Top lot of €80,000 on Day 1 of the August NH Sale

Day one of the August NH Sale saw a top price of €80,000, an average price of €10,443, a median of €6,200 and an aggregate of €1,879,650 for 180 lots sold.

The session's top price was given by Donnchadh Doyle of Monbeg Stables for Lot 92, a Davidoff full-brother to two black-type horses, the most notable being Abacadabras. He finished second in the 2019 Punchestown Grade 1 Champion INH Flat race and fourth in the Cheltenham Festival Champion Bumper for trainer Gordon Elliott after he made a career-winning debut. "He is a full-brother to a very promising horse, who will hopefully help us out early in the season," said Doyle of his new purchase already named Texxas sold by Moanmore Stables. "He is a very good-looking horse and a very good mover. He'll go pointing and will be for resale."

Bloodstock agent Tom Malone was on the phone to Marie McGuinness as Lot 187 went through the ring. Malone gave bid-winning instructions to McGuinness and the pair were successful at €72,000 for the Westerner half-brother to the Listed-placed Kilbarry Way (Lot 187). A €14,000 foal pinhook from Kilbarry Lodge Stud, the May-born gelding was sold by White Horse Stud.Malone said: "He is a lovely horse by a proven sire. I am very taken with the pedigree, it is a big plus. He missed the Derby Sale due to a minor setback and I was very keen to get him today."

The gelding, bought by Malone on behalf of trainer Paul Nicholls, is out of a half-sister to Racing Demon, runner-up in the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle (G1), winner of the King Henry VIII Novice Chase, twice a winner of the Peterborough Chase (G2) and third in the King George VI Chase (G1) and Ascot Chase (G1). It is also the family of black-type winners Abolitionist, Askanna and the multiple Grade 1-winning chaser Merry Gale and Grade 1 hurdler Brave Inca. 

The August NH Sale continues tomorrow, Wednesday 14 August and concludes on Thursday 15 August. The sale starts at 10am each day.