Mullins splashes out huge sum on horse that only finished third on debut
Willie Mullins has splashed out €150,000 on a horse described as a "beautiful model" at the Tattersalls Ireland May Point-to-Point and Horses-in-Training Sale.
The search to find the next equine superstar never ends for Team Mullins and they went deep in their pockets on Thursday.
Mullins paid €150,000 for a horse called Bentraghhill, who was an eye-catching third in a point-to-point race at Fairyhouse last month.
The four-year-old son of Getaway was trained on his debut by Cormac Abernethy and owned by Wilson Dennison, who previously owned Grade 1 winners Bellshill, Shaneshill and Yorkshill.
Harold Kirk, Mullins' trusted bloodstock agent, told the Racing Post: 'He's a gorgeous horse and we've bought so many Grade 1 winners from Wilson Dennison, at least eight or nine individual Grade 1 horses.
"We also had Getabird by Getaway, who was a Grade 1 horse too.
'He ran fantastically well for a big horse on his first start, he was only beaten three lengths and he has a lot of filing out to do. He has a good pedigree and is a beautiful model. He will go to grass now. He needs time as he's a big horse.'
The sale was also notable for the sales of some of the prominent owner Robcour's enviable string.
Grade 3-winning half-brothers French Dynamite and Indiana Jones, both trained by Mouse Morris, were purchased by Eric McNamara for €40,000 and by Bobby O'Ryan for €22,000, respectively.
Robcour also sold Grade 2 winner Aspire Tower to Jimmy Fyffe for €44,000.
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Irish Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Mullins splashes out huge sum on horse that only finished third on debut
Willie Mullins has splashed out €150,000 on a horse described as a "beautiful model" at the Tattersalls Ireland May Point-to-Point and Horses-in-Training Sale. The search to find the next equine superstar never ends for Team Mullins and they went deep in their pockets on Thursday. Mullins paid €150,000 for a horse called Bentraghhill, who was an eye-catching third in a point-to-point race at Fairyhouse last month. The four-year-old son of Getaway was trained on his debut by Cormac Abernethy and owned by Wilson Dennison, who previously owned Grade 1 winners Bellshill, Shaneshill and Yorkshill. Harold Kirk, Mullins' trusted bloodstock agent, told the Racing Post: 'He's a gorgeous horse and we've bought so many Grade 1 winners from Wilson Dennison, at least eight or nine individual Grade 1 horses. "We also had Getabird by Getaway, who was a Grade 1 horse too. 'He ran fantastically well for a big horse on his first start, he was only beaten three lengths and he has a lot of filing out to do. He has a good pedigree and is a beautiful model. He will go to grass now. He needs time as he's a big horse.' The sale was also notable for the sales of some of the prominent owner Robcour's enviable string. Grade 3-winning half-brothers French Dynamite and Indiana Jones, both trained by Mouse Morris, were purchased by Eric McNamara for €40,000 and by Bobby O'Ryan for €22,000, respectively. Robcour also sold Grade 2 winner Aspire Tower to Jimmy Fyffe for €44,000.
Irish Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Willie Mullins beats Nicky Henderson to purchase Cheltenham winner for €355,000
The serious jumping action may be on its summer break but that hasn't stopped the juggernaut training duo of Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson clashing. It's at this time of the year that trainers look to recruit new talent for the 2025/26 National Hunt season and at the Doncaster sales on Wednesday, the top two trainers in Ireland and the UK locked horns in an attempt to purchase a potentially smart horse. Cheltenham bumper winner Poetisa was the standout name at the Goffs UK Spring Horses in Training and Point-to-Point Sale and not surprisingly both Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson brought their sizable cheque books to buy the filly. Poetisa won a very competitive Cheltenham mares' bumper last month, at odds of 20-1, and connections had opted to sell the Toby Bulgin-trained daughter of Poet's Word. She wasn't long in the sales ring when the Mullins and Henderson camps made their move and began to tussle, with Henderson and his bloodstock agent Jerry McGrath's huge bid of £280,000 (€332,000) looking to have won the argument. But after a long pause, Harold Kirk, long-time talent scout to Willie Mullins, sealed the deal with a bid of £280,000 (€355,000). 'I thought she was gorgeous,' Kirk told the Racing Post. 'She's by a promising young sire and out of an Old Vic mare. She's a Cheltenham winner already and she'll only improve. She was very classy when she won. She's a lovely mare and hopefully she'll go down the mares' route over hurdles as there's a big programme for these mares now. 'She just looked like she had a lot of class. As an individual she's got loads of quality and a great mind. Everybody wants a Cheltenham winner. Okay, it wasn't at the festival but she can do no more than what she's done.' 'I thought she'd make between two (hundred thousand) and 250,000 but there's always going to be somebody else involved. If you're up against Nicky Henderson, you're going to have to be strong. I hope she's lucky now.' Poetisa had been bought by the Bulgins for £42,000 and Nicola Bulgin (wife of trainer Toby) said: She added: 'It was a hell of a price. We came close to selling one for three figures before, but nothing like this. 'Nicky had been down to see her a few times and Willie had been on the phone to Toby about her, so we knew we were in the right place in the market. I have to say, the thrill of her winning still beats this, though.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email.
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