Minella Premier has made as many sales appearances as career starts, but that didn’t deter Matt Coleman nor AJ and Jonjo O’Neill, as they stretched to £300,000 for Richard Hobson’s unbeaten six-year-old on the second and final day of the Goffs UK Spring HIT/PTP Sale.

The buyer of Thursday’s session topper wasn’t immediately clear, as Goffs UK managing director Tim Kent struck the winning bid while taking instructions over the phone, and AJ O’Neill was quick to dismiss any suggestion that his decision to stay outside was tactical.

“There’s no big conspiracy theory,” O’Neill explained. “I’m wearing a warm coat and the temperature’s gone up today, and it’s just a lot more comfortable to stand with dad, Matt Coleman and the team outside.”

On Thursday’s purchase, O’Neill continued: “Minella Premier is a lovely horse; we actually underbid him here as a pointer. We were very keen to get him that day, and we're delighted to finally introduce him to Jackdaws Castle now.

“There's no owner for him yet. Would anyone like a share in a racehorse?! Look, we had a fantastic spring, and we want to continue in that vein, and you need the right horses to do so.

“I think we've bought some lovely horses this week to help us achieve that. I’m delighted to get him; these are very exciting times.”

Two years ago, Minella Premier topped the sale when selling to Nicky Henderson and Jerry McGrath for £400,000 off the back of a 12-length debut win for John Nallen.

Withdrawn from last year’s sale by Henderson’s Seven Barrows, the Olly Harris-owned son of Shantou didn’t reappear until February when he won a Fontwell bumper for Hobson and went on to defy a penalty next time out at Wetherby to maintain his unbeaten, if lightly-raced, record.

Nicky Henderson filled the role of both buyer and consignor for promising five-year-old Red One, who he bought back for £140,000.

“I like him,” the trainer stated. “He’s a big baby and has taken a lot of time, but I think he’s got a future. There’s no owner in mind, I just think highly of him, so I was always going to try to buy him. He’s there for anyone who wants a nice horse, and he really is very nice.”

Henderson continued to promote his purchase to any future owner, saying: “He’s not a bumper horse; he’s a chaser of the future. He’s a brilliant jumper. I know plenty about him.

“I had to get a run into him because if he hadn’t had that, he’d have made nothing. The run proved that he’s got an engine, even though it was a dreadful track for a big horse like him. Nico was very happy with him that day.”

The Walk In The Park gelding carried the colours of Mr and Mrs Kelvin-Hughes when finishing second on debut a week ago at Fontwell, where the first two finished nine lengths clear of the rest of the field.

Dan Skelton was another trainer reluctant to part with one of his charges, as he signed alongside Ryan Mahon for Risky Obsession at £130,000. Like Henderson, Skelton is unsure of whose colours the No Risk At All gelding will carry from now on.

“The horse will have a new owner, whether that’s a new owner to the yard or an existing owner I don’t yet know,” he said.

“We’ve got a bit of interest, as you’d expect for a decent horse, and I’m obviously happy to be taking him home. He’ll go novice hurdling next year. Harry was really happy with him and when he got off him at Warwick, he said he was a good horse.

“We ran him in terrible ground at Newbury, which was an error, and then he ran nicely at Aintree. If we hadn’t gone to Newbury, he’d have finished further up the field at Aintree as I think he’s a good horse.”

This was the third time the five-year-old had sold for six figures since May 1st of last year; firstly fetching €170,000 following his debut win for Matthew Flynn O’Connor and then bringing £190,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham David Maxwell Dispersal.

He was bought on that occasion by Craig and Laura Buckingham for whom he made a winning rules debut in a Warwick bumper December but had disappointed in two blacktype bumpers since.

Noel Meade’s blacktype hurdler Messerschmitt will join Ben Pauling after the trainer combined with Jerry McGrath to give £100,000 for the five-year-old son of Kessaar.

Meade and Peter Nolan’s €15,000 yearling purchase has proven a shrewd buy, running up to a rating of 91 on the flat, finishing third at the Galway Festival and placing in two blacktype hurdles, including at the Punchestown Festival on his latest start.

McGrath expects there is more to come from Messerschmitt, saying: “He’s an improving five-year-old. He ran an eye-catching race in the Imperial Cup at Sandown, and then at Punchestown he didn’t get the best run round but still managed to finish third in what was a high-quality race.

“Nicky Henderson's mare Khrisma was fourth that day, and that’s proper festival handicap form. He’s a ready-made festival horse.

“He has plenty of options. He's also rated 83 on the flat and he's a lovely model who has the size and scope to jump a fence if we need him to.

“He's a proven horse who we already know has a lot of talent, and in the market we saw this week I think he was good value. Coming to England he might have more opportunities in those high-class Saturday and festival handicaps.”

While Thursday did not provide close to as many six-figure sales as Wednesday’s pointers, trade was solid, as demonstrated by the clearance rate of 92%. The average improved by 1% on last year’s figure to £19,773, but the median fell by 9% to £10,500.

The two-day sale ended with a record turnover of £11,004,400, average price of £29,823 (up 13%) and median of £17,000 (up 5%). The clearance rate ended at a strong 89%.

Upon the close of trade, Goffs UK Managing Director Tim Kent commented: “Wow, what an incredible week. We are delighted to have delivered yet another memorable and enjoyable Spring Sale.

"The positivity started early on Monday and continued throughout the three days of selling, resulting in increases across the board at both sections of this unique sale.

“Yesterday’s PTP session was a real buzz. The sale grounds were packed and the action in the ring built throughout the day, reaching boiling point in late afternoon, with 17 horses making six-figure sums and top prices of £360,000 for Kaiser Ball and £280,000 for L’Horizon.

With many commenting it was some of the best trade seen at this sale, the turnover grew 47% to over £7.9 million, making it the highest grossing session of pointers and young form horses anywhere, ever.

£It’s a session that continues to grow and develop in stature and its popularity saw it attract over 100 supplementary entries in the last two weeks – a real vote of confidence from the vendors and we are very grateful for their ongoing support.

“Today’s second and final day has been another strong session with six-figure sales continuing, headlined by Minella Premier which sold for £300,000, driving a superb overall clearance rate of 89%.

3The final turnover of £11 million makes this year’s sale the highest grossing Spring HIT/PTP Sale ever – beating the lofty heights sets in 2019 when we hosted the Grech & Parkin Dispersal.

“Today also marked the end of the annual Million In Mind Dispersal which has provided many highlights over its 36-year history.

“Having produced over 185 winners, 11 of which came at the Cheltenham Festival, a roll of honour featuring Mysilv, Garde Champetre, Mister Banjo, Tricky Trickster and many sale ring highlights with record prices of up to 530,000 Guineas, the Million in Mind Dispersal has played a huge roll in this sale’s ongoing success.

“We wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to David Minton and Anthony Bromley for entrusting us with their dispersal each year – it will be missed.”