of the high class performer Spirit Leader and is a half-sister to last December’s Grade 1 Hurdle winner and Derby Sale graduate Prince Of Scars and the top chaser Folsom Blue.
From Knockroe Stables is a Flemensfirth daughter out of Glen Empress, the dam of the Irish Grand National winner Thunder And Roses, Grade 2 winner Shirley Casper and Listed winner Oligarch Society (Lot 46)
Lot 139, named Princess Poutine, is a half-sister to the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Spa Novice Hurdle winner Brindisi Breeze and is offered by Baroda & Colbinstown Studs. Ballyclerihan House Stud offer a Flemensfirth half-sister to the 2016 Grade 2 third Simon Squirrel and is out of an own-sister to Grade 1 Champion Hurdle winner Rock On Ruby (Lot 140).
Walk In The Park, sire of 2016’s leading performers Douvan and Min, has three lots catalogued including Gentleman Walker (Lot 199) offered by Brown Island Stables. The February-born grey gelding is from the Classic Flat middle-distance and staying family of Ramruma, Yorkshire and Strategic Prince.
Leading Irish-based consignors are well represented and regular leading Derby Sale consignor Ballincurrig House Stud has a 31 lot prominent draft. Notable highlights from their offering are Lot 48, a French-bred gelding by Walk In the Park as well as the first foal out of the Grade 3 winner and Grade 1 placed Miss Nomer (Lot 137) by Presenting. Lot 55 is a Stowaway gelding out of the three-time Grade 3 winner Grangeclare Lark.
Lakefield Farm, consignor of last year’s Derby Sale top lot, offers a nine-lot draft with Lot 50 looking a very interesting sort. Named Defi Bleu, the gelding is a half-brother to the multiple black-type performer Upsilon Bleu from the family of the talented two-mile chaser Edredon Bleu and by Saddler Maker, sire of the 2016 Grade 1 World Hurdle runner-up Alpha Des Obeaux.
All horses catalogued and offered for sale are eligible for the €100,000 Tattersalls Ireland George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper to be run at the 2017 Fairyhouse Easter Festival.
Click here to view the Derby Sale Catalogue