Coolmore National Hunt Sires Top Trade At Goffs UK
The progeny of Coolmore National Hunt sires were in high demand at the Goffs UK Spring Store Sale, accounting for the top three lots of the one day sale.
Sons of Getaway and Yeats shared top billing, the latter first to sell as Lot 76 from Norman Williamson’s Oak Tree Farm. The half-brother to Grade 1 winning mare Roksana was knocked down to father and son team Aiden and Olly Murphy at £105,000 and the young trainer commented, "He's a quality individual, has a good pedigree and he's a horse I'm really looking forward to training. I trained a bit of the family for a short period of time and Yeats has had a good year. I have a nice horse by him belonging to Mr McManus, Collooney, who's a very nice prospect."
Ross Doyle and Colin Tizzard were the successful purchasers of Lot 238 from Ballincurrig House Stud, with the pair outbidding Tom Malone and Jamie Snowden to swing the gavel in their favour at £105,000. The bay son of Getaway, who was consigned on behalf of William Bryan, is a half-brother to Scottish Grand National victor Joe Farrell.
Doyle afterwards commented on their acquisition, “Myself and Colin thought he was a standout individual and he's got a pedigree to back it up too. The breeders are very good too and the stallion needs no introduction, we've liked Getaway for a long time now. We bought a horse called The Big Breakaway [for €360,000] by him at the Punchestown Sale as well.”
Tom Malone didn’t leave empty-handed though, pairing up with Paul Nicholls to buy Lot 164, a son of Getaway consigned by Treannahow Stables, for £105,000. The sire was also part of the appeal for Malone, who said, “He's a lovely horse and we've had some fun with Getaway of late. He's exactly Paul's type of horse: a big, rangy, chasing type for the future.”
Another happy buyer was Lucinda Russell, who secured Lot 130, a son of Milan sold by Rathturtin Stud for £80,000. Russell, who has enjoyed success with the sire courtesy of Grand National hero One For Arthur (Milan), bought the bay on behalf of owners Colin and Nicola Drysdale, signing as Allson (Sparkle) Ltd.
Russell later said of their buy, “We've spent two days here going through all these horses and Colin and Nicola had a long list, but we managed to whittle that down to two horses and this was my favourite so I'm really delighted they've gone for him. I think he's a lovely horse who moves so well, and obviously I love Milan.”
The first crop of three-year-olds by Grange Stud sire Leading Light were also popular and Lot 217, a chesnut gelding from Trickledown Stud, will now join the Harry Fry stable after selling to the trainer for £57,000. Speaking afterwards, Fry said, “He covered the ground well and has a lovely step. This has been a good sale for us in the past and he is an athlete.”