THE dispersal sale of 27 horses owned by the late Pat Coffey realised €264,100 on Monday. Over 80 people attended the auction which was held at Coffey’s yard at Carrigatoher, outside Nenagh, Co Tipperary.

Coffey died in a road accident in October, aged 58. He trained winners on the track and owned many point-to-point winners, mostly trained by Denis Murphy.

Davy Russell was one of many well-known National Hunt faces in attendance at the auction and he bought the top lot, the broodmare Ayleoola, for €43,000. The eight-year-old daughter of Presenting is in foal to Ocavango. Coffey owned and trained Ayleoola to win a mares’ maiden at Belclare point-to-point in 2017.

A yearling colt by Mount Nelson was sold for €30,000 and a two-year-old by Milan made €21,000.

Auctioneer Robert de Vere Hunt said he was stunned by the prices achieved at the auction. “I knew we would have a respectable sale as there had been about 200 visitors to the yard in the preceding week. But it was surprising to see so many turn up in the freezing fog on Monday morning. The sale took off from the get-go and, to be honest, I was eaten for every horse.”

All horses were sold without reserve. “That made it more interesting as it was in the hands of the buyers where to start each horse. Some started at €5,000 and some at €10,000. There was no begging and we got through all 28 horses very quickly.”

Some bids were placed online, with the auctioneer keeping an eye on a computer screen. “It just goes to show you can do this anywhere,” said de Vere Hunt.

Contact details were recorded for everyone present for ‘track and trace’ reasons and people were asked to maintain social distance or stay close to the people they travelled with.

Davy Russell was a good friend of the deceased and rode winners for him. He was said to be emotional when securing the top lot.

Purchasers will be able to take horses as soon as their cheques clear and all proceeds will go to the estate of the deceased.