Walk In The Park Foal Breaks Records At €160,000

A son of Walk In The Park set a new record price for a national hunt colt foal when knocked down to Nicolas Bertran de Balanda for €160,000 at the Goffs December NH Sale.

The determined French bloodstock agent outbid Gerry Aherne, before revealing his purchase was made on behalf of Sofiane Benaroussi, to race in France. “He’s very nice, the one I liked most in the sale,” said Bertran de Balanda. “He’s by a good sire and out of a good mare. She was a winner in Auteuil, she's by a great sire in Saint Des Saints and she came from a very good French breeder in Benoit Gabeur. "He’s just a very good individual, really athletic with a lovely walk. I’m not surprised I had to battle against some very good judges to get him. Let's hope he's fast now.”

The star lot was consigned by Ballyreddin and Busherstown on behalf of breeder Louis Vambeck, who said: “This is a special moment for me. When you breed a good foal it's nice to be rewarded. I seem to be lucky with Walk In The Park. The last time I brought a foal here I topped the sale with a Walk In The Park about five or six years ago.”

Underbidder Gerry Aherne gained some compensation later in Tuesday’s session when securing another Walk In The Park colt for €68,000. After signing for the Rathmore Stud-consigned colt, Aherne commented: “He was high on our list and is a very, very nice individual. “He has been bought to race. He was bred by a new name in the game, Shane Carmody, and Peter Molony has done a great job for him, buying some nice mares.”