Jersey Des Brosses Tops Record-Breaking Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale
On a record-breaking day at the Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale, wildcard entry JERSEY DES BROSSES lived up to his pre-sale billing exchanging hands at £370,000.
Purchased by Gordon Elliott Racing, it is the highest price given for a four-year-old at the sale since 2019.
The day’s turnover of £4,266,000 is the first time that the four million figure has been attained at the February Sale, and is the third-highest aggregate ever achieved at any Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale.
JERSEY DES BROSSES, who finished second on his debut last weekend at Oldtown to JINGKO BLUE (Lot 36) for trainer Colin Bowe and owner Walter Connors, is a son of leading French stallion NO RISK AT ALL.
Elliott, who bought via the online bidding platform, said: “He looked the standout horse in the sale, and I’d say a summer’s grass is what he wants as he’s a horse with plenty of improvement in him.
“He’s one we’re looking forward to for next year. We’d seen him in Colin’s and liked him. We’ll have to get him home and get him sold now.”
MT FUGI PARK (Lot 8)
Once-raced winning five-year-old geldings by WALK IN THE PARK and sold by Monbeg Stables filled the next two spots.
MT FUGI PARK (Lot 8), winner of his maiden point-to-point at Bellharbour’s early February meeting when beating LORD OF THUNDER (Lot 15), was bought by Matt Coleman of Stroud Coleman Bloodstock and Jonjo O'Neill Racing.
The pair had to step up to £290,000 for the half-brother to the five-time winner and Grade 2-placed hurdler and chaser REAL MILAN.
Coleman said of the purchase: "He came highly recommended by the Monbeg guys, and you can see the stamp of horse he is, he’s a beautiful model and he seems to have a good brain. He jumped and travelled away in his point-to-point and hit the line strongly.
"He was actually quite green in his race; he pricked his ears going to the last. He’s what you’re trying to buy when you buy a NH horse.
"I’m not sure about an owner at the moment, but I’ve bought him with Jonjo. He looks like a good horse so let’s hope he is!”
MT FUGI PARK was purchased by Park Farm as a foal at the 2018 Tattersalls Ireland November NH Sale for €42,000, subsequently bought by Monbeg for £65,000 as a three-year-old store.
LEADER IN THE PARK (Lot 28)
Highflyer Bloodstock, buying on behalf of trainer Ben Pauling, went to £250,000 for LEADER IN THE PARK (Lot 28), the easy winner of his maiden at Tallow earlier this month.
Pinbooked by Monbeg Stables at the 2021 Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale for €51,000 and previously a €20,000 November NH Sale foal graduate, LEADER IN THE PARK, bred by Mary Kavanagh, is a half-brother to the multiple Grade 1 winner BENEFFICIENT.
The GREAT PRETENDER five-year-old JINGKO BLUE (Lot 36), who beat JERSEY DES BROSSES in that maiden at Oldtown, was bought by JP McGrath for £225,000 from Rob James Racing.
The day’s sale produced its best-ever set of returns with its turnover of £4,298,000, which is a 58 per cent increase on 2022’s figure, an average price of £107,450 and a median price of £77,500.
Matt Prior, Tattersalls Head of Sales said: “To have six horses fetch over £200,000, 15 sell for over £100,000 and a record-breaking turnover is a fantastic result and shows the continuing desire by owners and trainers to buy the very best NH prospects at the Tattersalls Cheltenham sales.
“A top-price of £370,000 given for the four-year-old JERSEY DES BROSSES is a fabulous result for trainer Colin Bowe and owner Walter Connors, who are always such strong supporters of Tattersalls, and it is a great start to this year’s trade in four-year-old point-to-pointers.
“We look forward to offering many more talented young NH prospects through this spring, in particular at next month’s Cheltenham Festival Sale, due to be held after racing on March 16 in the winner’s enclosure. Entries are being taken now.