Shark Hanlon dispersal headlines Goffs UK October HIT & Yearling Sale in Doncaster

Lakefield Flyer and Lion City feature among the horses being dispersed by trainer Shark Hanlon at the Goffs UK October HIT & Yearling Sale in Doncaster on Tuesday.

The County Carlow-based King George VI Chase-winning trainer is awaiting the outcome of his appeal against the severity of a ten-month suspension for bringing racing into disrepute.

He was also fined €2,000 after being found guilty of transporting a dead horse in an open trailer attached to one of his branded lorries, with the carcass fully visible to the public. Hanlon argued the incident was an unfortunate accident.

Up to 12 of his stable staff are at risk of losing their job, with his partner and longtime head lass Rachel O’Neill having been denied a licence by the IHRB until she completes the trainers’ course. The most recent one was full at the time of her request.

Hanlon said after his appeal hearing last Monday that arrangements had been made to transport 20 or so horses to Britain on Saturday, with his Doncaster draft sold under the name Court Stud.

Six-year-old Lakefield Flyer (lot 137), a son of Affinisea who was bred by O’Neill, was beaten just a length in second in a handicap chase at Sedgefield this month, and has been generally consistent over fences and hurdles, winning at Downpatrick last year.

Lion City (85), a four-year-old gelded son of Dubawi, cost Godolphin 600,000gns from Tattersalls Book 1 as a yearling in 2021, but never ran for them and was moved on at the 2023 Tattersalls Ascot June Sale for £9,000.

He has run pretty well on all three bumper starts under Hanlon’s son Paddy, winning at Sedgefield last month, and may prove as attractive an offering from the draft as any.

Aside from Hanlon, trainers with drafts in the sale also include Richard Hannon, Kevin Ryan, Dan Skelton, Karl Burke and Iain Jardine.

A couple of recent winners could prove popular, namely three-year-old Aotano (101), who struck at Hereford in a junior hurdle last week for the Stuart Crawford yard, and seven-year-old Limerick Leader (147), who landed a Perth handicap hurdle last month by 15 lengths for Olly Murphy.

Limerick Leader in winning action at Perth last month under Sean BowenCredit: John Grossick

The sale mainly comprises horses in training, with a smattering of Flat yearlings, with the opportunity to purchase sales race and bonus-qualified horses being an incentive for would-be purchasers.

Tim Kent, Goffs UK managing director, said upon release of the catalogue: “The October Sale offers buyers their last chance to secure a Donny yearling in 2024 and with some yearlings eligible for the Great British Bonus and Harry’s Half Million by Goffs, buyers can purchase in the hope of picking up their share of significant prize-money on the track.”

Among the Flat yearlings are the progeny of established sires such as Iffraaj, Showcasing and Zoustar, and leading first-season stallions Mohaather and Sergei Prokofiev.

Yearlings from the first crops of Starman, Supremacy and Ubettabelieveit are also due to come under the hammer at a sale which kicks off at 10am.

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