£400,000 Sale Tops Terrific Day For Walk In The Park

Croke Park (4g Walk In The Park - Toledana, by Protektor) topped a strong renewal of the Goffs UK Aintree Sale when knocked down to Gordon Elliott for £400,000.

A €150,000 store buy, the Denis Murphy-trained bay finished second on debut last month and went on to win Sunday’s four-year-old maiden at Dromahane.

Upon securing the top lot, Elliott said, “He looks a lovely horse and he came well recommended by Denis Murphy. He’s by the sire of the moment and very well named.”

Walk In The Park was responsible for another six-figure sale when Donald McCain went to £150,000 for the Ellmarie Holden-trained Winchmore Hill (5g Walk In The Park - Hats And Heels, by Flemensfirth).

The Grange Stud sire also enjoyed notable success on the track at Aintree on Thursday, with Ashroe Diamond (5m Walk In The Park - Saine D’Esprit, by Dom Alco) justifying favouritism in the Grade 2 Mares’ Bumper.

An impressive debut winner at the end of last season, Willie Mullins’s charge was beaten just half a length in a Grade 2 last time out and was reunited with Patrick Mullins at Aintree. Held up in midfield, she made headway from over two furlongs out and was shaken up to lead approaching the final furlong. Ridden clear inside the final furlong, she won by six lengths from fellow Irish raider Law Ella (Yeats).

Ashroe Diamond carries the colours of the Blue Blood Racing Club and was bred by Mrs JM Mullins.