Healthy trade marked the first day of the Tattersalls Ireland December flat sale, during which 93 horses in training and yearlings were sold for €597,300 (about $859,331), with a clearance rate of 55%, an average of €6,423 (about $9,240), and a median of €3,000 (about $4,315).
It didn't take long for the action to get under way, with both Kingsdale Ocean (by Blue Ocean) and Kingsdale Orion (by Intikhab) fetching €40,000 (about $57,546) bids from agent Bobby O'Ryan. Kingsdale Ocean was purchased on behalf of Dermot Weld, while Kingsdale Orion was for a client of trainer Brian Ellison.
The session topper was a One Cool Cat yearling bought for €45,000 (about $64,739) by Lambourn-based trainer Tom Dascombe.
George Mernagh, managing director of Tattersalls Ireland, pointed out the abundance of overseas buyers in attendance.
"As well as our UK and home-based buyers, we have clients from Greece, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Denmark, South Africa, and Korea," he said. "Considering that the market in general is very concentrated in the upper echelons at the moment, most vendors are very pleased with the day's activity."
The sale continues Dec. 18 at 10.30 a.m. with broodmares and foals.