Mullingar Standardbred Sale
THE inaugural Standardbred Sale at Mullingar Equestrian Centre took place last Friday night. The sales company and vendors alike were always going to be at a disadvantage with even the top thoroughbred sales struggling to adapt to the ‘new normal’ never mind a fledgling sale in a very specialised market.
Oakwood Stud’s sire Foreclosure is the hot sire of the moment and it is fair to say that his pulling power would have brought more UK buyers to Westmeath, without the omnipresent pandemic.
A few British buyers made the trip. Gary and Joe Maw were present and they had recently paid $16,000 for a colt by Betting Line colt in Lexington, Kentucky.
“We cannot get over the scale of harness racing in France and the USA.
James Haythornthwaite from Yorkshire bought the joint sale-topper Oakwood Ar Dan (Sweet Lou - Trendsetter) on behalf of Wolverhampton owner Shane Fletcher for €19,000. Seemingly ‘ar dân’ means on fire or ‘ablaze’ in Welsh – as Sweet Lou stamps most of his stock with a blaze.
The McNultys from Dublin signed for lot 19, Oakwood Paddy. His full-sister Oakwood Annabella vindicated their choice by adding the Irish two-year-old record to her British version just 48 hours later.
The colt is by Foreclosure out of VDM placed Carmel Camden. Oakwood Paddy also went under the gavel at €19,000.
The McNultys from Dublin signed for lot 19 Oakwood Paddy for €19,000
Jay and Gavin Murdock were behind the bid on Crecora Storm, another Foreclosure. The Murdocks will remember his dam Angelas Cosmos, a prolific winner for driver Brenda Hudson.
“Storm looked really light on his feet,” was the comment of Jay Murdock. “Oakwood Paddy seemed to grow two inches in the ring – he had great presence.”
The Murdock boys look set to train Oakwood Paddy and Crecora Storm.
As always the Oakwood yearlings were well presented. David Nash’s Crecora yearlings also received many compliments. Crecora Dreamer was sold to a Sunderland buyer for €6,000.
Just like in the National Hunt and show jumping sales reports in The Irish Field, quality lots made good money whereas the bottom end struggled to sell at any price. Fermanagh man Matthew McDonagh may have picked up a bargain when he purchased Castlewood Glensman for €1,600.
Pleased
Michael Farrell of Mullingar Sales seemed pleased with the outcome. “We were not aware of how professional this sport is,” he said.
“We cannot get over the scale of harness racing in France and the USA. If Mullingar Standardbred Sale and the IHRA can develop even a fraction of that market, it’s worth working at. The €19,000 breaks our previous record for any breed of horse.”
Well-known vendor Derek Delaney of Oakwood Stud, who approached Mullingar said: “It was a good start in uncertain times. We are impressed with the venue we just need to strengthen the catalogue.”
There was a disappointing trade for Trotteurs Français, with one well-placed source questioning the logic of bringing in more aged horses when Ireland now has young stock to clear.