Point-to-point handlers were given a final chance to offload some of this year's stock at Tattersalls Ireland on Wednesday when the sales company put on a new select sale of point-to-pointers and horses in training.
Of the 23 lots offered, 16 were sold and the average price came in at €44,900.
Two lots made six-figure sums and they will be trained by Willie Mullins and Emmet Mullins respectively.
Willie Mullins is set to take care of session-topper Arslan, a rare son of Wootton Bassett to run in a point-to-point. The four-year-old, who was bred by Al Shaqab Racing and is out of Harmonious (by Dynaformer), finished a close second at Tralee on his debut last Saturday for handler Richard Black and he was sold this evening for €180,000 to agent Harold Kirk.
?? Lot 10 is ARSLAN. A son of Wootton Bassett out of dual American Grade 1 winner Harmonious.
— Tattersalls Ireland (@Tattersalls_ie) May 29, 2024
?? Consigned by Ballinapark Stables, it was Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins that went to €180,000 to purchase this four-year-old. pic.twitter.com/F1CEtpyLUQ
Black said: "He had been in training in France and came recommended, he had not done much. We built him up slowly and he did a couple of good bits of work lately. He was still green when he ran and there is still some a good bit of improvement in him. I am delighted with where he is going. He is a beautiful animal in every way."
Kirk said: "This is a beautiful horse, by a fantastic sire and with a pedigree. I spoke to trainer Francis Graffard who had him in France and he said the horse was just big and backward, and he did not really train him.
"I loved him in his point-to-point – he could be a two miler, could be a 12-furlong flat horse, could be a good hurdler, he could do two jobs and we are hoping he will make a good dual-purpose type. He is a beautiful individual by one of the best sires in the world.
"He has shown he can jump – and there is just loads of class in his pedigree and in his race he showed loads of class."
Zarak gelding
Emmet Mullins also has a dual-purpose career in mind for his €130,000 purchase Dippedinmoonlight, a filly by Zarak who won by 40 lengths in a fast time at Inchydoney on her debut for Daragh Berry last Sunday. Berry bought her for just €9,500 at Goffs in February.
She is a well-bred sort – her dam is a half-sister to the 14-time Group 1 winner Goldikova, as well as five further flat group race winners.
Mullins said: "She got a brilliant pedigree, it was a brilliant performance and, fingers crossed, she can be a nice filly going forward. We will get her home and she has had a busy spring as she was only bought in February and came out pointing, so we will give her some time off and see what she is like then. She ought to be a nice dual-purpose filly and ownership plans are to be made."
He added of Zarak: "He had the Galway Hurdle winner last year [Zarak The Brave] and he has been flying on the flat too, with some Group 1 winners this spring. You have the sire and the damline, it is all there as well as the performance, there is not much to crib her on."
Colin Bowe's Ballingarry winner The Great Nudie was expected to be among the top lots but bidding on the Wings Of Eagles four-year-old filly stopped at €145,000 and she was led away unsold.
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