RECORDS SMASHED ON DAY 2 OF AUGUST NH SALE

The healthy figures were repeated across the board – the €11,040 average being the best achieved on Day 2 of the sale since 2006, the median of €7,000 is the highest since 2007, while the turnover of €2,092,500 is the third-best ever for Day 2 of this sale.

A Milan gelding out of the Un Desperado mare Bonnie Parker and offered by Parkville Stud topped proceedings.

Trainer Paul Nicholls and Ryan Mahon spent €80,000 on the April-born gelding, matching the top price at last year’s sale. Mahon was responsible for bidding on behalf of the trainer, taking his instructions over the telephone.

"We were very keen on him at the Derby Sale, but he was withdrawn then and we've bought him on spec," said Mahon. "Paul has the half-brother The Outlaw, who has been placed in a bumper from one start and likes him a lot. This horse will go back to Ditcheat from here and hopefully he'll be lucky."

Nicholls and Mahon saw off trainer Jim Culloty, Gerry Griffin and finally Aiden Murphy for Parkville Stud-offered gelding, who is out of a half-sister to Woolcombe Folly. The Presenting gelding was trained by Nicholls to win nine races, including the Grade 2 Lightning Novice Chase.

John O’Byrne, who purchased the top store horse on Day 1, went to €60,000 for the half-brother to the dual Cheltenham Grade 1 winner and 162 rated chaser, Simonsig. The three-year-old gelding by Presenting was another consigned here having missed an intended engagement at the Derby Sale.

 

Sold by Simmonstown Stud, the three-year-old was the property of owner-breeder Simon Tindall.

O’Byrne has bought eight horses over the two days, today’s purchases also including the Robin Des Champs gelding out of Annilogs Symphony, a descendant of the brilliant Arkle-winning racemare Anaglogs Daughter. He cost the agent €56,000.

A gelding by the popular Stowaway out of Dolphins View, a half-sister to the Champion Hurdler Rock On Ruby, was bought by Gerry Griffin for €58,000, the agent coming out best in a head-to-head with Brendan Bashford.

"Stowaway has done really well, he's got some serious racehorses," said Griffin. "This is for Nicky Richards and let's hope the horse can strut his stuff – he's got the pedigree to do so!"