THANKS to the generosity of Greg Broderick and Ballypatrick Stables, the Kevin Babington Fund received a €30,000 boost on Tuesday following the sale of Lot 35A at the Goresbridge Go For Gold Sale.

Consigned by GBBS Int Ltd, the chesnut colt foal by Emerald is out of the Laughton’s Flight mare Ballypatrick Flight who competed up to 1.50m level. The Irish Sport Horse mare is dam previously of, among others, the 1.40m performer BP First Editions (by Verdi).

The foal has a pedigree chockful of blacktype performers as his dam is a half-sister to MHS Going Global (Olympic Games) and MHS High Hopes (CSI3*) as well as to MHS King Joules (CCI4*). This is the family of Royal Athlete (1.60m), Royal Anthem (1.55m) and MHS Automatic (1.50m).

Bidding opened at €5,000, a figure which was immediately doubled by D.J. O’Sullivan who, on his feet towards the back of the auction room, had the final say on behalf of Americans who are said to be supporters of both Greg and Kevin. Let’s hope the foal is lucky for them.