Tag: Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale

Robson Aguiar Adds 88k Wooded Colt To Breeze-Up Team At Tattersalls Ireland

It has been a year to remember for Robson Aguiar, largely down to the exploits of Amo Racing's breakthrough Group 1 winner Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who he sourced for Kia Joorabchian's ownership vehicle. 

The ultra-shrewd Brazilian native snapped up a colt by Wooded (Ire), who is a brother to Amo's Phoenix S. hero, for €88,000 on day two of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale and revealed afterwards that the plan was to go breezing for his new recruit. 

“I bought him for myself and he will breeze,” Aguiar said. “I saw a few by Wooded in France and I really liked them. Wooded is a full-brother to Bucanero Fuerte, who won our first Group 1, so it's nice to get one by him. He stood out in this sale. We are looking for quality and I think he is a nice horse.”

A brilliant winner of the Prix de l'Abbaye, Wooded stands at Haras de Bouquetot and his first yearlings have been well-received. Lot 347 was one of only two horses by the stallion in the sale and he represented a whopper of a pinhooking result for John Foley of Ballyvolane Stud who paid just €15,000 for the colt in February.

The Wooded colt who led the way at Tattersalls Ireland | Tattersalls

“Wooded was a Group 1-winning son of Wootton Bassett and I really wanted to buy one by the sire,” he explained. “He was a good-moving foal, a bit weak, and I thought there was a chance he might grow into a nice horse. He has thrived, really thickened out, and most people who saw him said that he was one of the better physicals here and that he stood out a little bit. He has been very popular.”

Foley added, “We always send five or six to sell at this sale and always try to send a couple of nice horses. There are a lot of British trainers here and the Tattersalls Ireland team does a great job getting people to the sale. It has been a lucky sale for us-we sold Sir Busker (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) here.”

Poste Picks Up Another Speedy-Looking Colt To Go Breezing

Charlie Poste spoke to TDN Europe on Tuesday about his reasons for branching out into the breeze-up game and, alongside Blandford Bloodstock's Tom Biggs, he continued his recruitment drive on day two. 

Top of Poste's list was a Blue Point (Ire) colt (lot 366) from Oak Lodge and Springfield House Stud for €78,000, which brought his total haul to €169,000 for four yearlings all told.

The Blue Point colt represented a fantastic touch for Reddy Coffey, who purchased the dam Platinum Coast (Speightstown) for just 4,500gns in 2019. 

He said, “It is a great result. Blue Point looks like he is going to be a proper sire. We bought the mare for just 4,500gns. She is by Speightstown and we thought the stallion's physique would suit the mare and he was a very fast horse. Who doesn't like a fast horse!”

Grant's Wishes Come Through With Sioux Nation Colt

Mark Grant knows a thing or two about fast horses. The leading breeze-up handler is famed for producing dual Royal Ascot winner Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) and came away from Fairyhouse with four yearlings bought for the upcoming season. 

Grant, who is based in Britain, said that the conversion rate from Sterling to Euro was a sweetener in going to €80,000 for a belter of a Sioux Nation colt (lot 373) from Glidawn Stud.

He said, “I thought the Sioux Nation was the best horse in the sale and I knew I'd have to pull a bit out for him. I think all of the right people were on him. Hopefully he will turn out to be a Craven horse.”

Grant also came away from Fairyhouse with an Earthlight colt from Moanmore Stables for €60,000, a Saxon Warrior (Jpn) colt from Castletown Quarry Stud for €55,000 and an Acclamation (GB) colt for €45,000. 

He commented, “I have bought some nice horses here in the past and I like coming back here. Buying in Euros is a big help as well. When you look up at the bid board and eight grand was just sixty eight Sterling, so that's a big help.

“I have eleven bought now and I'll probably buy another three or four at the upcoming sales but the nice ones are hard to buy. It's been very hard to buy them this year. A lot of the breeze-up handlers haven't filled their orders yet so they will probably be driving on now.”

 

Solid Trade Posted On Day Two

There may not have been any six-figure lots on day two but the trade remained solid. The €12,522,000 aggregate was up marginally on the figures posted in 2022 while the average climbed 3% to €30,995. The median was also up 8% to €28,000 while the clearance rate was down 5% to 85%.

 

Buy(s) of the Day

John Murphy and his son George have a track record at sniffing out a bargain and time may prove that the father-and-son duo found another here on Wednesday in the shape of lot 322.

A Tamayuz (GB) colt consigned by Wardstown Stud attracted plenty of shrewd judges to the ring but it was Murphy who won out at €30,000.

Out of an Arcano (Ire) mare who has yet to produce a winner, the Tamayuz is a fine stamp of a colt and should make up into a nice two-year-old.

He is a three-parts brother to Blond Me (Ire) and the pedigree traces back to a strong Ballymacoll family.

Elsewhere, another Make Believe colt appeared to be well bought at this sale. It was in this section on Tuesday where Luke Lillingston's €70,000 purchase of a colt by the Ballylinch stallion was put forward as the buy of the day to go to Andrew Balding.

Well, Billy Jackson-Stops may well have found similar value in the Make Believe colt that he sourced for the trainer (lot 286) for just €40,000.

Consigned by Airlie Stud, the Make Believe colt is out of an unraced Galileo (Ire) mare, who has already produced the highly-rated Ralph Beckett-trained Quantum Impact (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

Finally, if it's early speed that you were looking for, Patrick Vaughan and Conor Hoban of Beechlea Bloodstock may have found it. They shelled out just €15,000 to secure a Kuroshio (Aus) colt (lot 261) from Baroda Stud early in the morning.

Kuroshio has already proved himself as a good source of speed, largely down to the exploits of trainer Michael O'Callaghan through Gozen (Ire) and Kairyu (Ire), with the latter on course for Group 1 targets.

This colt looks well capable of clocking a good time should his next connections go down that route and it wouldn't be a surprise to see them turn a profit in the spring whatever path they chart with the colt.

 

Strong Trade, As Curtain Falls On Part 1

Tattersalls Ireland, CEO Simon Kerins said, “Today completes two very successful days of trade at the September Yearling Sale, resulting in a turnover surpassing €12,522,000, the second highest ever recorded for this sale. It was immensely satisfying to see advancements in most key indicators with this year's catalogue producing a record median and the second highest average for the two days. There was also a record number of lots making over €40,000 a testament to the solid trade.

“Results do speak volumes and up to last weekend, the September Yearling Sale was Europe's leading sale for 2-year-winners, complemented by Dawn Charger and Tiger Belle's recent Group 3 success in France. It is these winners that have reinforced the confidence with new and existing buyers to come to Fairyhouse, with more buyers in attendance than ever before. Heartfelt appreciation must go to Charles O' Neill and his team at Irish Thoroughbred Marketing for their exceptional efforts that have contributed to a very successful week.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the vendors who supported us with a catalogue worthy of attracting so many visitors to the site. We wish all our purchasers continued success with their purchases as they go on to achieve great things on the racetrack.”

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Owners Of Big Evs Reinvest In 190k Lope De Vega Filly At Tatts Ireland

Less than a week on from that scintillating display in the G2 Flying Childers S. at Doncaster, the connections of Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) were reinvesting at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale on a Lope De Vega (Ire) filly for €190,000. 

Fitting that it was a Blue Point half-sister, the Jessica Harrington-trained Bluedrum (Ire), who provided the page with a timely update when running out an ultra-impressive winner of a maiden at Naas last week. 

She looks destined for black-type races and Conor Quirke, who purchased the Lope De Vega filly from The Castlebridge Consignment to be trained by Mick Appleby, has similar aspirations for his acquisition. 

He said, “She was a standout for me and ultimately the half-sister got her over the line. This filly is lovely and was well-placed here–the breeders are good at their job. Today was not her cup final, she is going to keep improving, which I appreciate. She is a lovely filly and hard to fault. We like the sire, too, and it all made sense.”

The day one top lot is out of Drumfad Bay (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), herself a dual winner who finished second in a Group 3 and won a Listed contest.

Quirke added, “She has residual value and is a half to a good Blue Point filly and she will be a broodmare in time. She will go to Mick Appleby. I have bought for RP for the last five years or so. We have danced all the big dances this year with Big Evs and we want to get back to it again next year.”

It was breeze-up consignor Mickey Cleere who found Big Evs initially. He paid 50,000gns for the colt at the Tattersalls October Book 2 Sale before selling him through Quirke to his current connections who are enjoying the thrill of a lifetime. 

Providing an update on the Breeders' Cup bound speedster, Quirke concluded, “He bounced out as usual and I have booked my flights to America. Mick is great fun, the owners are good people and it has been a great journey so long may it continue.”

  • Mickey Cleere raised a few eyebrows by revealing in these pages over the weekend that he had not started buying for the upcoming breeze-up season despite the fact that there has been a number of major sales prior to Fairyhouse. Well, Cleere, who found Ballymount Boy (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) here last year, didn't waste any time on getting in on the action. The first lot into the ring. Bang. An Arizona (Ire) colt consigned by Alice Fitzgerald goes the way of MC Thoroughbreds. Cleere may have his own approach to the sales but few can argue that it is not an effective one. He went on to land an Ardad (Ire) filly later in the day for €38,000.
  • It didn't take long for the day to produce a good pinhook. Lot 20 into the ring, a Teofilo (Ire) colt consigned by Castletown Quarry, was snapped up by Hubie de Burgh for €70,000. Not a bad result for connections who bought the colt out of the unraced Dubawi (Ire) mare Amazing Grace (Ire) for just 21,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale. 
  • The first horse to rock into six figures was lot 12, a Ten Sovereigns (Ire) filly from Glenvale Stud, snapped up by Anthony Bromley of Highflyer Bloodstock for €100,000. A half-sister to Lakota Seven (Ire) (Sioux Nation), a smart colt for Joseph O'Brien, the Ten Sovereigns filly was bought on behalf of Polly Pott's owner Andrew Megson to be trained by Ed Dunlop. Speaking alongside Dunlop's brother Harry, Bromley commented, “She has been bought for Andrew Megson, who is perhaps known more for his jumping string. Harry is helping the Megsons and this filly is going to his brother Ed Dunlop, who has a few for the couple to run on the Flat for some fun.”
  • It was yet another productive yearling sale for Bromley but he kept everyone guessing as to who he signed the €100,000 Mehmas colt on behalf of. Bred by Yeomanstown Stud, lot 141 was bought by Rochestown Lodge Stud for €40,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale before selling to Bromley on behalf of “an Irish breeze-up client”. Bromely said, “It is punchy, but I love the sire and this colt has a little more scope than some by Mehmas. He is very athletic. I believe this horse is a racehorse and so does my client. Let's hope he is a weapon!”
  • The only Wootton Bassett (GB) to go under the hammer on the day was always going to capture the imagination and it was BBA Ireland's Mick Donohoe who bought the Norelands-drafted filly on behalf of a Middle Eastern client. Donohoe went to €82,000 to secure the filly, out of a winning Dalakhani (Ire) mare, who has also produced a winner. The top agent said, “She has been bought for a Middle Eastern-based client, who has been a lucky client of mine. She will stay in Ireland to be broken and will go on to be trained in Ireland, England or France. It is very busy here, there are lots of buyers and Tattersalls and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing have worked hard to get buyers here across all levels. There should be a good clearance rate today.”
  • The clearance rate stood at 86%, down 5% on last year, but the aggregate, average and median was on the up for what was admittedly a bigger book [13 extra yearlings compared to in 2022]. The aggregate was up 3% to €6,729,500, the median up 13% to €30,000 and the average up 5% to €32,827.

Kameko Colt Heading To Norway At 115k

The progeny of Kameko have been in high demand at the yearling sales so far this year and a colt by the Tweenhills sire piqued interests at Fairyhouse when selling to Edgar Byrne for €115,000.

Byrne, who has had a lot of success buying horses to go abroad, notably 3,000gns horses-in-training purchase Kitty Marion (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), who went on to win a group 3 in Germany, was acting on behalf of Norway-based trainer Niels Petersen.

The trainer commented, “For Scandinavia, you tend to look for a well-balanced horse as our tracks are a little sharper and we don't have any straight courses. We have dirt and turf tracks and he might be one that could suit either surface. He fits what we are after.”

Petersen added, “I have bought a lot here before, but not for some time. We chatted about coming here to see what we could find. We think this bracket suits our requirements–our prize-money is good and it is easier to win than in Ireland!”

The trainer may be a familiar face at Fairyhouse but for the JC Organisation, for whom the colt will race for, this represented the first time shopping this sale. Byrne hopes it won't be the last. 

The agent said, “They are a big client of Niels and he has trained a Derby winner for the syndicate. This horse was our top pick for JC, we have other clients to buy for, but he suited this order. We did have to push to buy him, but you do for the right horse and for the good ones.”

The result represented a standout pinhook for Clenagh Castle Stud. Bought for just 11,000gns at the Tattersalls December Sale, the Kameko colt brought home nearly six figures in profit before costs, and the outfit's Adrian Costello said that sourcing one by the stallion was high up on his agenda for pinhooking. How right he was. 

Costello said, “He was a gorgeous foal and has done well all the way through and this year Zoulu Chief (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) has come out and done well. I loved the idea of Kameko last year but it was hard to buy one!” 

Poste Delivers With Three Yearlings For New Breeze-Up Project

Charlie Poste, the popular ex National Hunt jockey, made his first trip to this sale count by teaming up with top bloodstock agent Tom Biggs to secure three colts for a new breeze-up venture. 

Retired from the saddle four years now, Poste has done well trading point-to-point horses in Britain, but the international appeal of the bloodstock market on the Flat convinced him to gather up a syndicate of 10 people to branch out into the breeze-up game. 

Poste signed for a Calyx (GB) filly for €30,000, a Kodiac (GB) filly for €36,000 and a Churchill (Ire) colt for €25,000 on the opening day of the sale under the banner of Blandford Bloodstock and his own Station Yard. 

He said, “This is a new venture for us and Tom Biggs of Blandford Bloodstock has been a huge help. We've put together a syndicate of 10 people and the plan is to buy five yearlings to breeze for next year. We went to Doncaster and to the Somerville and underbid plenty so it has been a bit of a frustrating start. But today has been great. We were guided by Tom to come here and we're delighted to have bought three.”

Poste went on to explain that the fact much more credence is paid to point-to-point form in Ireland compared to Britain, where he is based, was another deciding factor in getting involved in training horses for the breeze-ups.

He said, “The breeze-ups is something we have been interested in and building towards for a while now. We started off with all of our own money and didn't have a big backer or anything like that. We needed to create a bit of cash flow with the National Hunt side of the business and, thankfully, there is a bit of that there now. 

“We were just trying to look into something where there is a bit more of a global market because there is always going to be somewhat of a ceiling in selling British point-to-pointers rather than Irish point-to-pointers. There is no such bias in the breeze-ups if you turn up and do a good time and look the part so that was another reason for getting involved in this side of things. We have our own ideas about how we do things and are looking forward to seeing how things develop in year one.”

Meet The Italian Buyer Who Spent Almost 200k On Day One

I'll be the first to put my hand up and admit that I knew next to nothing about Razza Latina, who popped up for five yearlings to the tune of almost €200,000 on the day.

That propelled Razza Latina, which is the bloodstock arm of Italian trainer Cristiana Brivio's business, the fourth busiest buyer on the day.

Brivio trains alongside her husband Endo Botti in Tuscany and her colours are said to be quite recognisable in her home country. She has developed a strong list of clients back home and described herself as happy with the quality that she was able to secure at Tattersalls Ireland. 

“I am a trainer with my husband but I buy as an agent as well,” she explained. “We train together and they run in my colours. The trade has been very strong here but I think the quality of the horses has also improved in recent years. Yes, it is a strong market, but there is value here.”

Brivio has reason to be happy about shopping in Ireland. It was her €23,000 Goffs Autumn yearling purchase Goldenas (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}), picked up from Blackberry Road Stud, who landed this year's Italian Derby in Rome.

Brivio said, “I have been very lucky in Ireland. I bought the Italian Derby winner Goldenas here and Ireland has been very good for me. I have always been very lucky here and have bought many winners. I am thankful to my clients for giving me the opportunity to come back. I will be at Goffs next week as well and we just try to buy a nice horse, nothing in particular–a nice racey horse.”

Buy of the day

It was Edmond Ryan of Weir View Stud who supplied Native American (Ire) (Sioux Nation), winner of the €300,000 Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction, at this sale last year. And who's to say the top consignor hasn't unearthed another gem in lot 114, a Make Believe (GB) colt knocked down to Luke Lillingston for €70,000. 

Bought for just 13,000gns by Ryan at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, the Make Believe clearly turned into a belter of a yearling and wasn't missed at Fairyhouse, with many of the top buyers turning up for him in the ring. 

Out of a High Chaparral (Ire) mare who won three times and has produced two winners, including the first and only winner for Waldgeist (GB) in Britain to date, the Make Believe is a colt to look forward to in the second half of next year and beyond. He is off to Andrew Balding, who was standing alongside Lillingston when the hammer fell.

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“I Can’t Get Over How Many Are Here” – Buyers Out In Force At Tattersalls Ireland

RATOATH, Ireland–When Laura Joy netted what she described at the time as a “life-changing” result here last year when her 2,000gns Tasleet (GB) colt rocked into €42,000, it proved captivating to read of the young pinhooker's profit. 

It was a similar story at the Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale when the Shinnick brothers–Andy and Johnny-netted a €170,000 payday with their Make Believe (GB) filly who was now famously said to have 'looked quick going past thistles' at home. 

Tattersalls Ireland has punched well above its weight in delivering the good news stories in recent years and, judging by the car parks here since Saturday, the next one could be bubbling beneath the surface. 

Edmond Ryan has been in this game longer than Joy and the Shinnick brothers combined but sometimes you can't beat the old dog for the hard road and it was his Sioux Nation colt–now known as Native American (Ire)–who plundered the €300,000 Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale at the Curragh.

A €12,000 foal purchase, Native American left the Weir View Stud operator in dreamland when selling to Robin O'Ryan and Richard Fahey for €75,000. It is a result the veteran operator hopes to build upon this week and, with a strong cohort of international buyers as well as the regular domestic clients in attendance, that is not a long shot.

Edmond Ryan | Tattersalls

“It was the sort of result we all dream of in this game,” Ryan says, thinking back to selling Native American here almost 12 months to the day. 

“From the day you buy them, you just hope you have found a good one. I just loved him as a foal and he stood out here last year as a yearling.

“I'm more associated with the National Hunt but I have had a lot of luck on the Flat as well and sold Urban Beat (Ire) (Red Jazz) to Johnny Murtagh a few years ago and that was another good pinhook. I'm no pedigree guru but I am very strict on conformation and it has served us well.”

He added on the buzz about the sale ground, “The footfall has been magnificent. I can't get over how many people are here. This is a very important sale and it's very important that the middle market is good. We've a good feeling ahead of this week and I'd like to think that one of mine can do it again!”

Contributing to that buzz is a stellar cast of trainers from Britain and Ireland, including Johnny Murtagh, Gavin Cromwell, Fozzy Stack and Karl Burke, who were all busy sifting through the yearlings on show. Not to mention the big agents and breeze-up men and women who jetted back from Keeneland specifically to attend this sale.

There were some unfamiliar faces, too. From Britain, Charlie and Fran Poste were in attendance, having made their first trip to this sale. As was Ed Bethell. Fellow first-time visitors include Niels Petersen from Sweden, Dubai-based Ahmad Abdulla Ali Bin Ghalita Almheiri, Polish and German buyer Marian Ziburske, the Spanish Alvaro Soto, Kriz Leram from Czech Republic and the Swiss pair of Beat Bohli and Kai Fuchs. When Tattersalls say that there is something for everyone at this sale, they really mean it, you know. 

Paddy Turley hasn't been coming to Tattersalls Ireland that long but long enough to have made an impact. And a big one at that. It was the young Northern Irishman's Kingsfield Stud, based slap bang in the centre of Downpatrick racecourse, that sold Graceful Thunder (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) for €68,000 here 12 months ago. 

Turley paid just €14,000 for Graceful Thunder as a foal and she has earned her right to be one of the poster girls for this sale in winning three times for George Boughey and the Amo Racing team, including at Listed level in France. 

“Graceful Thunder was the first ever foal I bought,” says Turley. “It's only a new venture for me. I better give Alan Hannigan the credit because, in fairness to him, we were talking at a schooling day up north the day before the foal sales and I asked him to give me one sire to keep on side. He told me that Havana Grey was the one and, when I saw her, I liked her and I made sure to get her bought.”

He added, “She was good and busy here last year and Hamish Macualey bought her to go breezing with John Bourke [Hyde Park Stud]. She made a good few quid for us and then John got £90,000 at the breeze-ups so everyone was happy. She's a listed winner and was placed in a Group 3 so it's nice when it works out like that. I've an Ardad (Ire) filly who is very similar here this week. She goes well. We've a Shaman (Ire) colt as well and we're happy enough with how they are going down.”

Paddy Turley | Tattersalls

Turley's good fortune at Tattersalls Ireland does not end there. It was just a few months back when he got €80,000 at the Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale for his homebred filly Kairyu (Ire) (Kuroshio {Aus}) who is now bound for Group 1 targets with her trainer and purchaser Michael O'Callaghan. 

“Dad [Patrick] bred Kairyu and we breezed her here. She has turned out to be very lucky for Michael O'Callaghan and goes to the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes next week. From the first day we broke her in, she went well, so hopefully she can show what she can do at Newmarket. Dad still has the mare and she's in foal to Supremacy (Ire) so please God.”

He added, “You get well paid for a nice horse here, no matter what it's by. You can't put a saddle on a page. But Tattersalls has been very lucky for me, National Hunt and Flat. We've had great luck selling and buying out of here.”

The beauty about Turley, Joy, Ryan and the Shinnick brothers is that they are far from a minority here at Tattersalls Ireland. There is nothing dull about this place, especially when there is a raft of talented operators chasing the same bounty.

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Mickey Cleere: ‘I Was Never As Nervous – Big Evs Is The Fastest I’ve Ridden’

Top breeze-up handler Mickey Cleere has shared how he breathed a huge sigh of relief after Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), a horse he describes as the fastest he has ridden, bounced right back to form to run away with the G2 Flying Childers S. at Doncaster. 

That win provided Cleere with an added pep to his step ahead of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, where he picked up the similarly smart juvenile Ballymount Boy (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) for just €8,000, before turning him into a €110,000 breezer some eight months later.

But the Mick Appleby-trained Big Evs is something out of the ordinary in the eyes of Cleere. And that is saying something given the talented operator prepared 2019 G2 Norfolk S. winner A'Ali (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) for the breeze-ups on behalf of Star Bloodstock. 

“I've never been as nervous,” an ecstatic Cleere admitted after the race on Friday. “It was such a bad run in the Nunthorpe, I was only hoping that he could bounce back to what I thought he could do, and it's just great that he showed people what he's made of.”

He added, “Big Evs is the fastest horse I have ever been associated with and I breezed A'Ali for Star Bloodstock. It's fantastic to have been involved with a horse as good as him. It's the best feeling in the world. I can't even describe how good it is to have been involved with a two-year-old as good as Big Evs. 

“Everyone is after a Royal Ascot two-year-old these days and it's a dream to have found one. It makes you trust your own judgment. Hopefully it will be good for business as well. We'll find out next year I suppose.”

Cleere's judgment was bang on the money about Ballymount Boy as well. Despite being light on pedigree, the colt was judged to have been such a looker by Cleere that he rolled the dice on him at Tattersalls Ireland almost a year to the day, and it is a decision that has paid off in spades. 

“We're all basically like sheep in the breeze-up game and are following the fashion. At the same time, you are kind of forced to, aren't you? The day you buy is the day you sell,” – Mickey Cleere

From a humble price tag of just €8,000 from Ridge Manor Stud, Ballymount Boy then fetched €110,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale in the spring to Danny Hussy on behalf of trainer Adrian Keatley. 

The colt was snapped up on the private market by the emerging force of Wathnan Racing in between runner-up efforts in the G2 Richmond S. and the G3 Acomb S. and will bid to further illustrate Cleere's talents at spotting top-class runners when lining out for the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp.

“I didn't even have Ballymount Boy on the list of horses I wanted to see at the sale last year,” Cleere recalled. “I'd binned him, to be honest, purely because he was by Camacho. They can be hard horses to re-sell in my game. 

“It's completely the wrong way of doing things and I know that. We're all basically like sheep in the breeze-up game and are following the fashion. At the same time, you are kind of forced to, aren't you? The day you buy is the day you sell and you have to be guided by fashion somewhat.”

Cleere added, “One thing I will say about Ballymount Boy is that I went down to look at another horse who was stabled beside him but, when I saw this Camacho colt out showing for a different person, he just caught my eye. I followed him over to his stable door and he was a cracking yearling. 

“I thought he was as good as I saw on the day–a man among boys, really. His pedigree was okay without being savage but I was prepared to go to around €25,000 for him because I liked him so much.”

In many ways, horses like Ballymount Boy capture the philosophy of what Cleere's business model is all about; finding race horses, first and foremost. He has tried following fashion in the past, but to his detriment, and says he is happy to continue to ply his trade as he feels best.”

He explained, “I started out on my own under MC Thoroughbreds in 2019 and I'm trying to go the opposite way to most people by just buying a nice horse, rather than the horses by the nice stallions. 

“I've bought the Kingmans and the ones by fashionable sires and you're just never getting a good enough horse for the money that I want to spend so that's why I am going the other direction now. I'd prefer to forgive the pedigrees a small bit and buy the nicer physicals.”

In Big Evs, Cleere managed to secure a horse by one of the hottest young sires in the business in Blue Point, but the Killenaule man reveals that the speedster required some outside-the-box-thinking at 50,00gns from Houghton Bloodstock at the Tattersalls Book 2 Sale.

Cleere said, “I'd say if Big Evs was a couple of inches bigger I wouldn't have gotten near him. When I bought him, he was handy enough but he was very strong with a good enough walk. For a small horse, he walked like a big horse. He'd have made somewhere between seventy and a hundred grand if he was a bit bigger.”

He added, “I was never so sure about a horse than Big Evs, though, and we got him sold privately without going to any sale. For me, he was quicker than A'Ali, and I was confident of that. I'm just glad he's proving us right.”

With Big Evs and Ballymount Boy among last year's graduates, Cleere could have been forgiven for hitting this year's yearling sales hard. However, he revealed that he has not started shopping yet, and that he plans on adding the first of next year's two-year-olds to the team at Tattersalls Ireland next week. 

He said, “I haven't started shopping yet. I always let them power away early on before jumping in a bit later. I just find it is harder to buy at the earlier sales. There's plenty of early and speedy horses at Fairyhouse and even Book 2 at Tattersalls, so there's no real panic. 

“We hope to get 20 yearlings over the next few weeks and I'm looking forward to Tattersalls Ireland. The place has been very lucky for me. I've bought plenty of winners there and hopefully that continues next week.”

The post Mickey Cleere: ‘I Was Never As Nervous – Big Evs Is The Fastest I’ve Ridden’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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