It proved to be a record-breaking first session for the relocated two-day Tattersalls Ireland September Sale when Boherguy Stud’s colt by Teofilo (Lot 165) fetched £325,000 (€351,000), a new record price for the sale.
He was bought by Mick Kinane, signing on behalf of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the day’s leading buyer by aggregate spend.
The colt, bred by trainer Jim Bolger, is a full-brother to two Group 3 winners – the Eyrefield Stakes (G3) winner Guaranteed and this year's Acomb Stakes (G3) winner Gear Up, whose success is an update on the catalogue page.
The March-born yearling was sold by Bolger's grand-daughter Clare Manning of Boherguy Stud in just her second season consigning yearlings.
"He has been a superstar since he has been here," smiled Manning. "He has the pedigree and the physique, he was busy and had a number of vettings, but it was difficult in this climate to gauge what he would fetch.
“He came to prep eight weeks ago and has always been straightforward, he is one of those that just have got something about them. I have had a brief chat with grand-dad and he is absolutely delighted."
Kinane, standing outside the ring, said: "He is a lovely horse, and we didn't think we'd be pushed that hard. He was a stand-out, he could have been sold here in a few weeks at the October Sale. Hopefully, he can run like his brother, he was a good horse."
The sale was the highlight on a day which produced a strong clearance rate of 83 per cent (206 horses offered and 172 sold), an average price of €25,706, a slight increase of one per cent on the same session in 2019, a median of €20,330, a drop of just three per cent. The day’s aggregate sales totalled €4,421,441.Lot 222 proved to be the pinhook result of the session and was the second colt to sell for a six-figure sum. Offered by Beechvale Stud and by leading first-season sire Mehmas, the colt fetched £190,000, a great return on his foal purchase price of just €19,000.
Since last November the pedigree has enjoyed a significant update – the colt is now a half-brother to the Group 1 Matron Stakes winner Champers Elysees.
"He was a very athletic foal, and we really liked him to spend €19,000 on him," said Tara Armstrong of Beechvale Stud, which is based in Lisburn, near Belfast. "Champers Elysees had finished second in the Birdcatcher so we were hopeful she would go on and we thought Mehmas might have big chances to become leading first-season sire, too. My Dad has looked after the colt since last year so it is all down to him.”
Purchaser Joe Foley, signing for Clipper Logistics, said: “I hadn’t thought about it! [the price]. He is a particularly nice colt. The mare is good, and has bred two good Elzaams."
"Obviously Champers Elysees is there, but even without her he was a lovely colt and obviously the sire has done very well so I’m pleased to get him."
Clive Cox, a consistent supporter of the September Sale, went to £75,000 for the Red Jazz Full-brother to the Group 2 winner Snazzy Jazzy (Lot 72) , a 2016 graduate of this sale and trained by Cox, while Katie Walsh bought a Kingman filly (Lot 98) from the family of Intercontinental and Hasili for £70,000 as a breeze-up prospect.
