Norman Williamson stretches to six figures for son of Doctor Dino

A French-bred son of Doctor Dino became the first six-figure yearling to be sold at the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale since 2007 when offered by John Dwan's Ballyreddin Stud on Sunday.

As the May-foaled youngster was led around the ring, auctioneer Ollie Fowlston described him as a "cracking son of Doctor Dino" and also pointed towards the recent Grade 2 chase win of his half-brother Dream Wish.

The bidding opened at €20,000 and rose rapidly past the €50,000 mark, with Ian Ferguson, Gerry Hogan and Katie Rudd among the underbidders on the gelding, though ultimately it was Norman Williamson who emerged on top with a €100,000 bid.

"The update entitled him to make what he did," said Williamson, from his position by the holding ring. "He was a standout for us today and is by a great sire. He's a very nice horse and we hope he's lucky."

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Williamson also noted the success of yearling graduates from Ballyreddin Stud, not least the 2017 Grand National hero One For Arthur, who was bought by John Dineen for €14,000 at the 2010 November Sale.

Dream Wish, a three-year-old son of Dream Well, recorded his second win in six starts when landing the Prix Congress at Auteuil this month, joining the high-class jumps sire Balko on the roll of honour.

Doctor Dino, whose stud fee is set to rise sharply to €16,000 at Haras du Mesnil for the 2020 breeding season, has been in high demand after supplying a slew of top-class jumpers, including La Bague Au Roi, Master Dino, Sceau Royal and Sharjah.

The Doctor Dino gelding struts his stuff around the ringCredit: Amy Lynam

Ballyreddin Stud was also vendor of the third most expensive lot on day one, with its Kitkou gelding out of dual winner Estrela Rose hammered down to James Mernagh for €45,000, with the purchaser indicating that the April-born youngster will be re-offered at the 2021 Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale.

"The geldings by Doctor Dino and Kitkou are both lovely individuals," said John Dwan. "They were both bought in private sales at the beginning of the year. It was not definite that we were going to sell them as yearlings, but you can't bring them all back as three-year-olds.

"The Doctor Dino has always been a lovely horse and, of course, the update came just in time. Kitkou is a young sire but we'd had some luck before with him."

The unraced Kitkou is a Martaline full-brother to the Grade 1 chase winner Kotkikova and will relocate from Haras d'Enki to Haras de Jalogny for the 2020 breeding season.

Shantou off to a flyer

The second priciest yearling on the day was Burgage Stud's son of its resident stallion Shantou, who found favour with Timmy Hillman at €62,000.

"He's likely to return for the Derby Sale," noted Hillman. "I love the sire and he's flying it at the moment. We usually buy as foals but this is a lovely horse."

The May-foaled gelding is a full-bother to the Oliver Sherwood-trained Sevarano, impressive winner of a Chepstow maiden hurdle since the catalogue was published.

Shantou has eight foals listed for sale this week, including a close relation to the sire's highly-rated son Shantou Flyer (lot 403) and a son of the high-class hurdler Mrs Mac Veale (573).

The son of Alleged fielded his fifth Cheltenham Festival winner this year when Beware The Bear struck in the Grade 3 Ultima Handicap Chase.

Figures

Of the 85 lots offered on day one, 44 changed hands for total receipts of €535,200 and a 48 per cent clearance rate, down three per cent on the previous year. Despite this, the average rose to €13,100 (up six per cent) and the median increased to €9,000 (up 13 per cent).

Unmissable updates

Garryrichard Stud's filly by its resident stallion (lot 207) will go under the hammer on Monday and her pedigree page has received a timely makeover thanks to the exploits of two of her siblings, both of whom are by Craigsteel.

Seven-year-old gelding Flash The Steel was the first of the pair to achieve black type, when recording his biggest win to date in the Grade 3 Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow in October.

His year-younger brother Doctor Duffy then earned black type of his own when finishing second to the talented Gold Well mare Well Set Up in a Listed novice hurdle at Cork this month.

"The two updates are a great boost for her," said Denis Hickey of Garryrichard Stud. "She's a gorgeous walker, like all of the Hillstars. We're hoping for the best."

The trio are out of the Luso mare Anna's Melody, an unraced half-sister to the high-class hurdler No Hassle Hoff, and she has plenty more in the pipeline with a four-year-old Jeremy colt, and a three-year-old gelding, two-year-old filly and yearling colt, all of whom are by Sageburg.

Sageburg, who stands alongside Hillstar at Garryrichard, is enjoying a purple patch, with his five-year-old daughter Qualisaga posting her second Listed Flat win in quick succession at Saint-Cloud this month, and his son Rouge Vif having made an impressive winning chase debut at Market Rasen in October.

So Easy Way also became the first winner from his first crop bred at Garryrichard when successful in the Prix Kerlor chase at Compiegne.