'Freakish' Deeply Superficial heading for Gordon Elliott as £385,000 sale-topper

The Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sales catalogue highlighted Festival winners Shishkin, Chantry House, Sir Gerhard and Mount Ida, and Grand National heroes Tiger Roll and One For Arthur, as graduates and the many who lined up to bid at Friday’s sale would have been hoping for more of the same.

They may well get it too, as the 66 lots offered after racing at Prestbury Park, dominated by potential stars from the Irish point-to-point scene, broke records and saw turnover pass the £5 million mark for the first time.

For Matty Flynn O'Connor of Ballycrystal Stables it was an extraordinary evening, highlighted by the £385,000 sale to Mouse O'Ryan and Gordon Elliott of Deeply Superficial, a four-year-old daughter of Flemensfirth who only on Sunday had posted an impressive ten-length success at Lingstown.

"She was just a beauty," said Flynn O'Connor. "I bought her at the Derby Sale [for €31,000] off Ballincurrig House Stud and she's been a queen from day one, I bought her full-sister this year just on the strength of her before we ran her."

Asked how she came to make so much money, he continued: "I don't know but she's a standout and they're kind of a bit unique those well-bred fillies, by Flemensfirth out of a Kayf Tara mare.

"She was very impressive in her point-to-point, they went a right good gallop but she had them all burned off. She won on Sunday, was on the boat on Monday and she still looks a million dollars.

"There's been a lot of talk about fillies, what with Honeysuckle, people all looking for the dream, hopefully she can be the next one for the next man. I think she's very special."

O'Ryan does too and said: "She's gorgeous as a physical, she has a pedigree and what she did [last Sunday] was freakish. A friend of mine, Peter Nolan, rang me straight as she went by the line and said, 'You have to buy this filly, I haven't seen one like this for a long time'.

Gordon Elliott (left) and Mouse O'Ryan inspecting horses at Cheltenham on FridayCredit: Debbie Burt

"She's for a new client and is going to Gordon's. There's such a great programme for fillies and, with the trade that's been going on, there's great residual [value] in them as well."

Also consigned by Ballycrystal Stables was Stay Away Fay, a four-year-old son of Shantou who had likewise made a winning start at Lingstown on Sunday, in his case by six lengths. Paul Nicholls teamed up with Tom Malone to snare him for £305,000.

"We bought him at Doncaster last year [for £39,000] and he's just improved and improved," said Flynn O'Connor. "I've been around some good horses but this one has just got something different about him. I really think he could be anything."

Malone said: "He's been bought for Chris Giles, who has the Tingle Creek winner Greaneteen, and will go to Paul Nicholls. We've had luck buying winners from Lingstown - Bravemansgame came from there and fingers crossed this will be another nice Graded type of horse."

Hermes Allen, bound for the Paul Nicholls stable, was a fine result for Caroline McCaldinCredit: Debbie Burt

Nicholls, this time with Aiden Murphy, stretched even further later on, going to £350,000 for Hermes Allen, a four-year-old son of Poliglote and the first foal out of Auteuil Grade 3 winner Une Destine. He was consigned by Caroline McCaldin and had been the five-length winner of his second start at Kirkistown last month.

County Down-based McCaldin said: "It was unbelievable. Dad [Wilson Dennison, owner] asked me to graze two two-year-olds and I refused to give him back to him. We broke him, trained him, just couldn't get to the bottom of him, he's a brilliant horse."

Murphy said: "He's been bought for a client of Paul Nicholls. He's a Poliglote, the first produce of a decent French mare and the video was good."

Kirk and Mullins muscle in

Four-year-old Yeats gelding The Gunner Yeats, consigned by James Doyle’s Baltimore House Stables and from the family of Champion Hurdle hero Rock On Ruby, had kept on well to land a maiden at Dromahane on his debut last month and made £310,000 to Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins.

Doyle was delighted, as his sister Ellen had prepared him to win his point and the pair work in tandem.

"We've had plenty of good sales over the last two years and this would be about the best to date, so we're thrilled," he said. "He's a fantastic horse, he was breathtaking and he took over the whole yard. He had a walk to die for.

The Gunner Yeats made £310,000 to Harold Kirk and Willie MullinsCredit: Debbie Burt

"It's a partnership with Tom Keating, who bought the horse, we'd have one a year. Power, presence he has it all and I really think he's got a serious big future. It's a big result."

The Kirk/Mullins axis had been responsible for the first notable sale on Friday, that of last month's Huntingdon bumper winner Special Cadeau, consigned by trainer and co-owner Pam Sly's Singlecote Stables and who made £220,000.

The three-year-old, a lovely big sort related to Sly's Flat and bumper winner Eileendover, is by Newsells Park Stud sire Nathaniel, out of Sly's 1,000 Guineas heroine Speciosa.

Kirk said: "He's been bought for Willie Mullins and we love Nathaniel; Willie's had horses like Burning Victory and Concertista already. He's been bought to go jumping but could easily go back on the Flat. He's only three, so one to look after.

"I thought he won very well at Huntingdon and he's hopefully one who looks like he'll progress. He looks like a jumper but he's got that lovely pedigree."

Trainer Pam Sly with her 1,000 Guineas heroine Speciosa, the dam of Special CadeauCredit: Edward Whitaker

Sly added: "I'm sorry to see him go as he's so green and there's so much more to come but I'm thrilled he's joining Willie Mullins. We've bred all the family and this one has been such a lovely, sane individual."

Deep pockets needed for Inthepocket

Paul Cashman's Glenview Stables consigned four-year-old Inthepocket, by Blue Bresil, who had got off the mark at the first time of asking a couple of Sundays ago at Moig South.

He proved popular and for £290,000 went the way of Michael Hyde, on behalf of Kieran McManus, with indications that the horse will head back to Ireland to strengthen up before a trainer is decided upon.

Cashman said: "He was just bought with a few of the GAA lads, we had On The Blind Side with them a few years ago and hopefully this guy is as good, if not better."

Inthepocket, who sold to Michael Hyde for £290,000Credit: Debbie Burt

Libberty Hunter, a son of Yorgunnabelucky who has won his last two bumper starts, the latest at Chepstow last Saturday for the multi-talented Brian Eckley, will stay in Wales after Evan Williams was encouraged to £160,000 for the representative of a fine family bred at Closcedi Farm.

"I saw him win his bumper, he did it nicely and it's a very good sign when they can do it under a penalty," said Williams. "I've known Brian a long time, he's a shrewd man and he had done very well with him."

Eckley explained that he does not have the dam, Classy Crewella, any more but he is now breeding from Libberty Hunter's black type-gaining half-sister Libberty Bella, who has been covered by Yorton resident Arrigo.

Turnover amounted to a monster £5,584,000, blowing last year's £2,378,000, when a smaller catalogue was offered at Park Paddocks in Newmarket, out of the water. The clearance rate was 88 per cent as 58 horses of the 66 offered were sold.

The average was £96,276, compared with £74,313 a year ago, and the median £65,000 (versus £47,500).

The sale was more comparable with the pre-Covid-19 edition of 2019, when the aggregate weighed in at £3,589,000, at an average of £89,725 (meaning Friday's figure was six per cent higher) and median of £60,000 (this year's figure eight per cent higher).

Statement

At the conclusion of the auction, Tattersalls head of sales Matthew Prior said: "To achieve such outstanding and record-breaking results is a testament to a sale that produced four Grade 1 winners at this spring’s Cheltenham Festival.

"Consignors recognise the success of the Tattersalls Cheltenham sales and have produced and sent some highly talented individuals. The enthusiastic bidding and overall depth of trade, with 17 horses sold for £100,000 or more, reveals the huge demand for the very best National Hunt horses sold at the home of jumps racing.

"After such a difficult year this successful sale is a fitting tribute to the professionalism and talent of all the handlers, staff and purchasers. We thank them for their continued support in what has been a challenging and disrupted year.

“We wish you all a very good Christmas and we look forward to welcoming you back to the Cheltenham sales in 2022, starting with the Cheltenham January Sale on Saturday, January 29.”

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