Just days after he came within a head of winning all three Grade 1 races at Fairyhouse, trainer Gordon Elliott signalled his hunger for more success with seven purchases at Friday evening's Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale.
His shopping list came to just over £1 million, headed by £280,000 buy What's Up Darling.
On the same afternoon that Elliott's Teahupoo defeated Honeysuckle at Fairyhouse, What's Up Darling was winning a point-to-point maiden at Quakerstown in Co Clare. The Shirocco five-year-old is trained by John Costello who said after the sale: "It is a relief as there is five years of hard work gone into this horse. I have had him since he was a foal, he has been a beautiful horse all the way through, I bought him from his breeder Billy Mangan, he breeds some beautiful foals. I wouldn't be here tonight without the hard work of my sons Ronan and Conor."
Elliott said: "He is a lovely horse, the video was very good, we have been lucky with the vendor, hopefully he is a nice horse going forward. I am not sure yet who will own him, we will get him home first."
Elliott and agent Aidan O'Ryan paid £220,000 for Rainbow Trail, a four-year-old from Donnchadh Doyle's Monbeg Stables who finished second on his debut at Corbeagh House last Sunday. O'Ryan and Elliott also handed over £200,000 for Boston Town, winner of a Tinahely maiden for handler Colin Bowe last month. This four-year-old Flemensfirth gelding was race for KTDA Racing.
Quantum Storm, a five-year-old from Terence O'Brien's yard, was Elliott's other six-figure purchase. The Dromahane runner-up cost £165,000 and was bought on behalf of Noel and Valerie Moran's Bective Stud.
Pinhooking touch
The pinhook result of the evening went to the O'Donovan family from Mallow, Co Cork. They bought a Mahler gelding for €10,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland August Sale and, now named Shanagh Bob and the impressive winner of a Ballindenisk point-to-point last weekend, he was sold here for £200,000 to David Minton of Highflyer Bloodstock.
Shanagh Bob was trained by John O'Donovan and his son Chris rode the four-year-old to victory at Ballindenisk. He said: "Me and my girlfriend [Joanna Walton] ride out in the morning for a variety of people, and do the horses in the evenings, sometimes they nearly need headlights on! The whole family is involved, thank God it has worked out well. It is brilliant when it pays off.
"People tell you that you are going to get this and that but you never know until they go in. Our biggest result before sold for £60,000, we are very happy."
Of Shanagh Bob, he said: "He has always from day one looked a good horse, we are thrilled. He has never put in a bad piece of work, from day one he has been a pleasure. He was in very early and it was luck! Hopefully, he goes on to do some great things."
Minton said: "I have waited for him, I loved the horse yesterday, I loved him even more today. His performance last Sunday was very good. Nicky [Henderson] won with a Mahler today so he is very up on Mahler."
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