World record sale
Bonanza as ten Wexford horses sold
THE CHELTENHAM Festival was a phenomenal success for Irish racing, and for Wexford, thanks to the wins of Jamie Codd and J.J. Slevin.
But the Wexford impact at the Tattersalls Ireland after-races sale in the famous parade ring on Thursday was really sensational, with ten of the 21 horses sold coming from the county and fetching more than £1.66 million, including a new world record being set by a young trainer from Bunclody.
It is quite remarkable that three horses that won at the Killinick Harriers meeting at Lingstown last Sunday week were sold for a combined total of £550,000, and the three Doyle brothers from Monbeg, Ballindaggin, sold five horses between them for £750,000.
Richard Black is in his third year as a trainer and still rides out regularly for Colin Bowe while his new Ballinapark stables are being created just outside Bunclody. Last Sunday week he sent out his first runner of the season at Lingstown, and Maire Banrigh made all as part of Barry O’Neill’s riding four-timer, to score an impressive win in the five-year-old mares’ maiden.
This daughter of the now deceased King’s Theatre, out of La Marianne, owned by John Paul Murphy, created a new world record for a mare when being bought by agent John Hales for £320,000 just four days later.
Richard Black, a U.C.D. Equine Science graduate, does seem to have the Midas touch. His first winner at this time last year, Thomas Do, was snapped up by trainer Donald McCain for £75,000.
He will have his own gallops, sand arena and schooling area in his new facility, but Richard says Colin Bowe has been very good to him while he is getting on his feet.
Denis Murphy from his Ballyboy Stables at The Ballagh has been having a great season in the key races, most of his winners piloted by Jamie Codd His two entries fetched £470,000.
Palmers Hill (Goldwell-Tosca Shine), which won by 20 lengths for Murphy and Codd at Tyrella, Co. Down, on March 4, was bought for J.P. McManus by his son, Kieran, for a cool £310,000.
Murphy and Codd combined to win the four-year-old maiden at Lingstown on Sunday week with Mr. Whipped (a bay gelding by Beneficial-Dyrick Daybreak), and this one sold for £160,000.
Leading the way for the Doyles was the youngest and latest training recruit, Cormac. His Del- lerchecker (Getaway-Loreley) won the four-year-old maiden at Lismore on Sunday week under Rob James, coming home alone, and he went for £260,000.
Seán Thomas Doyle sold two. He went to Kilworth in Cork last Sunday week to win with Speak Easy (Beneficial-For Bill) under Richie Harding in the four-yearold maiden, and this one went for £220,000 to Joseph O’Brien, Aidan’s son. Monbeg Zena (a five-year-old Chestnut mare by Flemensfirth) won at the Wexford Hunt’s Ballinaboola fixture a month ago, and she was bought for £110,000.
The third Doyle brother, Donnchadh, also sold two; he got £100,000 for Cracking Destiny (Dubai Destination-Cracking Gale) which won the four-yearold maiden at Horse and Jockey last Sunday week, ridden by yet another Doyle brother, 17-yearold Gearóid.
He got £60,000 for Chosen Path (Well Chosen-Karsulu), a four-year-old bay gelding.
Colin Bowe also disposed of two horses for his Milestone Racing Syndicate. Minella Mischief (Kayf Tara-Glenmoss Tara) sold for £70,000.
This was another of Barry O’Neill’s four-timer at the recent Lingstown meeting in the fiveyear-old geldings’ maiden. Classic Impact (Witness Box-Tanya Time), a five years old bay mare, went for £60,000.