Soldier Of Fortune To The Fore At Derby Sale

Soldier Of Fortune proved popular with Derby Sale buyers at Tattersalls Ireland this week, where Tom Malone and Paul Nicholls went to €110,000 for a bay gelding from Oaks Farm Stables.

A €45,000 foal purchase, Lot 352 is out of a winning own-sister to Grade 1 performer Time For Rupert (Flemensfirth) and black-type chaser Minella Fair (Flemensfirth).

The previous day, another Soldier of Fortune gelding returned a sizeable profit when selling to Aidan and Bobby O’Ryan for €100,000. Consigned by Peter Nolan Bloodstock on behalf of Thomas Coleman, the bay sold for €27,000 as a foal.

Agent Aiden Murphy secured three Soldier Of Fortune geldings over the two days; joining with MV Magnier to secure a bay from Castledillon Stud for €80,000, and purchased two for a combined €130,000 with son Olly.

Denis Murphy’s Ballyboy Stables signed for three by the Beeches Stud sire and, no doubt, hopes they should prove as profitable as his debut point-to-point winner City Chief (Soldier of Fortune), who subsequently sold for £210,000.