Walk In The Park In Demand At Derby Sale Opener

Walk In The Park enjoyed a strong start to the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale, where he was responsible for a trio of six-figure sales on the opening day of trade.

Peter Nolan Bloodstock consigned two of those prized lots, headed by a half-brother to talented mare Maria’s Benefit and black-type hurdler Howyabud (Milan). Tom Malone provided the final bid, and after signing the docket with Paul Nicholls, said, “He has a lot of presence and a lot of pedigree, he’s a beautiful animal and we’re delighted to get him.”

Nolan consigned the bay on behalf of breeder Charlie Carter, who is best known for his achievements with the Kilkenny hurlers. “It's a very different feeling from winning an All-Ireland medal,” the decorated hurler said. “Youngborogal was breeding very good horses but she was breeding them a little bit small, Walk In The Park was throwing big horses, so the match worked. You never really know how well they’re going to sell, but everyone who saw him liked him and if I could breed a few more like him it would be great.”

Later in the session, Stroud Coleman Bloodstock and Jonjo O’Neill went to €120,000 for Nolan’s Walk In The Park half-brother to Grade 1 winner Minella Cocooner (Flemensfirth). It continues a profitable run for the mare Askanna, whose Getaway gelding fetched €100,000 last summer, while a Walk In The Park filly sold for €75,000 the previous year.

Denis Hogan struck gold at last year’s Derby Sale when buying a Walk In The Park gelding for €80,000. Subsequently named Mahon’s Way, the bay impressed on debut before selling to Alex Elliott for £360,000. Hogan will be hoping to repeat the feat with his latest purchase, a Walk In The Park gelding bought from Glenvale Stud for €115,000.