FAIRYHOUSE, Ireland -This sale will provide a proper barometer. That is the prediction of David Ryan, who manages Jaber Abdullah's Kilfrush Stud in County Limerick, ahead of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale. Few people are better qualified to comment on the merits of this sale than Ryan who, through Rabbah Bloodstock, spent roughly €2 million on 27 yearlings at Fairyhouse 12 months ago. Amongst last year's haul was Star Of State (State Of Rest), the Group 2 Lowther Stakes runner-up who cemented her reputation as a potentially top-class filly when winning the lucrative Tattersalls Ireland Sales race for trainer Joseph O'Brien at the Curragh at the Irish Champions Festival. Fillies like Star Of State are a good advertisement about what can be found at Fairyhouse and go some way to explaining why Abdullah, one of the biggest owners in the business, is such a fan of his visits to Fairyhouse. Ryan explained, “The boss has a very close affinity to Ireland. He got Music Show out of the old Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale and America Queen more recently. Last year, we got Star Of State at this sale and a number of others who are looking particularly promising, so it is a sale the boss likes to support. The boss has been lucky here at Tattersalls Ireland and at Goffs as well. You usually go back to where you have been lucky before, don't you?”He added, “But Mr Abdullah loves coming here and it's very important that he comes here himself. He has a great team around him – Richard Hughes, James Tate and Kevin Ryan will all be here as well – and he listens to everyone before ultimately making his own decision. What we're always looking for is value – value is the bottom line. At this sale, you can find a lot of value. Star Of State is a good example of that.”At just €85,000, Star Of State is starting to look a snip at such a figure. Especially when you think that connections are mulling over a Classic campaign for the filly who was bred and sold by Mountarmstrong Stud. Tasked with helping to find the next Star Of State, Ryan has been busy scouting out the barns since Saturday, and explained the expansive brief set by Abdullah. He explained, “We're looking for something that will go on and something that will have a bit of substance – not just a horse that will win a couple of races. We're looking for a horse who could be stakes class, especially fillies. It just goes to show, you don't have to spend big money to find a horse that is entitled to be running in those Group 1 races, though.”David Ryan and Jaber Abdulah | TatterallsRyan added, “Star Of State came to hand fairly quickly so we knew she was fairly decent from an early stage. The horses will usually tell you. I had seen a good few State Of Rests at the yearling sales last year and she was just a lovely, big filly with great presence. Her dam [Nations Alexander (Dark Angel)], was pinhooked by Paul McCartan and Rathbarry Stud, so I followed her through. Now, the dam had been a little disappointing, it has to be said, but this one looked like 'the one' and we were lucky to get her. It's funny, Joseph actually underbid her and, after we bought her, he sent a text straight away asking could he train her and I replied saying I would see what I could do. Of course, he trained the sire and, the fact he underbid her, it made sense to send the filly to him.”No marketing campaign can prove a substitute for results on the racetrack and, thankfully for Tattersalls Ireland, the sales company has had no shortage of opportunities to toot the horn. After Docklands, Time For Sandals and Cercene provided the sales house with a memorable Group 1 treble at Royal Ascot in 2025, along came Star Of State to remind vendors and buyers alike why this week in September is not to be missed.Tattersalls Ireland boss Simon Kerins commented, “The horses are here and so are the buyers. It's probably the best catalogue we've ever assembled and, to be honest, we knew that we were going to have the best group of horses at this sale when we were going through our inspections earlier in the year. The demand for places has been very strong and that has stemmed from the three Royal Ascot winners last year and then of course we had Star Of State this year and she looks potentially high-class. I thought she was a bit unlucky in the Lowther and she showed her class in the sales race the other day. We've kept the numbers as tight as possible but, overall, we're delighted with the horses on the ground and with the buzz as well.”He added, “We have a lot of international clientele and a lot of European clientele. At the level of market we're at, we get a lot of Europeans here. It should be a good barometer of the health of the market, but I think it's not always a sign. You see the likes of Fasig-Tipton or Keeneland, and they're not always a barometer for the rest of the world. We'd be very hopeful. I think it's a long season ahead, so we'll see.”Not only was the €18,759,500 turnover up by 51% here last year, but a massive 93% clearance rate was recorded in Part 1. While Ryan chuckles about the prospects of Rabbah contributing to another rise, he predicts strong trade at Fairyhouse this week, pointing to the rise of foreign buyers willing to get in on the action. He concluded on the market, “You have to have a nice horse. Pedigree is a huge help but you have to have a nice horse – there is no forgiving to the market whatsoever. Arqana was very good at the top but then Doncaster and the Somerville sales were patchy. It has been very, very tough for both the breeder and the pinhooker, but hopefully things will pick up here this week because there is always a great representation of foreign buyers here. This sale will be a barometer as to what is to come over the next three weeks. It was noticeably strong here last year – the turnover was up by over 50 per cent – so if the figures can stay the same, it will be a very good sale.” The post Tattersalls Ireland Hails “Best Group Of Horses” As Search For Next Star Of State Gets Underway appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.