'Exciting' Minella Crooner and Music Drive to be offered on Goffs Online

High class jumps performers Minella Crooner and Music Drive will be offered for sale at the Goffs Online Sale on Thursday, the company has announced.

Trained by Gordon Elliott, the duo have the Cheltenham Festival in March in their sights, while Minella Crooner will be sold with an entry in the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase at the Leopardstown Christmas festival on December 29.

The six-year-old Minella Crooner was a high-class novice hurdler last term, winning and finishing second in the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival. He missed Cheltenham due to a pulled muscle.

The son of Shantou was a narrow second on chasing debut to the classy Darrens Hope in the Grade 2 Florida Pearl Novice Chase at Punchestown before getting off the mark at Fairyhouse earlier this month.

Both are owned by David Barnard, with Music Drive landing his bumper at Naas in February.

The Muhtathir five-year-old won on his hurdles debut at Galway in October and has placed twice since, including when second to the exciting Hermes Allen in the Grade 2 Hyde Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.

Goffs Group chief executive Henry Beeby said: “Our focus with Goffs Online is on providing vendors with a proven platform for horses of quality to sell at a time that suits them. We limit it to one-off elite sales and, as seen with numerous Goffs Online sales in 2022, it works extremely well for both sellers and buyers.

"Minella Crooner and Music Drive are both extremely exciting prospects as we head into the thick of the National Hunt season, and we are grateful to owner David Barnard for entrusting us with their sale."

Bidding opens at 11am and close at 1pm on Thursday, December 22. Prospective buyers should register by midday on Wednesday, with pedigrees, race footage and conformation videos available to view.

A 5 per cent agents commission will be paid to the purchaser as long as they are a registered bloodstock agent and/or licensed trainer.

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