I recently visited the Tattersalls Ireland August National Hunt sale where trade returned to the level of two years ago and the results from 2009 were left behind. It started on tuesday where trade was a bit sluggish in the morning but quickly picked up in the afternoon which contained the majority of the better individuals on offer and also produced the first six-figure transaction seen at the sale for several years.
The catalogue was slightly larger than normal with turnover doubling to €1.5 million from 2009 figure. Another promising sign was the average price paid which was up by almost two thirds to €6000. However with prices been considerably lower than previous years, the market was still tough for many vendors, but the signs are there that there may be confidence returning to the market. Two animals surpassed the €100,000 mark, the first, a four year old, Old Vic gelding out of the Lismullen Hurdle winner Rose Of Inchiquin, this nice animal made €120,000. The next. a son of another excellent sire, Presenting, made €110,000, this three year old was purchased as a foal for €50000.
There were many more animals that made nice five figure sums, that one might argue would not have made the same figure last year when the market was in turmoil. The market, as always was still there for the good looking, athletic, well bred horse, whilst, the lower end of the market did not meet the criteria of many buyers. It was also good to see many of the top Irish trainers at the sale and also encouraging to see many of the UK trainers, these faces were probably attracted by the introduction of the €100,000 Tattersalls Ireland Sales Bumper.
All in all I was surprisingly encouraged with what I say and I would imagine I was not the only one, we all know that the industry has been on its knees now since 2008 with 2009 been one of the hardest years in the industrys history. So going forward, I hope, as all do involved in the industry that figures at sales like this can continue and even improve in the near future and that Ireland can still continue to be the leader in the bloodstock industry.
