THE pick of the foals on offer at Kildare Paddocks this week was a €72,000 son of Soldier Of Fortune who will return to the sales ring as a three-year-old after selling to Adrian Costello. The colt was offered by Garryrichard Stud on behalf of his breeder Michael Murphy and he is the first produce of a Flemensfirth half-sister to the classy dual-purpose runner Swamp Fox.

Costello was again to the fore during the opening session when he forked out €49,000 for a son of Walk In The Park out of a winning Westerner mare who was sold by Pat Connell.

The pedigree of the top lot also came to prominence on day two when Johnny Collins spent €47,000 on a son of Champs Elysees. This Peter Nolan Bloodstock offering is out of a half-sister to the Soldier Of Fortune colt. Collins confirmed that his purchase would return for resale.

THE sale contained just one Mastercraftsman foal and this well-bred sort was one of the most prized commodities on offer as evidenced by his €68,000 price. This colt is a half-brother to the Grade 2 winners Shantou Village and Portrush Ted, and the Grand Annual Chase runner-up Bun Doran.

Dick Frisby, who pinhooked the last-named, made a strong play for the Mary Griffin-owned colt but he was eventually bested by Peter Nolan. The buyer was acting for an undisclosed client who intends to reoffer their purchase as a three-year-old.

Frisby enjoyed better luck the following day when his spending included a €48,000 son of the coming sire No Risk At All. This colt was sold by John Dwan’s Ballyreddin Stud and he is a half-brother to the Grand National winner One For Arthur.

THERE were just two sons of Flemensfirth on offer and the second of these was a colt out of the dual Grade 1 winner Petite Parisienne who made €130,000 at this sale in 2016. He was sold by Ballincurrig House Stud on behalf of Kieran Mariga’s Coolmara Stables and he was bought by William Bryan for €54,000. A decision will be made in due course as to whether this colt is reoffered or kept to race.

Not long afterwards, Bryan followed up by giving €40,000 for a Walk In The Park half-brother to the very smart Didtheyleaveuoutto.

Molony secures Milan filly

PETER Molony picked up some choice sorts for future store sales and his spending took in the top-priced filly foal on offer which came in the shape of a €54,000 daughter of Milan. She is the third produce of Jessica Harrington’s high-class chaser Burn And Turn who won at Grade 3 level and was placed in 10 other graded races.

Molony also spent €52,000 on a Westerner half-brother to the very smart hunter chaser Stand Up And Fight. This colt was sold by Marie Harding’s Glen Stables and he was the recipient of a very notable boost to his pedigree in recent months as his own-brother Anything Will Do has won four of his five starts for Joseph O’Brien.

Another very taking filly foal was a daughter of the eminent French sire Saint Des Saints who cost Philip Myerscough’s Colbinstown Stud €42,000. Sold by Ballincurrig on behalf of Cathal Ennis’ Quill Farm, this filly is out of a listed-placed own-sister to the very smart pair of Royal Alphabet and Queen Alphabet.

KIERAN Shields picked up a number of quality sorts for resale and this group included a €45,000 son of Walk In The Park who was also part of the Glen Stables draft. This colt is out of a half-sister to Many Clouds.

Shields also gave €36,000 for a son of Mount Nelson related to Tarla and he went to €32,000 for a Walk In The Park colt out of a half-sister to Wicklow Brave.

Ian Ferguson spent €38,000 on a son of the especially well-bred Sea The Stars horse Affinisea. The colt hails from the superb Fiona McStay dynasty that has produced the likes of Glens Melody.

Gigginstown’s mares move on

THE sale concluded with a selection of breeding stock which included some choice offerings from Gigginstown House Stud. The four strong Gigginstown contingent was headed by Alighting, a listed-placed half-sister to Don Poli who was knocked down to Babbinswood Ltd for €58,000. The daughter of Kayf Tara was sold in foal to Diamond Boy.

The Gigginstown-owned Grade 2 mare Dinaria Des Obeaux was offered in foal to Mount Nelson and she cost White Bloodstock €42,000 which was the same price achieved by the Grade 3-placed Creation. Gigginstown’s multiple winner High School Days fell to Knockbally Stables for €40,000. The daughter of Elusive Quality was offered with a Diamond Boy offering.

Lastly, another popular mare came in the shape of Rathmore Stud’s Simone who was snapped up by Cottage Bloodstock for €50,000. The bumper winner was sold by Peter Molony’s Limerick Farm in foal to Getaway and she is a half-sister to the dual Cheltenham winner Simonsig.