Fresh start for Uncle Phil after £38,000 purchase at ThoroughBid Christmas Sale

Grade 3 winner Uncle Phil achieved the highest price of £38,000 at the ThoroughBid Christmas Sale, which ran online through the first part of Wednesday.

When in the care of Willie Mullins for Joe and Marie Donnelly, the seven-year-old son of Walk In The Park and high-class mare Synthe Davis took the Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse in January, the biggest of his five career wins. He was purchased by Gordon Miller.

Miller, who has experience in point-to-point racing as both an owner and a jockey, saw off competition from a host of bidders and is now set to have the Grade 3 winner trained by Matt Sheppard in Herefordshire.

He said: “I was looking through the catalogue at some of the pointers, as I still like to ride and often have pointers, and then I came across Uncle Phil.

“I’m a big supporter of Matt Sheppard and his team, and I just thought it would be great to get a horse of this calibre for him to work his magic on. Matt punches well above his weight with what he has, and I thought it would be great if I could send him something for the big Saturdays in the spring.

“The plan will be to syndicate him between a few people and then hopefully enjoy some big days with him in the spring and beyond. He’s clearly got plenty of ability, and Matt is capable of getting horses to perform beyond what they’ve previously been capable of, so I’m looking forward to it.” 

The event, predominately consisting of horses in training along with a few youngsters, also saw interest in several graduates from John Nallen's famous Minella academy.

Minella Supreme, a son of Soldier Of Fortune who had been tried in one Irish point-to-point, is notably a half-brother to both Morning Run, winner of two Grade 3 novice hurdles with Mullins, and Morning Supreme, who was accomplished at all disciplines for the same connections. 

Both mares have produced black-type progeny for the Murphy family. Minella Supreme made £12,500 to the Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer John McConnell.

Stablemate Minella Laoch, a French-bred son of Fly With Me who had been consistent in a handful of point outings, was picked up by Tim Underwood for £13,500.

Narciso Morales purchased the other two lots to hit the five-figure mark. There was a yearling filly by Magna Grecia from the family of Snow Fairy and Elusive Pimpernel, consigned by Ballynure Stud, for £13,500, as well as the Barry Davis-owned Tasleet filly Make Clear. The four-year-old made £15,000 on the back of four all-weather wins, most recently including a strike over five furlongs at Dundalk last month.

Before final stats and offers had been concluded, 28 of the 45 lots had sold for an aggregate of £149,800, working out at an average price of £5,350 and median of £2,500.

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