'It's going to come back and haunt me' - Grech and Parkin call time at Doncaster

Misfortunes suffered by the Mike Grech and Stuart Parkin partnership seem certain to have presented golden opportunities for buyers at Doncaster on Thursday, as the owners staged an unreserved dispersal of their stock at the Goffs UK Spring Horses in Training and Point-to-Point Sale.

The draft was headed by Interconnected, who smashed the Doncaster record when going the way of Darren Yates for £620,000. A total of 28 horses were told, including the £235,000 Lust For Glory and £210,000 Kupatana, generating aggregate sales of £1,873,500.

"It'll be interesting to see the horses running under new colours as that's the end of the Grech and Parkin chapter," said Stuart Parkin. "We'll kick on forward though, and I know my wife, Shelly, was keen on some of those horses that sold today, so you might yet see Parkin and Parkin in the future!"

The distinctive pink and black silks of Grech and Parkin have been carried by some high-class talents in recent years, including the likes of Claimantakinforgan, Constantine Bay, Mr Whipped and River Wylde.

However, the owners have been left to reflect on some notable near misses and what they feel has been more than their fair share of rotten luck, which has meant their string was unable to deliver the success it's abundant talent warranted.

"We've invested plenty into it but Mike's a very superstitious person, as am I to an extent, so you have to have a bit of luck," said Parkin.

"Unfortunately Mike and I don't feel we've been getting the rub of the green. We've been in the game for a few years now and we took the decision that it was time to dissolve the partnership, and the best way to do that was an unreserved dispersal."

Interconnected in the stable yard before selling to Darren Yates for £620,000Credit: Sarah Farnsworth

Expanding on the instances of misfortune that led to 28 lots, including unraced stock and proven performers, coming on the market in Doncaster, Parkin said: "When you look at River Wylde, he was cruising at Haydock but took a tumble, Constantine Bay ended up off the track for 18 months with a leg, Mr Whipped ran at Aintree and ended up with a leg, Claimantakinforgan got a touch of tendonitis.

"You've got to have some luck and Mike and I don't feel we're getting that, so we said maybe it's time to regroup and dissolve the partnership, and doing it this way allows us to conclude things in a very open and fair way.

"That way Mike can concentrate on his plans going forward and it gives me a chance to rebuild my own interest in racing."

Parkin has built up a close relationship with his horses, not only as an owner, but as a custodian prior to the sale.

"These horses have been at my estate in Cheshire, that makes it more difficult because every day you're seeing these horses," he said. "We've gone from having 15 horses at home to having 56 the other day.

Kupatana carries the Grech and Parkin silks to victory at LudlowCredit: Edward Whitaker

"It's been lovely looking out of the bedroom window on a morning and seeing Kupatana, Lust For Glory and Yellow Dockets out grazing in the paddock. You really get to learn about the personalities and traits of these horses.

"We're both fortunate to have horses in our respective personal lives, be that Mike with his showjumpers or me with my hunters, horses are very much part of our lives. You don't get involved in a sport like horseracing unless you've got an underlying passion for the horse."

Despite his unmistakable affection for his former colour-bearers, Parkin said he had not been tempted to buyback some of the more choice offerings from the dispersal.

"When you've made a decision that's it, it's about how you execute it from there. We've both made the decision that the horses will go to whoever they go to and we'll wish the new connections the best of luck," he concluded before adding with a wry smile: "Though it's going to come back and haunt me, I can guarantee that."

More Goffs UK news:

Drama in Doncaster as Darren Yates gets Interconnected for £620,000

The gloves are off as Lets Go Champ brings £375,000 at Goffs UK Spring Sale