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Dual Grade 1-winning hurdler Marie's Rock was sold by Middleham Park Racing for €155,000 at Goffs on Wednesday. She was bought by the Mariga family's Coolmara Stables in Youghal, Co Cork.
The Marigas have made a big investment in National Hunt mares in recent years, and have enjoyed Cheltenham Festival success with Maskada before retiring her to the paddocks. Last month Coolmara Stables sold a No Rick At All foal for €110,000, having bought the mare, Zarkareva, for €260,000 a year earlier.
Marie's Rock was an obvious target for their blue-chip breeding operation. The nine-year-old Milan mare was not far off the best male hurdlers at her best and retained her form right to the end of her career, only being beaten by a head in a listed race on the flat on her final start two months ago.
After the sale, Tim Palin of Middleham Park paid tribute to the Nicky Henderson-trained mare. "Obviously it is a very emotional day. I am struggling to remember a time when we didn't have her, she's been with us for a good six years now. We are sorry to see her go, but I am delighted that she has gone to such a good home.
“Mares like her are few and far between, and she has been an absolute pleasure to own. We are very lucky that we were able to secure her in the first place, and then her toughness and her soundness shone through. She has fantastic battling qualities and I am sure she will pass every bit of those on to her foals. We wish her new connections the absolute best.
“We have lived the dream in every way with her; it has been an emotional ride. We have had our lows and we have had the highest of highs. It would be lovely if the story could come full circle and we could secure some of her progeny in the future. Who knows, if Mr Henderson is willing to have them at the time, there will always be a stable, I am sure. A couple of owners are over as they wanted to be here to thank her and wish her well in the future.”
Pink In The Park, a listed winner over hurdles and fences for trainer Willie Mullins, sold for €120,000 to agent Frank O'Meara, acting on behalf of Tom Whitehead of Powerstown Stud in Co Kilkenny.
Whitehead said: “She is a lovely mare and was a good racemare. That seems to be what everyone is looking for now. We will get her home and, in the spring, will give her a good cover. We will do our best for her.
“I like the family - it goes back to a great Parkhill female line. It is one of the best in the stud book.”
Another good mare from the Mullins yard, Brandy Love, failed to sell at €115,000.
John Flood of Boardsmill Stud bought two €60,000 mares on behalf of clients. One was the Grade 2 chase winner Harmonya Maker, in foal to Blue Bresil, and other was the Henry de Bromhead-trained Music Of Tara, who has won over hurdles and fences.
Wednesday's session began with a final batch of NH foals, the top price being €95,000 paid by agent Peter Vaughan on behalf of Ross Doyle. The colt is by No Risk At All and was consigned by Peter Molony's Rathmore Stud on behalf of breeder Shane Carmody.
Doyle employed unusual tactics to secure the foal, first bidding himself in plain sight by the sales ring but then appearing to drop out when Kieran Shields bid €90,000. At that point Vaughan entered the fray and bought the foal on one bid, later revealing he was acting for Doyle.
There were four colts in the catalogue this week by No Risk At All, and they sold for an average of €78,750.
When the sale ended after 6pm on Wednesday, the final figures were close to those returned a year ago when the sale was over four days.
Goffs CEO Henry Beeby said: "Despite the week starting with a major storm that caused a huge amount of turmoil and presented major travel issues for horses and people, buyers have flocked to Kildare Paddocks in their droves, with significant numbers from the UK, while the record-breaking foal (€160,000 No Risk At All colt sold on Tuesday) is destined for France.
“All that said, we acknowledge the challenging nature of the National Hunt market away from the headlines. Whilst our clearance rate has improved, it is not where we would all like to see it, and the sales ring can be a lonely place if you don’t have exactly what the market wants. As ever, our commitment to Irish breeders remains steadfast. We will work for you and do everything in our power to create the most vibrant market for every horse you entrust to us. That is the point of Goffs and why we exist."
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