Stocking up at the Arkle Sale

Trade at Goffs’ Arkle Sale in Ireland has been extremely strong this week with record turnover and higher average and median prices.

Despite that British point-to-point trainers managed to get onto the buyers’ sheet when purchasing a number of unbroken stores who could be seen in action as four-year-olds in the New Year.

Licensed trainer Tom Lacey rode in point-to-points and began saddling runners via the point-to-point field. Nowadays he focusses on training under rules, while keeping a handful of pointers in his own name with a view to running and then reselling. Buying in the name of Tom Lacey UK P2P he picked up three lots, headed by an €85,000 son of Crystal Ocean, one of two purchases out of mares who were half-sisters to Anthony Honeyball’s multiple chase winner Regal Encore. The other was a  €68,000 son of Blue Bresil.

Lacey’s UK P2P also spent €62,000 on a gelding by Affinisea out of a mare who foaled the Gr.1 Tolworth Hurdle winner Fiddlerontheroof.

After a personal-best season during which he trained 40 winners Herefordshire-based Chris Barber got on the scoreboard during the opening session when his €45,000 bid brought down the hammer for a Doctor Dino gelding who had been named Sophiste. His dam, the Poliglote mare Sainte Sophie, was a winner over jumps in France and has bred a winner across the Channel. Teaming up with agent Ed Bailey, Barber also bought a daughter of Order of St George for €14,000 at Thursday’s Part II of the sale.

Bailey also worked alongside Oxfordshire-based Joe Hill when the two men teamed up to buy a three-year-old gelding by Blue Bresil for €36,000. Hill’s purchase is a half-brother to two winners over hurdles.

Somerset-based Will Biddick kept his bank account closed during Part I held on Tuesday and Wednesday, but when Part II opened he invested in four horses costing a combined €97,000. The pick on price was a €40,000 son of Vadamos and a first foal for the Fame And Glory mare Moments Past, who was a three-parts sister to the Gr.1 Ascot Chase winner Riders Onthe Storm and from the family of high-class hurdler Emotional Moment and Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition.

Biddick also bought a €25,000 Diamond Boy gelding who is a half-brother to three winners, a €12,000 son of Order Of St George and a half-brother to the very classy hurdling mare Take No Chances, and finally a €10,000 daughter of Dee Ex Bee.

In an interview with Goffs, Biddick said: “The Vadamos is a nice big, loose horse, light on his feet and looks classy, while the Diamond Boy looks strong and has a nice walk. We’ve got some supportive clients so it’s my job to reward them.”

A €26,000 Choeur Du Nord half-brother to two winners in France and who was sold on the first day went onto the buyers’ sheet in the name of Biddick’s father-in-law, Rupert Nuttall.

Fran and Charlie Poste’s Warwickshire-based Station Yard operation bought two stores at Goffs UK’s Spring Sale and they were active again at the Arkle, picking up geldings at Part II by Magic Dream and Affinisea in conjunction with agent David Phelan. The Magic Dream, who had been named Scarlatti, was knocked down for €28,000, the Affinisea for €20,000.

Phelan, who also trains pointers in Kent, also teamed up with G & T Racing, aka Gina Andrews and Tom Ellis, to buy a Part I filly by Jukebox Jury for €28,000, while Yorkshire’s Jack Teal made one purchase at Part II when, in partnership with fellow point-to-point trainer Martin Wanless, he secured an €8,0000 son of Kapgarde.

While store sales were once dominated by unbroken four-year-olds they were eventually replaced by three-year-olds. However, a move to get two-year-old future jumpers into training systems has seen auction houses now include sections for that age group. West Country-based Ella Orttewell signed for a two-year-old gelding by French stallion Na Has and from a family of well-known successful jumpers following a bid of €20,000.

Full results and statistics: https://www.goffs.com/sale-results