Over €2 million paid for Wexford pointers
THE INSATIABLE demand for Wexford point-to-pointers that have recently proved their class on the circuit has continued, again illustrating the county’s pre-eminent position in the sport, with the closing sales of the season at Cheltenham and Doncaster producing staggering figures.
A total of 23 Wexford horses that had all run in recent weeks were sold for £1,830,000 (over two million Euros).
Donnchadh Doyle and the Monbeg (Ballindaggin) operation got the top prices at both venues, his biggest seller going for £210,000 as he picked up a total of £923,000 (over a million Euros) over the two sales. Denis Murphy’s Ballyboy, The Ballagh, stable, also figured prominently, earning a total of £377,000.
The last Cheltenham sale of the season took place last Thursday and Wexford horses drew the top three prices of the session: Donnchadh Doyle had joint top sellers at £130,000 each in Rio Quinto and Storm Control.
Other Doyle and Monbeg sales included: Darlac, £65,000; Kings Monarch, £60,000; Thebigcleanup, £50,000; the filly, Tillythetank, £30,000; Oscar World, £20,000. Cormac Doyle also sold a couple for Monbeg - Aero Majestic at £28,000, and Always du Cerisier, £15,000.
Denis Murphy’s sales included Ifyoucatchmenow (£100,000), and Gowitheflow (£75,000). His sister, Bernadette, from Ballinagore Stables, Blackwater, beat the brother in Tralee last Sunday week with Another Barney, and this one sold for £85,000.
Colin Bowe’s Milestone Stables sold Everybody’s Talkin’ for £65,000; Eur Gone West to David Pipe for £60,000, and Malindi Bay for £25,000.
Other Wexford sales I noted included: The Lion Dancer by John Paul Brennan from Monasootha, Camolin, for £30,000; Ofcourseiwill by Vincent Devereux from Rostoonsown for £20,000.
The Goffs Spring sale at Doncaster for point-to-pointers and horses in training saw the Wexford pointers in demand among the 327 horses sold, as many of the top British stables culled their stock. For instance, you could have bought a Godolphin cast-off for £3,500 and take your chances.
Top lot of the day was Invincible Cave, put up by Donnchadh Doyle and the Monbeg Stables which went to Gordon Elliott for £210,000.
Doyle also sold Djarkevi to Charlie Longsdon for £68,000; Peterborough to trainer Evan Williams for £60,000; Don des Fosses to Highflyer for £35,000; Present from Dubai for £35,000 and Mellow Ben for £30,000.
Other Monbeg horses sold included He’s No Molly by James Doyle to Mag O’Toole for £75,000; Top Decision for £42,000, and Cormac Doyle’s Sonic for £24,000.
Also in the top ten was Hitman Fred, put up by Denis Murphy, fetching £90,000. He also sold Good Man Pat to Alan King for £70,000, and Sweet as Candy to Rose Dobbin for £42,000.
Other selected sales I noted were: £21,000 for Leskinfere out of Liam Kenny’s Ballydarragh Stables; £20,000 each for Swift Natïve and Geraway Bay from Ashleigh Murphy and Michael Murphy’s Redbridge, Duncormick, stable.