THE addition of Laurina to this sale in recent weeks following her retirement added a new dimension to the mares’ section of the sale and the former Cheltenham Festival winner dominated when selling to Samcro’s breeder, Douglas Taylor, for €290,000.

This price, a new record for the sale, bettered the previous November Sale high of €270,000 which was set by Karello Bay in 2007.

A seven-year-old daughter of Spanish Moon, Laurina retired as the winner of seven races with the obvious highlights coming courtesy of her Grade 1 triumph at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival which followed on from a runaway success at Cheltenham the previous month. She also showed top class form when defeating Minella Indo to win a beginners’ chase at Gowran just over a year ago.

Taylor, who went to around €400,000 for Apple’s Jade last week, confirmed that his purchase would be visiting Jet Away whom he stands with Eoin Banville at Arctic Tack Stud.

NOTED breeder Gerry McGrath opted to disperse his National Hunt breeding stock this week as he offered a selection of lots from the amazing family that has produced the Champion Hurdle winner Jezki.

These were sold through Ballintry Stud and they featured the €85,000 sale of Jezki’s winning sister Jelan who was sold in foal to Getaway. She was bought online by Jayne McGivern.

The mares’ sale also featured Regal Return, an unraced half-sister to Ballyadam. She was offered carrying to Poet’s Word and cost Seamus Murphy €75,000.

Walk with top foal

THE top of the foal market trade was headed by a pair of €100,000 sons of Walk In The Park and this was the first time in 12 years at this sale that two foals reached six figures.

A key feature of the sale was the demand for the progeny of Walk In The Park who was represented by 40 foals and 35 of these sold for an average of €39,471.

The first colt by the Montjeu horse to reach the €100,000 mark was consigned by Yellowford Farm on behalf of G.C.E. Farm Ltd and fell to Ciaran Conroy. The colt is out of a Galileo mare who has already produced the top class juvenile hurdler Sir Erec.

Yellowford then supplied a Walk In The Park colt from the immediate family of the high class Empire Of Dirt and he too reached the €100,000 mark after being knocked down to Margaret O’Toole who was acting on behalf of fellow agent Aiden Murphy.

Just five lots previously, Margaret O’Toole secured another son of Walk In The Park on Murphy’s behalf when giving €95,000 for yet another Yellowford offering.

THE progeny of Kapgarde has been a much sought after commodity in the sales ring for quite some time so it was always likely that the sire’s only foal in the sale would be in some demand.

Eventually Norman Williamson won the battle for this colt when bringing the price to €90,000. The relation to the Cheltenham Festival runner-up Mossley was sold by Ballincurrig House Stud on behalf of Cathal Ennis’ Quill Farm.

Another to reach €90,000 was a colt from the first crop of the top class stayer Order Of St George and he was yet another high profile purchase made by Margaret O’Toole on behalf of Aiden Murphy. This colt is a half-brother to the listed bumper winner Tetlami.

A DAUGHTER of the retired Flemensfirth emerged as the leading filly at this year’s sale when costing Jane Mangan €80,000. This wildcard entrant was offered by Hillview Stud and she is the third produce of the high class Morning Run who notched up a pair of Grade 3 victories during her time with Willie Mullins.

Just a few minutes prior to this Kieran Mariga’s Coolmara Stables spent €55,000 on a filly by Order Of St George who is a half-sister to the Gold Cup victor Bobs Worth.

AMONG the best bred foals on offer was a Walk In The Park half-brother to the ill-fated dual Grade 1 scorer Fayonagh. This colt was consigned by Galbertstown Stables on behalf of Paramount Farms and he cost agent Brendan Bashford €80,000. The agent was acting for a client who will decide in time what route to take with him.

This price was closely matched by a son of Jukebox Jury who cost Richard Rohan €75,000. A return to the sales ring as a three-year-old is the plan for this colt who shares his sire with the likes of Farclas and Princess Zoe.

On the final day of the sale Rohan also spent €70,000 on a Jukebox Jury half-brother to the potentially top class Appreciate It.

ADRIAN Costello picked up one of the most coveted members of Flemensfirth’s final crop when he forked out €72,000 for a colt from Ballincurrig House Stud.

The Alleged horse was also responsible for a colt out of the French Grade 1 winner Fleur d’Ainay who cost Kevin Ross and Ben Case €65,000.

Meanwhile, pinhooker Johnny Collins gave €58,000 for a Flemensfirth own-brother to the Cheltenham bumper heroine Relegate.

Hillman purchases

CASTLEDLLON Stud man Timmy Hillman headed his spending with an €85,000 son of Getaway offered by Spikle Stud. This colt is a half-brother to the smart English chaser Kildisart while he is an own-brother to the promising The Big Breakaway.

Hillman also made his presence felt for a son of Order Of St George as he spent €68,000 on a colt consigned by Caroline Berry.

This grandson of Galileo is out of a half-sister to the Grade 2-winning chaser The Dutchman and two other blacktype winners over jumps.

THE three day sale began with a very brief selection of yearlings and once again trade in this sector was muted but there was one gelding who stood out by some distance and this was a son of Blue Bresil who cost Ballincurrig House Stud’s Michael Moore €80,000.

The relation to De Valira and Valiramix was sold by John Dwan’s Ballyreddin Stud and he is likely to be reoffered as a three-year-old.

Next best was Redbridge Stables’ purchase of a Joshua Tree gelding for €12,500.