A memorable week at Goffs ended on a bright note on Thursday evening as the one-day Part 2 of the Land Rover Sale ended with a much improved set of results.

After the highs of Tuesday and Wednesday trade, as expected, was of an altogether different level here.

However, there were a number of heartening aspects to note from the day’s trade with a clearance rate of 82% (up from 74% on last year) a notable positive while the level of activity at €30,000 and upwards stepped forward appreciably on 12 months ago.

All this translated into a set of returns headed by an aggregate of just over €3.1 million which represented a progression of some 59% on last year. The average of €17,871 was an 8% increase while the median went from €15,000 to €16,000 on a day when the point-to-point fraternity dominated proceedings.

Bowe buys

A trio of €50,000 lots took centre stage and the first of these to come under the hammer was a son of Jet Away who was knocked down to Colin Bowe. The leading point-to-point handler has already enjoyed notable success with the sire having produced the subsequent Grade 1 heroine Brandy Love to win on her debut at Cragmore before her subsequent sale to Willie Mullins.

“He’s a nice horse with a nice bit of presence to him. He’s from a nice family and I’ve had a bit of luck with the sire already through Brandy Love. Obviously he’ll be going down the point-to-point route and hopefully he’ll be one to look forward to in the spring,” said Bowe.

Also coming in at €50,000 was a daughter of Workforce who was snapped up by the English point-to-point duo of Charlie and Francesca Poste. This filly is a half-sister to Watch House Cross who won a maiden hurdle on the opening day of the 2021 Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

The next lot into the ring also fetched €50,000 when James and Ellen Doyle’s Baltimore Stables struck for a daughter of Doyen out of the Grade 3-placed Benny’s Fagartha. This is also the family of last season’s notable improver and Grade 2 Champion Hurdle Trial winner Tommy’s Oscar.

David Mullins

Former jockey David Mullins also has an eye on the point-to-point scene after signing for a €44,000 Walk In The Park gelding out of a winning half-sister to the Champion Chase third Petit Robin.

“He doesn’t look bad value for a Walk In The Park with a nice page. He might take a little bit of time but he’s a nice horse and I would say that he will be going down the point-to-point route,” commented Mullins.

Another who could be bound to begin his career between the flags is a €49,000 son of Leading Light who was bought by the Leading The Way Syndicate. He is a half-brother to the Kerry National winner Assemble.

After an excellent season with his pointers Matthew Flynn O’Connor has been busy restocking over the last few days and he picked up a couple of sought-after fillies. The most expensive of these was a €47,000 daughter of Milan out of a half-sister to the decent staying chaser Heathfield. Earlier the handler spent €38,000 on a Malinas filly out of an unraced daughter of the brilliant Asian Maze.

FINAL FIGURES FOR PART 2

YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGGREGATE AVERAGE MEDIAN

2022 239 213 174 €3,109,500 €17,871 €16,000

2021 189 160 118 €1,953,300 €16,553 €15,000

2020 256 202 118 €1,860,000 €15,763 €13,500

2019 247 221 177 €3,602,500 €20,353 €17,000

2018 273 243 177 €3,118,000 €17,616 €15,000

2017 248 220 181 €3,653,500 €20,185 €16,000

2016 258 218 174 €2,385,100 €13,707 €11,500