Half dozen six-figure lots for Flemensfirth at Derby Sale

Tattersalls Ireland’s Derby Sale finished at Fairyhouse on Friday night and Flemensfirth was the sire everybody wanted at the two-day event. The Coolmore stallion was responsible for no less than six lots who made 100,000 euros or more headed by Thursday’s session-topper, a €175,000 three-year-old gelding out of the Cheltenham Festival-winning hurdler Spirit Leader (by Supreme Leader). Conor O’Dwyer fought off top British trainer Paul Nicholls to get the three-year-old, who was offered by Goldford Stud for Swanbridge Bloodstock. The Flemensfirth gelding, who had cost 37,000 euros as a foal, was bred by Eamon Salmon and is a half-brother to the exciting six-year-old Folsom Blue. Other star Flemensfirths were a pair of three-year-olds bought by Aiden Murphy for €160,000 and €120,000, respectively out of Ain´t Misbehavin (by Trempolino) and La Fisarmonica (by Accordion), a half-sister to G1 Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner Joe Cullen. Meanwhile, Paul Nicholls will take charge of a €100,000 three-year-old out of Native Side (by Be My Native) bought by Anthony Bromley of Highflyer Bloodstock from Stow Stud. “He’s a cracking horse with lots of presence and he had a real stamp of a chaser about him. Paul loved him when he saw him. He is a cracker, I adored him and we just had to have him,” said Bromley. Agent Mags O’Toole signed for another €100,000 Flemensfirth, this time a gelding out of Shuil A Hocht (by Mohaajir), while M V Magnier spent the same sum on a three-year-old out of Blossom Trix (by Saddlers´ Hall) sold from Jimmy Murphy’s Redpender Stud.