Apple's Jade Fetches Record Sum In Foal To Walk In The Park

Thursday saw Apple’s Jade became the highest priced NH mare ever when selling in foal to Walk In The Park for €530,000 at the Goffs December NH Sale.

Bidding opened at €200,000 for the history maker, who after a sustained bidding war, was knocked down to Gordon Elliott on behalf of Noel and Valerie Moran’s Bective Stud. Noel Moran later revealed their plan to retain and race Apple’s Jade’s progeny, adding, “It will probably be an extremely long time before we ever see the likes of her in a sales ring again; she is an 11-time Grade 1 winner and mares like her are next to impossible to come across.”

Walk In The Park was responsible for the €82,000 top lot on the first day of trade, and the esteem in which the Grange Stud sire is held was clear when Gigginstown House Stud selected him to cover their 11-time Grade 1 winner. When confirming the chosen mating in May, Eddie O’Leary said, “Apple’s Jade is in foal to Walk In The Park, who I believe is a top stallion. If he can continue what he’s achieved with small crops in France, he’ll take over the world.”

The previous record price for a NH mare was the £270,000 paid for Feathard Lady, who went on to produce Grade 1 winner Augusta Kate (Yeats).