Heron In The Park tops December sale

Not for the first time this season, it was a point-to-point mare that earned top billing at the Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale with the well-bred filly Heron In The Park, who won a fast-run mares’ maiden at Borris House at the beginning of December, fetching the session’s top price.

Her debut run for Donnchadh Doyle so impressed owner Damian Tiernan that, with former jumps jockey Tom Morgan in charge of bidding, the pair spent £280,000 on the half-sister to the Grade 3 winner and Grade 1 third Glory And Fortune; trainer Harry Derham and agent Ed Bailey the underbidder.

"She has been bought as a racing and breeding prospect," said Morgan. "She is for The Jekyll partnership who owned Mrs Hyde, and we are going to go down the same route as her – run in a bumper and, hopefully, then get a bit of black-type.”

Of plans from here, Morgan added: "We have no firm thoughts as yet, we just wanted to come and buy a nice mare with the hope of repeating Mrs Hyde’s success. We just loved the way this filly travelled and jumped in her race and she has lots of residual value.”

The bidding for November’s Boulta debut winner, the gelding Frankie John, consigned by Denis Hogan’s Boherna Stables, turned into a battle between bloodstock agents Aidan O’Ryan and Tom Malone, the latter eventually successful at £275,000.

"Denis has been telling me about this horse for the last six months and has been banging the drums about him,” said Malone. “The horse was impressive at the line at Boulta – he went past one of Donnchadh Doyle's and, to outstay one of the Donnchadh’s, means it was a good race.

“The horse didn't pull up until the far fence, and I love to see that around Boulta, especially.”

Hogan purchased the gelding, who is from the family of the Grade 1 winner Empire Of Dirt, for €115,000 as a three-year-old at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale and he said: “He is a gorgeous horse, and he was bought for resale. Not every horse gets to sell here, so to be here and get that sort of money is brilliant.

"He has been owned by myself and John Mahon, and we probably went a bit strong to buy him as a three-year-old, but you have to in order to get them – it has paid off today. He has a pedigree, he is model, he is athletic, he has got pace, he stays and he jumps, and he is big and bold.”

Of expectations before the gelding’s debut success, Hogan added: "I was worried he might be green, which he was, but I liked the way he ran right to the line. Hopefully, he goes on and does big things, and the buyers come back again."

It is not the first big result for the Tipperary-based Hogan in the Tattersalls Cheltenham sale ring – in 2022 he and Mahon sold Mahons Way to Alex Elliott at the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale for £360,000.

“That money was used to reinvest in this lad,” smiled Hogan.

Aidan O'Ryan and trainer Gordon Elliott did not walk away empty handed securing Lot 7, the four-year-old Borris House winner Cosmos D’Ainay, for £165,000.
Sold by Sam Curling’s Skehanagh Stables, the gelding is from the family of the French Grade 1 winner Fleur D’Ainay, and the Grade 2 winner and Stayers’ Hurdle third-placed Crystal D’Ainay.

Thirty lots were offered in today’s session and, of those, 27 found new homes at a clearance rate of 90 per cent, an average price of £95,185 and a median price of £80,000. Turnover was £2,570,000.

Sales manager Shirley Anderson-Jolag said: “We are delighted to conclude the Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale year with such healthy trade at a December Sale marked by a strong clearance rate of 90 per cent.

“Demand for the very best jumps prospects is as strong as ever and today’s race results at Cheltenham, with impressive victories by the progressive Tattersalls Cheltenham graduates Country Mile, Jango Baie and Long Draw, all of whom started out in point-to-points in Ireland and Britain, proves once again that the Tattersalls Cheltenham sales are the best source of top-quality jumping talent.

"We must extend our thanks to our vendors, purchasers and the staff at Cheltenham Racecourse, all are such a pleasure to work with.

"We look forward to returning to the Home of Jump Racing for the Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale on Festival Trials Day on January 25, entries are being taken now.

"In the meantime, we would like to wish everyone a great Christmas and all the very best for the new year.”