Walk In The Park’s First Irish Stores In High Demand

Irish breeders flocked to Grange Stud sire Walk In The Park following his transfer from France, his move and popularity aided by the exploits of Douvan and Min, amongst others. The resulting produce turned three this year and made a strong start to the Irish store sales at Goffs on Wednesday.

A handsome bay from Knocktartan House Stud provided an early top price when selling to MV Magnier for €90,000. Lot 30 is out of winning hurdler Bonnie Parker, who has produced six winners including Grade 2 scorer El Bandit (Milan).

On his purchase, MV Magnier commented, “He’s just a lovely horse from a good jumping family and he’s by a sire who has already produced some exceptional horses. We are really looking forward to seeing Walk In The Park’s first Irish crops on the track over the next few seasons.”

Later in the day, Denis Murphy went to €70,000 for Glenwood Stud’s Walk In The Park brother to Grade 3 chaser King’s Odyssey. Michael Shefflin and Paul Holden paired up to purchase Kilmoney Cottage Stud’s gelding out of the black-type mare Hats And Heels (Flemensfirth), for whom they parted with €68,000. Top point-to-point operation Monbeg Stables were also keen to secure a son of Walk In The Park and went to €65,000 for a relation to Hidden Cyclone offered by Java Bloodstock.

Daughters of Walk In The Park also found favour with buyers, with Castletown Quarry Stud selling Lot 34 for €62,000 to Mrs John Magnier and Linda Shanahan, while Rathmore Stud’s half-sister to Tombstone was knocked down to John McDonald for €50,000.