A pair of colts by Invincible Spirit topped proceedings on the one-day
Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale as 83 lots were sold for 2,149,500 guineas at
an average of 25,898 guineas and a median of 20,000 guineas.
The Invincible Spirit own brother to the listed-winning Stevie Gee was a late
addition to the Guineas Breeze Up catalog, as Lot No. 73A, after he failed to
take his place at the Craven Breeze Up two weeks earlier. The colt, who is out
of the Seeking the Gold mare Mangaree Mary, caught the attention of the Stobart
Group’s Andrew Tinkler as well as bloodstock agent David Redvers, but the pair
were unable to match local agent Richard O’Gorman who landed the two-year-old
with a bid of 220,000 guineas. The sale represented a great pinhooking result
for consignor Willie Slattery’s Meadowview Stables who had purchased him for
€48,000 as a yearling.
O’Gorman struck again for the only other lot to realize 100,000 guineas or
more, when he signed for the Invincible Spirit colt out of the Silver Hawk mare
Virgin Hawk. Consigned from Tom Whitehead’s Powerstown Stud in Ireland, the racy
colt was the subject of a spirited bidding duel between O’Gorman and County
Kildare-based owner Norman Steel, with the latter eventually waving the white
flag. The sale of the half-brother to the listed-winning Metaphoric (Montjeu
[Ire]) proved a fruitful one for his owners, who had secured him as a yearling
for €46,000.
“There have been a number of positives to take from today’s trade,”
Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented at the conclusion of the sale. “We
were delighted to be able to accommodate the Invincible Spirit colt from
Meadowview Stables who was originally scheduled to sell at our Craven Breeze Up
two weeks ago. He was always a colt of real quality and it was great to see his
vendor rewarded with the top price of 220,000 guineas.
“As well as a top price which exceeded the 170,000 guineas sale topper at
last year’s Guineas Breeze Up, we were pleased that the clearance rate also
significantly improved on last year.
“Having said that, we would still like to have seen a higher percentage of
lots sold and the sale has graphically demonstrated the old adage of ‘breeze
well, sell well’. Nevertheless, while there is little doubt that the market
remains selective, numerous buyers have remarked that there has been plenty of
competition for quality horses.
“The Guineas Breeze Up is still in its infancy, but in the three years since
its inception it has quickly established itself as an important middle market
sale which is increasingly targeted by buyers from throughout Europe as well as
a wide cross section of domestic buyers. These are still difficult times, but I
have little doubt that today’s sale will produce its usual steady stream of high
class winners and also unprecedented returns on investment for those lucky
owners whose purchases benefit from the two extensively promoted bonus schemes.”