It was a case of déjà vu on the second and final day of the Goffs Land Rover sale, as Martin Brassil purchased the top lot for the second day running, whilst the top-priced horses likely destined for the point-to-point fields, was once again signed for by Colin Bowe’s Milestone Bloodstock.
The reigning champion handler went to €50,000 to acquire lot 331 a bay gelding from Mooreshill Farm that is by the first time champion point-to-point sire Getaway. The third produce from an unraced Old Vic mare, he is from the family of Den Of Iniquity and Lough Ferrib.
That was one of three purchases for Bowe’s Kiltealy-based Milestone Stables operation, as he also brought home lot 512 a bay gelding by the French-based stallion Spider Flight who has had just one previous runner between the flags in Ireland. That horse came from Peter Nolan Bloodstock with a price tag of €30,000, whilst he also picked up a Milan filly (lot 457) for €24,000.
Derek Tobin has enjoyed a very profitable association with the Mick Goff yard, including this season when they won the four-year-old maiden at Oldcastle with Ballinsker, and the Wexford businessman signed for the most expensive filly in the day’s trading with lot 442, a grey filly by the four-time Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats.
The growing influence of French breds was evident at the two-day sale and Cork handler Johnny Hurley went to €44,000 to acquire one of them, Grenadier (lot 322). The son of Dragon Dancer is closely related to the Grade 3 winner Royality.
Following a very successful 2018/19 campaign, the sibling duo of James and Ellen Doyle continued to restock their Baltimore Stables picking up a further three horses for a combined spend of just under €100,000, leaving them as one of three point-to-point stables to feature in the day’s top 10 purchasers.
The French-bred Chetzeron (lot 412) was their most expensive purchase, costing €42,000. Out of a Mansonnien mare that is an own-sister to the Listed winner Lady Boston, the son of Irish Wells also has leading performers Moulin A Vent, Bostons Angel and Missy Tata.
They also added lot 297 a Rail Link gelding from Clifton Farm for €34,000 and a son of Sholokhov, lot 311 from Galbertstown Stud for €22,000.
Lot 412, Chetzeron a son of Irish Wells sells to Rob and James Doyle for €42,000. Consigned by @BleahenBrothers Lakefield Farm pic.twitter.com/sYxBPFsqZf
— Goffs (@Goffs1866) June 12, 2019
The Monbeg team added to their 22 purchases on the opening day of the sale with a further three buys, including the Fame And Glory gelding (lot 467) for €40,000, whilst Tom Keating also picked up three horses. The top priced of that trio being lot 508 a son of Imperial Monarch from Limekiln Stud for €27,000.
Having saddled the Watar-sired Kilbrook to finish second in a four-year-old maiden at Portrush in the spring, Peter Flood went back in search of another horse by the Moortown Stud resident stallion, and managed to acquire lot 491 from Laurel Stables for €20,000. The bay gelding that is closely related to Carthalawn, is an own-brother to Coniston Spa who finished third in a British point-to-point at Sheriff Hutton on is debut in January for Stephanie Easterby.
Aidan Kennedy, Brian Hamilton, Denis Murphy, Matthew Flynn O’Connor, Brian Hassett, Derek O’Connor, Stuart Crawford, Liam Kenny, Harley Dunne, John Paul Brennan, Kieran Purcell, Cormac Farrell, Shirley Berry, Simon Cavanagh and Turlough O’Connor were among the other point-to-point connections among the day’s buyers.
Following an extraordinary two days at Goffs, Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said:
“Yesterday’s amazing Land Rover Part 1, which returned an unmatched median price of €45,000 and a stunning 91% clearance rate, was always going to be a hard act to follow as we moved to Part 2 of the Land Rover Sale. However we have enjoyed another lively day of trade with an improved clearance rate of 80% and double digit advances in both the average and median prices. Indeed the last two days have really cemented the Land Rover Sale’s position as a genuine first choice for so many vendors and purchasers with growth in every area.
“Once again we would like to pay tribute to our vendors who have supported us with so many of their best Three-Year-Olds over the two days and thank our huge group of buyers, so many of whom travelled across from the UK including several new high profile faces.
“Their attendance was prompted by another superb season on the track for Land Rover graduates with 10 Grade 1 winners and a sixth successive year of being the most successful store sale at the Cheltenham Festival whilst our graduates also led the way at Aintree and Punchestown. The competition from start to finish was a tribute to the horses supplied by our vendors and the supreme efforts of the Goffs Team working in tandem with Irish Thoroughbred Marketing.”
