Relief for traders as two-day Land Rover Sale gets under way

The two-day Goffs Land Rover Sale gets under way from 10am on Wednesday, with strict protocols in place at Kildare Paddocks for the first store sale in Ireland this year.

The auction enjoyed a Grade 1 double at the Cheltenham Festival in March with Put The Kettle On and Samcro, while siblings to two further winners at the meeting will be offered at this year's sale.

The quality catalogue of 532 stores includes a Kalanisi half-brother to the Weatherbys Champion Bumper scorer Ferny Hollow (lot 159).

Consigned by Castletown Quarry Stud, the bay hails from Ken Parkhill's carefully nurtured family which has also produced the Champion Hurdle-winning brothers Morley Street and Granville Again, and Ballymore Novices' Hurdle scorer City Island.

On the final day of the festival in March, Monkfish emerged on top in a thrilling finish to the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, a win described by his breeder Cyril O'Hara of Ennel Bloodstock as "a dream come true".

O'Hara now sends his Mahler half-sister (149) through the sales ring and the chestnut filly has a Cheltenham pedigree through and through, with her granddam Martomick having finished second in the 1994 Sun Alliance Chase.

"She's a very straightforward filly, uncomplicated with a good walk and a nice attitude," said O'Hara.

"Martovic [the dam of Monkfish] had a filly by Casamento this year and is back in foal to Getaway."

The first Irish-bred stores by Walk In The Park are also sure to be on many buyers' shortlists.

The sire of Douvan and Min has 34 stores listed including a half-sister to the Grade 1 performers Tombstone and Tintangle (48) from Rathmore Stud; a sibling to the Scottish Grand National winner Raya Star (85) from Ballinaroone Stud; a son of the 2003 Irish Grand National heroine Liberty Counsel (125) from Glenvale Stud; and a half-sister to the Grade 1 bumper scorer Tornado Flyer (170) from Peter Nolan Bloodstock.

Other standout lots include a Shantou brother to The Storyteller (17) offered by Hobby Horse Stud, and a Beat Hollow half-brother to the Irish Grand National scorer Organisedconfusion (101) consigned by White Horse Stud.

Hoping for some beginner's luck will be 28-year-old primary teacher Zoe Codd, who is selling her first store on Thursday.

The teacher's pet is a Kalanisi gelding out of an unraced half-sister to the Grade 2 Celebration Chase winner Andreas (428) from Kildonnell Stables.

"He's got a really good, swinging walk and is very correct," said Codd, sister of leading amateur rider Jamie.

"I bought him as a foal from Boardsmill Stud and my father Billy has helped me with his preparation. This is my first store and I bought him to try to get my foot in the door. If he sells well, then we might go again.

"This is the first store sale and you just don't know what way the market is going to go. We're all just waiting patiently for what it will be like, as that will be the telling tale for the next couple of sales.

"There are very good protocols in place, there's a one-way system and everyone has to wear a mask. In fairness to Goffs, they've done a great job of getting the sale on."

Teacher's pet: the Kalanisi gelding out of Muscova Rose who sells as lot 428Credit: Zoe Codd

All horses offered for sale are eligible to enter the €100,000 Goffs Land Rover Bumper at next year's Punchestown festival, where the winning vendor will also win a brand new Land Rover Discovery Commercial.

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