Morans snap up bumper winner Hollymount online

EXCITING bumper mare Hollymount is set to join Gordon Elliott after being sold for £300,000 yesterday.

The Goffs January Sale usually takes place at Doncaster, but both horses in training and National Hunt breeding stock were this year sold entirely online due to coronavirus restrictions.

Hollymount is a daughter of Jet Away out of broodmare Zaffarella, who has produced a trio of high-class performers in Windsor Avenue, Ravenhill Road and Malone Road. The later joined Elliott three years ago for £325,000 and has since won three of his four starts.

Zaffarella’s latest potential star made an impressive start to her racing career for trainer Stuart Crawford in a bumper at Carlisle last month – winning by eight lengths in the hands of champion jockey Brian Hughes.

The online bidding for Hollymount started at £180,000, before she was eventually being knocked down to Noel and Valerie Moran’s Bective Stud for £300,000.

The Morans are becoming an increasingly powerful force in Irish National Hunt racing, with the likes of Triumph Hurdle favourite Zanahiyr and £400,000 purchase Grand Roi among their big-race winners on the track this season.

Just last month they went to 530,000 euros to secure former hurdling star Apple’s Jade – a record price for a National Hunt mare sold at public auction – for breeding purposes.

Elliott’s bloodstock agent, Mouse O’Ryan, said: “Hollymount has been bought for Noel and Valerie Moran to go to Gordon.

“She looks very smart and was well recommended and we’ve been lucky with the family.

“Hopefully she’ll go on to big things on the track before going on to become a broodmare.

“Noel and Valerie obviously bought Apple’s Jade and have some other very nice mares on the track, including Queens Brook, Party Central and Riviere D’etel.”