IT is an exciting and nervous time at Oak Leaf Stud. The Co Offaly based operation is run by William Pilkington and he started to trade under that name last autumn, with immediate success. Now he is hoping to make some noise at the Goffs February Sale on Thursday. This is with the Shirocco mare Xaloc.

Having purchased the mare as a filly out of training through Derek Veitch’s Ringfort Stud, William sent her to Born To Sea. Her first foal, a filly, was sold for €20,000 as a foal and resurfaced at the Arqana Yearling Sale last year, leaving a little profit when selling for €35,000 to Myriam Bollack-Badel. She is now in training in France and named Flicker Flame.