Exciting Son Of Mahler Joins Henderson For £200,000
Father and son team John and Chris O’Donovan enjoyed a dream result at the Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale, when selling their debut winner Shanagh Bob (4g Mahler - Exit Bob, by Exit To Nowhere) to Highflyer Bloodstock for £200,000.
The John O’Donovan owned and trained bay was partnered by Chris to win a four-year-old maiden at Ballindenisk by three and a half lengths last week. The smart performance didn’t surprise the pair, as Chris explained after the sale, “From the day we bought him he’s been exceptional and done everything we’ve asked. He’s never done a bad bit of work.”
The son of Mahler has also earned a new fan in Highflyer’s David Minton, who struck the winning bid on behalf of an undisclosed client, who will send him into training with Nicky Henderson. “I loved him yesterday and loved him even more today,” the agent said. “His performance last Sunday was very good and Nicky won with a nice Mahler today so he's very up on the stallion.”
The ‘nice Mahler’ Minton referred to is Attaca (4g Mahler - Listening, by King’s Theatre), who made it two from two over hurdles at Cheltenham earlier that day.
Runner-up on his sole start in a bumper, the Nicky Henderson-trained bay made a perfect start over hurdles at Kempton last month, but was the sole four-year-old to line up in Friday’s Novices’ Hurdle. Making all of the running under Nico de Boinville, he was pushed along approaching the final flight, where Master Chewy (Walk In The Park) produced a strong challenge. Ridden on the run-in, Attacca kept on well to win by a length and a quarter, with another four lengths and three quarters back to the Listed-winning favourite in third.
“Attaca's jumping was so good,” Henderson said after the race. “I think he wants another half a mile, which is why we set those fractions.”
Owned by Mrs Patricia Pugh, Attaca kicked off a successful day for breeder Mrs Mary McCann, who later sold Attaca’s winning half-brother Ah Whisht (Getaway) for £145,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale.