Oxx and Weld rule: The Curragh stages racing on Saturday and proceedings are dominated by Charlie Weld and John Oxx. Weld has a double, including taking the featured National Stakes. He trains Decies, a son of Pardal, to win in the hands of Buster Parnell by three-quarters of a length and one length and a head from Great Heron, French Score, and the odds-on Prince Tenderfoot in fourth. The winner is returned at 33/1. Reporter Dave Baker points out that Decies thus presents a compliment to another two-year-old colt, Nijinsky, who beat Decies by five lengths at the Curragh in August. Weld’s double is completed in the last race by Lets, ridden by John Smith. Oxx’s treble starts with Buffy taking the opening juvenile filles race; and later Santayana wins the Turf Club Handicap, both ridden by Des Coleman. For the Merrion Handicap, Coleman decides to ride St. Quivox, so apprentice Jim Molony takes the ride on Evening Storm, who wins at 20/1!
Lively sale: Off the track, big event of the week is the Goffs September Sales at Ballsbridge. These take place on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with a horses-in-training sale on Thursday. Monday’s report is on page six, accompanied by a list of sales results. After a steady start, it is not until the evening when 146 yearlings are sold for an aggregate of 292,300gns, and the average is 2,002 guineas, up from 1,633 last year. The top price paid is 8,600gns for a filly by Crepello. The buyer is Senor Antonio Blasco, who is President of a Spanish bank. Bloodstock agent Jack Doyle buys 17 yearlings for a total of 31,620 gns. Another busy man is Lord Harrington, whose shopping trolley includes a colt by Whistle for 8,200gns.
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