Four days of incredibly strong foal trade produced the best set of returns for the foal section of the November National Hunt Sale seen since 2007, then a seven day foal sale.
The aggregate of €11,683,700 is the third-highest turnover ever achieved by the foal session and an increase of 16 per cent on 2016, while the overall average of €16,596 and the median of €12,500 are also records and are increases of 14 per cent on the 2016 returns.
Over the four days, 59 foals sold for €40,000 or more, while 18 made sums of €60,000 or more.
Day four of the foal sale produced a top price of €54,000 given by Richard Rohan for a colt by Kapgarde (Lot 1214). Sold by Chapel Lane Bloodstock, the colt is a first foal out of a Protektor half-sister to the dam of 15-time and dual Grade 1 hurdle winner The New One.
"He is an unbelievable first foal," said Rohan, who outbid Oneliner Stables for the April-born colt. "A cracking sort, I couldn't leave him behind. He is by a very good sire and has a serious black-type horse high up in his page."
Paul Cashman of Rathbarry and Glenview Studs spent €40,000 on a colt by the farm's late sire Presenting from The Dales Stud (Lot 1135).
"He is a sweet colt, with a good outlook," said Cashman. "We had the three-year-old full-brother whom we sold for €100,000. We also had Present Lodger, a son of this grand-dam Hannigan's Lodger - it has been a good family to us and keeps working away.
"The number of Presenting's are dwindling now and it's good to keep the flag flying for him - we might not see the likes of him as a stallion again!"
The final session of the November National Hunt Sale consists of mares and breeding stock and starts at 11am today.
Click here to view the catalogue/results of the November National Hunt Sale