The palpable sense of expectation that has hung over Goffs for the last two days was rewarded with a spectacular sale as the brilliant Apple’s Jade, carrying to Walk In The Park, smashed the record price for a National Hunt broodmare when selling to Noel and Valerie Moran’s Bective Stud for an incredible €530,000 on Thursday evening.

This exceptionally well credentialled mare, who was described by auctioneer Nick Nugent as National Hunt racing’s Enable, attracted an opening bid of €200,000. Quickly several other parties got involved but from around €400,000 the battle for Apple’s Jade developed into a duel between Gordon Elliott, representing the Morans, and Gerry Aherne and Robert McCarthy, representing Coolmore.