Loughanmore runner-up tops Irish pointers at August sale

Denis Murphy’s twice placed The Bosses Oscar was the star draw among the draft of Irish point-to-pointers at the Goffs UK August Sale.

The son of Oscar who had finished nine lengths in arrears of Grandads Cottage when making his debut at Portrush in March, stepped up to chase home the subsequent £170,000 seller Largy Fix at Loughanmore in May.

The four-year-old joins the Gordon Elliott after he signed for him alongside Aidan O’Ryan for a price of £75,000.

Elliott and O’Ryan also combined to acquire Geraldo from Ellmarie Hoden’s Coolmeen Stables. The son of Jeremy that is a close relation of the six-time winner Striking Article, made a winning debut at Stowlin when getting the better of Don Diablo by a neck under Goffs UK agent Derek O’Connor.

The Land Rover sale graduate, who had cost €27,000 in Kill as a three-year-old, realised £66,000 in the Doncaster sales ring which was headlined by the sale of the Aga Khan’s Galway Bumper winner Hasanabad.

Elsewhere, Pat O’Rourke’s Kinsale five-year-old winner Ask Me Early was bought by agent Kevin Ross for £34,000, with his Loughrea-third Empire Steel going for £20,000. Denis Murphy’s Tralee victor Masters Voice went for £30,000, whilst fellow Wexford handlers Ashleigh Murphy and John Paul Brennan sold Howya Hun and Fancy A Dance for £21,000 and £20,000 respectively.

Following the conclusion of the day’s trade, Goffs UK Managing Director Tony Williams commented:

“We have enjoyed a solid day’s trade in the ring today with strong demand throughout, demonstrated by an 85% clearance rate and a full complex of buyers from across Europe. The obvious highlight of today’s sale was the Aga Khan Studs consigned Hasanabad who was destined to attract plenty of interest in the ring following his smart win at last week’s Galway Festival.

“We once again attracted a number of pointers from Ireland and it’s pleasing to see this sector of the sale continue to grow, as it was to see point-to-point trainers on the buyers’ sheet for the stores early in the day. We would like to thank all our vendors and buyers at today’s sale and look forward to welcoming many back to our Premier and Silver Yearling Sales later this month.”

Offered: 254
Sold: 216 (85%)
Aggregate: £2,897,100 ( 36%)
Average: £13,413 ( 16%)
Median: £7,500 ( 6%)