Colt Foals By Robin Des Champs And Martaline Take The Top Two Spots On Day 4 Of The November National Hunt Sale
Ian Ferguson bought the session topper by Rathbarry & Glenview Stud's Robin Des Champs (Lot 889) for €70,000 from the Hillview Stud draft. Ferguson has bought 14 horses so far this week.
"He has been purchased on behalf of Wilson Dennison," said Ferguson. "We'll take home what've bought and work out future plans. This horse is a real athlete, by a proven sire and has a great pedigree on his dam's side."
The colt's dam Milogan is a half-sister to the Grade 3 Hurdle winner and Grade 3 Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase runner-up TULLYMURRY TOFF, while under the third dam is the talented MARLBOROUGH, winner of the Grade 2 Tote Gold Trophy Chase and the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase.
Ferguson bought both YORKHILL and BELLSHILL for Dennison at this sale in 2010. Both won Point-to-Points before being sold to Andrea and Graham Wylie.YORKHILL, a son of Presenting, has gone on to win seven races from eight starts under rules, victories including the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle, the Neptune Investment Novices Hurdle and the Grade 1 Mersey Novice Hurdle, while BELLSHILL is the winner of six races, including two Grade 1 Novice Hurdles.
Bidding for Lot 997, a colt by Martaline, became a battle of the Murphys - Michael Murphy from Longways Stables versus bloodstock agent Aiden Murphy. Both buyers were taking instructions on the telephone.
The two went head to head from the €40,000 mark, but it was Michael Murphy who succeeded at €65,000
"He is a lovely colt, with a beautiful pedigree," said Murphy. "Foals by Martaline are on everyone's shopping list. He comes back to us and is for a client. We have bought five in total this week."
The colt, bred by Kevin and Noel Heaney and sold by Railstown Stud, is out of the French Grade 1 winner FLEUR D'AINAY (Poliglote), a half-sister to the dual Grade 2 winning Hurdler and Grade 1 Stayers' Hurdle third CRYSTAL D'AINAY.
Colts by Flemensfirth filled the next two places on the price list - Aiden Murphy giving €62,000 for Hollywood Samba's colt (Lot 897), a half-brother to Murphy's former November National Hunt Foal Sale purchase, the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle winner CAPTAIN CUTTER, while Len Walker bought the colt out of Keep Face, a half-sister to the brilliant 2 mile Chaser MASTER MINDED, for €60,000 from Ballincurrig House Stud (Lot 932).
It was a strong day's trade; compared with the same day last year the aggregate increased by 17% to €3,222,450, while the median and average rose by 27% and 20% to €14,000 and €16,871. Horses were sold at a clearance rate of 75%.