Image © Healy Racing
Affinisea’s latest four-year-old point-to-point winner proved to be a big hit in the sales ring as he was one of the star attractions at the Tattersalls Cheltenham April sale.
Affinisea’s latest four-year-old point-to-point winner proved to be a big hit in the sales ring as he was one of the star attractions at the Tattersalls Cheltenham April sale.
On The Bayou had made an impressive winning debut at Castetown-Geoghegan just under a fortnight earlier when Sean Doyle’s charge ran out the eight-length winner of a division of the four-year-old maiden at the Westmeath venue.
Jack Hendrick’s mount had struck the front at the home bend on his first competitive outing, and he really put the race to bed on the run to the last to comfortably account for a more experienced rival.
That winning performance justified the €55,000 that Pat Doyle’s Suirview Stables had paid to secure him at last season’s Derby sale, and he was again a popular offering when appearing in the sales ring.
Bloodstock agent Kevin Ross proved to be the successful final bidder, with a final bid of £140,000 securing him for trained Harry Fry.
Ross reported: " I really like the individual, he won well and has been highly recommended by Pat Doyle and Sean Doyle. We have been lucky before with the sire for Harry, and we were keen to get this horse.
"He is a nice quality type and I really liked the way he jumped the last, he jumped like a fresh horse. We had to push the boat out a little more than we had originally planned."
That victory of On The Bayou had seen him become the fifth four-year-old maiden winner of the season for Affinisea, whilst recent weeks have also seen his fellow Whytemount Stud-resident Valirann produce further winners in the ultra-competitive age division.
His Myfriendcooper, a daughter of Valirann out of a sister to Rye Martini, had also made a winning debut when she landed a four-year-old mares’ maiden at Dromahane.
Outbattling a €100,000 store sale purchase in the process, Robbie Clancy’s was one of the top-priced mares at the sale when she was knocked down to Highflyer Bloodstock for £70,000.
