THERE were often blazing rows between members of the Ewing family and rival rancher/oilman Carter McKay in the American television series Dallas.

Happily, the horse named after the latter hasn’t caused any upset in the McKnight household and was only trained by Nick Stokes near Fethard as Christine’s brother Craig, who shared ownership in the Martaline grey, rides out at Ballydoyle.

We’re using the past tense as following his second-time-out 10-length success under Johnny Barry in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden at Ballynoe last Sunday, Carter McKay was sent over to The Aintee Sale conducted by Goffs UK after racing on Thursday. The grey was knocked down to David Redvers for £160,000.

Roger Brookhouse, a prolific purchaser at these boutique sales, gave £210,000 for Rodney and Diane Arthur’s Black Op who had impressed when landing the Connolly’s Red Mills five-year-old geldings’ maiden at Loughanmore on Easter Monday. Clear of the schmozzle at the last, the son of Sandmason scored by 25 lengths on his debut in the hands of Jason McKeown.