“WITH earnings of more than £60,000, and with a blacktype success to her name, she is now worth many multiples of her original purchase price.”

That was my comment a few months ago following the victory of Maskada in a listed mares’ chase at Leicester, a victory she was adding to three wins over hurdles and a couple of placings in listed chases. Then she featured in the bargain of the week column as she had been purchased as a two-year-old by J.D. Moore for just €4,000.

Well, at the weekend Maskada, a six-year-old daughter of Masked Marvel (Montjeu), topped the ThoroughBid online sale when selling for £80,000. She could line up next week for the Grand Annual Chase at Cheltenham, but after that she will move to Ireland and race from Henry de Bromhead’s yard at Knockeen in Waterford.

The result thrilled her consigner Michael Kehoe and he said: “We were delighted with the final bid of £80,000 for Maskada. We’ve got a couple of up-and-coming Masked Marvel offspring that we need to make space for, so for Maskada to go to her new connections for a nice price was a good result.

“ThoroughBid was recommended to us by a close associate in the industry and we couldn’t be happier with the service, it was very professional, and I think as a concept it’s great. We’ll definitely use it again.”

Coolmara Stud

Maskada was purchased by Coolmara Stud, and Kieran Miraga said: “We had our eye on Maskada from the outset and we’re very happy with the final price we managed to get her for. She’s a lovely individual, has some high-class form in the book, and is by a good sire in Masked Marvel. Obviously she holds an entry in the Grand Annual, so that’s still an option if she gets in. If not, she’ll be coming home to Ireland where she’ll go into training with Henry de Bromhead. Hopefully she’ll settle in well and maybe slot into a good race at the Punchestown Festival.”

Placed over jumps in France, the six-year-old All Risk For Love (No Risk At All), in foal to Jet Away (Cape Cross) and a half-sister to live Cheltenham Festival Champion Hurdle contender Teahupoo (Masked Marvel), was sold by Patrick Kelly for £50,000 to Three Wise Men.

Wildcard

Paul Cashman’s wildcard entry Overtheline, a son of Malinas (Lomitas) and a winner this year at Kildorrery, sold to John Reddington for £35,000.

James Richardson, CEO of ThoroughBid, said: “I’m sure it will be difficult for Michael Kehoe and the rest of the operation to bid her farewell, but I know they are very happy with the price they got and have some nice young stock by the same sire coming through. It’s a very exciting prospect that we will hopefully see her at the Cheltenham Festival just over a week after going under our online hammer.”