Forth sets record price for a UK point-to-point filly

Blossoming Forth, who won a maiden point-to-point at Eyton-on-Severn earlier this month, was sold for a record price of £130,000 at Goffs UK’s Spring Sale at Doncaster yesterday.

The valuation set a new high for a filly or mare from the British point-to-point field.

Consigned from the stable of Foran Equine champion trainer Philip Rowley, Blossoming Forth (pictured above) was knocked down to bloodstock agent Bobby O’Ryan, who said: “She’ll be going to [licensed trainer] Ruth Jefferson. I loved the mare – she’s big and scopey, and she won hard held. She didn’t beat much, but it’s the way she won that was impressive.”

Bought last year as an unbroken store for €26,000 at Tattersalls Ireland’s Derby Sale, Blossoming Forth ran just once before her return to the ring. David Minton, who purchased her as a store, said: “She’s a beautiful mare and she won easily, proving that you don’t have to beat a big field to sell well in the ring.

“She is by [champion sire] Flemensfirth, which was important, and with a nice page, and that also helped.”

Blossoming Forth’s stablemate, Dalkingstown, who has won twice this season for Rowley, was sold for £25,000 to Pembrokeshire trainer Mickey Bowen, but another member of the consignment, Knightwick winner Flamboyant Joyaux, was not sold when bidding halted at £38,000.

Hafajay to race on in the USA

Heart of all England Hunters’ Chase winner Hafajay was sold for £60,000 yesterday.

The six-year-old was knocked down to bloodstock agent Ross Doyle, who said: “He’s been bought to go to the USA for a client of trainer Richard Valentine [who is based in Virginia]. He’s very tough and a consistent, hardy horse.”

Doyle was not short of information on Hafajay (pictured below), who began the season as an unraced maiden and has won four times since. The gelding was trained by Nicky Tinkler, whose mother, Carol, inspects horses for Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock at sales. The buyer added: “The Tinklers recommended the horse. He goes on top of the ground and should be suited to racing in the USA.”

Among other British pointers who found a home, the four-year-old Equus Dreamer, who has been placed in three races for Willie Bryan’s yard, made £25,000 to a client of trainer Kim Bailey, and Tipalong Tyler, a winner for Will Harman’s stable at Cothelstone, made £11,000 to a bid from Alfred Buller.

Stellar Notion, who won twice at Larkhill this season for trainer Tom Frost, made £10,000 to a bid from Charles Clark, while the horse’s stablemate, Champagne West, sold for £8,000 to Fran Nimmo and her partner, Charlie Poste, who said: “We’ve bought him as a fun horse. We might sell him on to an owner/rider, but if not he could give rides to some of the boys and girls involved with the yard.”