THE hugely promising nature of the 14 horses offered at Arqana’s Grand Steeple Sale meant that consignors were happy to hold on to their wares unless the price was right, but the five horses that did sell were all bought for export.
Dan Skelton will take over the career of Mathieu Pitart’s listed-winning hurdler, Isaac Of York, who he purchased for €500,000 with Ryan Mahon.
“He’s obviously a very good horse,” Skelton said of the four-year-old Ivanhowe gelding, who was last seen finishing second in the Grade 2 Prix Amadou.
“He has a very nice profile for the big races. For any owner he is the ideal horse. We really like buying French horses, and when they’ve already run at a good level, it’s a good indicator.
“For now, he’ll come back and have a break at home, and then we’ll find some nice races for him in the autumn.”
Saturday’s sale marked a major increase in value for Isaac Of York, who was bought by Sarah Steinberg at BBAG September Yearling Sale for just €10,000. He hails from the fourth crop of top-class globetrotter Ivanhowe, whose fee rose to €8,000 at Haras de Cercy this season.
The Soldier Hollow half-brother to Irving has been represented by two Grade 1 hurdlers to date – Grade 1 winner It’s Win O’Clock and Willie Mullins’ Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle third Macho Man.
Closutton is also home to Ivanhowe’s Quai De Bourbon, who was sent off favourite for the Irish Grand National.
Productive period
Olly Murphy is taking charge of Ivanhowe’s promising three-year-old gelding Nils Holgerson after partnering with agent Nathaniel Barnett to purchase Hugo Merienne’s debut winner for €330,000. His price, too, produced an impressive return on connections’ investment, having cost €28,000 at the Arqana Summer Sale just 10 months ago.
La Motteraye signed for the bay on that occasion and raced him in partnership with several others, including his trainer.
After securing the AQPS-bred son of blacktype hurdler Goosebump, Barnett commented: “He’s a horse that I’ve really liked the look of for a while now. I was particularly impressed with his debut, and I think he has a lot of potential. He will go to England to be trained by Olly Murphy.”
Barnett and Murphy also bought the previous lot in the ring, Don Dandy, for €150,000, vindicating breeder Stephen Lanigan O’Keeffe’s decision to retain his homebred for €6,5000 as a foal.
Sent to Marine Pineda, the three-year-old son of Burgage Stud sire Sea Moon showed promise on his first two starts before scoring by five lengths at Compiegne last month.
At €155,000, Darby O’Gill boasted considerably more commercial appeal than the horses mentioned above when offered unraced – as a foal, in his case. Resold for €260,000 at Auteuil, his profit might not have been quite so impressive but was still quite a strong price given that the four-year-old has yet to win.
Trained by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm for Mrs Sue Magnier, the Walk In The Park four-year-old has finished second, fifth and fourth on his three career starts, beaten eight and a half lengths, 10 and a half lengths and 11 lengths respectively.
Jerry McGrath and Toby Jones were the colt’s latest buyers while Katie Rudd’s Busherstown signed for a Goliath Du Berlais colt foal offered by Haras des Marais.