Longchamp's Prix d'Arenberg (G3) on the last Thursday of August bore the hallmark of Tattersalls Ireland, as the first three home were all graduates of the 2022 renewal of the company's September Yearling Sale.
Part 1 of this year's edition runs through Sept. 19 and 20 before the Sept. 21 Part 2 of a sale that has risen greatly in reputation and success.
That Longchamp result provides the perfect snapshot of the caliber of yearlings on offer at Fairyhouse this week, where accommodation is at a premium as a cast of international buyers descends on the sales complex.
The d'Arenberg winner, Tiger Belle, had previously been successful in the listed Marwell Stakes at Naas for Ado McGuinness and Shamrock Thoroughbreds, and connections are hoping for rain in Paris next week as soft ground would enable the filly to attempt to emulate another daughter of Cotai Glory, The Platinum Queen, and win the Prix de l'Abbaye (G1) at 2.
A potential group 1 update for the page would be spectacular, but breeder Paul Giles is more than happy with the black type Tiger Belle has added to the pedigree in the 12 months since he sold her to Con Marnane for €18,000.
"Tiger Belle has lit up the pedigree," he commented in between shows Sept. 18, where his Moyfinn Stud draft of seven has attracted a fair bit of attention.
The star of the septet is Lot 99, an Inns of Court half sister to Tiger Belle, and the buyers have been drawn to her box since showing began Sunday morning.
"There has been a nice bit of interest in her, so we are hoping for the best," Giles said. "She's been busy but very professional, the way she has been throughout her prep for the sale. She is like her sister in temperament but a bigger filly."
That pedigree Giles mentioned goes back to a top-class family developed by Cheveley Park Stud; that of Red Camellia. Tiger Belle's dam Dark Acclamation is descended from Red Azalea, a half sister to the Prestige Stakes (G3) winner and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (G1) third.
Dark Acclamation is out of the listed Woodcote Stakes third On The Dark Side who is a half sister to the Select Stakes (G3) winner Red Badge. Even though she has just two foals of racing age, the Acclamation mare has surpassed her dam's achievements at stud with her perfect record so far, and a group winner to boot, with a Galileo Gold colt foal on the ground.
While Tiger Belle's younger sister has generated much of the traffic in the direction of Barn N, there is strength in the draft with the other two yearlings selling in Part 1 possessing plenty to recommend them.
"We have a very nice Tamayuz for sale on Wednesday. I think he's a smart horse," says Giles of Lot 465.
The colt is a half brother to Pallapannocchiesch, who was third in the listed Criterium di Pisa. Their dam is an unraced Raven's Pass half sister to the stakes winner Alnaseem from the family of Tamayuz's Lockinge Stakes (G1) winner Mustashry.
The September Yearling Sale provides buyers with the first opportunity this year to spend their IRE Incentive €10,000 bonus on yearlings. Since its inception in 2021, the bonus system, which rewards owners of eligible Irish-bred winners of selected flat and jumps races included in the scheme, has paid out over €3.5 million to 250 individual owners.
That has generated €10 million in turnover at Irish sales in that time and approximately €1.5 million in bonus vouchers are due to be spent at Irish sales over the coming weeks, starting here.
Irish Thoroughbred Marketing CEO Charles O'Neill commented: "We are thrilled that the IRE Incentive scheme has been achieving its aim in rewarding and encouraging investment in Irish-bred stock. To have such a diverse range of owners ready to reinvest as the Irish sales season gets into gear is a major boost for the Irish industry."
