Itchy Feet staying put as Olly Murphy goes to £75,000 for Grade 1-winning chaser

Trainer Olly Murphy endured a tense five hours of bidding as he sought to keep Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase winner Itchy Feet on the team at Warren Chase Stables.

The eight-year-old ended up topping Thoroughbid's June Sale with Murphy going to £75,000 to ensure Itchy Feet wasn't going anywhere.

"Itchy Feet has been brilliant for Kate and Andrew Brooks. He’s a serious horse with form at the very top level, so I was keen to keep him in the yard," commented the trainer.

“He’s worth every penny and will hopefully give someone a real thrill for the season ahead. He’s in great order at home and we’re very much looking forward to getting going with him again in the autumn."

The son of Cima De Triomphe was one of two horses offered in the Thoroughbid June Sale by owners Kate and Andrew Brooks, with Rouge Vif making £40,000 to Colin Peake, an owner with his former trainer Harry Whittington.

Peake, who owned the 132-rated chaser Breaking Waves, trained by Whittington, will race the Grade 2 Kingmaker Novice Chase and Kelso Novices Hurdle winner with Mark and Julie Slater and friends.

"We’re very excited to have a horse of Rouge Vif’s quality running in our silks next season," said the delighted Peake. "We love our racing, and the idea of spending the day together with a chance at one of the big meetings is the kind of thing you dream about."

David Mullins, who has been actively recruiting on the Thoroughbid sales platform, went to £27,000 to secure Newton Abbot bumper winner Kiss My Lucky Egg.

The four-year-old daughter of Eclipse winner Mukhadram was offered by her owners Beswick Brothers following her failure to sell last month and Bart Beswick commented: "We didn’t get what we wanted for her back in May so we thought we’d give Thoroughbid a go, and it couldn’t have worked out much better. We are delighted with the price."

Talkingtothemoon, from the second crop of Pether's Moon, won his maiden at Upton Cross for Chris Barber and The Yorton Racing Partnership and the four-year-old gelding will commence his track career with trainer Anthony Honeyball who purchased him for £23,000.

They were the highlights of the six form horses to sell on during the Thoroughbid June Online sale although a number of those listed as not sold are still under offer.

James Richardson, CEO of Thoroughbid, said: "It’s been a very busy day of bidding and we’ve got lots of happy customers on both sides of the fence. Olly Murphy is delighted with being able to keep hold of Itchy Feet, while Rouge Vif has given a new partnership of friends plenty to look forward to.

“We’re delighted to have got a good price for Bart Beswick’s Kiss My Lucky Egg, and it’s also great to see the likes of Anthony Honeyball, Donald McCain and David Mullins all involved in a hectic five hours of bidding."

Read more sales news

Tullycanna Stables jets to the top at Goffs Land Rover with €50,000 sale to Bowe

Blue Bresil filly heading to the US after €195,000 play trumps domestic buyers

Blue Bresil offspring prove star attractions at Goffs