SUNSHINE greeted the inaugural Goffs UK Aintree Sale after racing on Thursday evening, and it was a case of smiles all around for the sales company and the vendors when the final tallies were in.

All but three of the 24 lots offered were eventually sold, with an aggregate more than twice the initial expectations of managing director Henry Beeby. The average of £103,333 and the median figure of £70,000 were both outstanding results, and all the major buyers of horses with form were in attendance.

Highflyer Bloodstock, Willie Mullins and Harold Kirk, Tom Malone with a variety of clients and more were active for a select group of horses sourced in Ireland and Britain. Pre-sale chat was all about one horse and he did not disappoint.

Last weekend Samcro raced to victory at Monksgrange in the colours of Douglas Taylor and from the Colin Bowe yard. The four-year-old son of Germany, sire of Faugheen and Captain Cee Bee, is from the family of multiple Grade 1 winning chaser Sound Man and he was offered for sale with no reserve.

SERIOUS BIDDING

Bidding was serious and the opening bid of £100,000 was soon a memory as interest in him grew intense. The hammer eventually fell at £335,000 and Mags O’Toole was announced as the buyer, though the name on the record is Gordon Elliott. It is expected that the gelding will race for Gigginstown House Stud. Bowe’s Milestone Stables also sold Onthepulse for £65,000 to Gerry Hogan for David Pipe, and Oscar More for £50,000 to Highflyer Bloodstock.

A few lots before Samcro came into the ring there had been a battle royal for the recent Cork bumper winner Give Me A Copper, successful also in his other start in a point-to-point for Donal Coffey. The six-year-old son of Presenting was the subject of an audacious opening bid of £200,000 from bloodstock agent Tom Malone, but he was later pushed to £270,000 before the gavel came down. Malone was standing with Paul Nicholls throughout and he saw off the challenge of Peter Molony who was with Sheikh Fahad, Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins.

The very next lot in the ring also set the pace alight and Roger Brookhouse, a great supporter of these boutique-style sales, got the better of Anthony Bromley at £210,000 for Black Op, winner of a five-year-old point-to-point at Loughanmore last month for Rodney Arthur. Tom Malone was among the other to bid for the son of Sandmason.

Peter Molony and Sheikh Fahad gained consolation for losing out on the top lot when paying £160,000, through David Redvers Bloodstock, for Carter McKay, a late entry to the sale. The five-year-old son of Martaline, winner and placed second on his two starts between the flags, was once pinhooked by Molony but his bid this time was to the benefit of owner Roger O’Byrne and handler Pat Doyle. Ross Doyle, standing with Jonjo O’Neill, was the under bidder.

Doyle and O’Neill were also in the runner-up spot for Judgement Day, the Liscarroll-winning four-year-old son of Martaline, as the £145,000 bid from Harold Kirk secured the gelding. Willie Mullins and Kirk left immediately after this sale having filled their shopping list.

Anthony Bromley and Highflyer Bloodstock purchased the other six-figure lot on the evening, paying £120,000 for Topofthegame. The four-year-old son of Flemensfirth, from the family of Identity Thief, won his only start at Belclare. Highflyer Bloodstock made six purchases at the sale.

The second lot into the ring was Black Thunder, the only entry in the sale with an engagement in the Grand National this year. Sold from Paul Nicholls’ yard, he remains with the trainer for the race but will race for a partnership that includes his new rider Sam Waley-Cohen’s father Robert. He cost new connections £90,000.

Willie Codd’s Lingstown Stables sold It’s Obvious for £85,000 to David Pipe, with Kim Bailey’s efforts to buy just failing. Still a maiden in point-to-points, the four-year-old Tobougg gelding was runner up on his second start at Monksgrange. Another maiden to sell well was Another Stowaway and Brendan Bashford’s £80,000 offer was enough to purchase him.

As the sale concluded Henry Beeby said: “From the very first moment this sale was announced we got huge support from our vendors and we are very grateful to them for helping us stage such a successful Aintree Sale. In addition, the Aintree executive, headed by Andrew Tulloch and Carly Goodall, could not have been more proactive in ensuring that the facilities were second to none for a boutique off-site sale.

“There is no doubt today has established the Goffs UK Aintree Sale as a significant date in the calendar and we look forward to building on the very solid foundations laid this evening.”