Latest news with #Zarak
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Willie Mullins shells out close to €500,000 on unraced horses at Goffs Sales
Willie Mullins shelled out close to €500,000 on unraced stock as horse racing's biggest hitter gathered at the Goffs Arkle Sale on Tuesday. Mullins and his bloodstock agent Harold Kirk got the cheque book out to buy a trio of unraced three-year-olds. With the price of point-to-pointers seemingly increasing every year, many of jump racing's top trainers are now breaking in young horses themselves before readying them for the racetrack. Although there is also a premium to be paid on the best pedigrees. Mullins and Kirk paid €175,000 to land a It's Gino gelding called Mistral Le Du from Roger Marley's Church Farm Stables. Kirk, as reported by the Racing Post, said: Kirk said: 'He was one of the standout horses in the sale, and by a very good sire [It's Gino] in France. "He is a beautiful individual, a very good mover, and he stood out for me. I knew he would make money, but I didn't think it would be that much. There is always somebody else interested." Mullins also bought another French-bred Altesse du Luy from Altesse du Luy for €145,000. And they completed their purchases on the first of two day of the Arkle Sale by splashing out €110,000 on a Zarak filly called Karak de Faust. The sales topper on the first day, though, was a €190,000 purchase by Ellmarie Holden on a No Risk At All gelding from Sluggara Farm. Holden has previous with big-money store purchases, having shelled out €140,000 to buy a horse called Jonbon at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale. That turned out to be a very shrewd bit of business as Jonbon would go on to win a point-to-point for the Holdens before being sold for a record-breaking £570,000. And Jonbon, of course, has lived up to his price tag, winning ten Grade 1 races and counting for Nicky Henderson and his owner JP McManus. Holden said: 'Jonbon worked out. He cost €140,000 and we were lucky he worked out. If this guy is anything like Jonbon it will be very straightforward. Jonbon was very easy to do anything with, he never had any issues." British trainer Dan Skelton was also present at the sale, and he paid €165,000 for another No Risk At gelding. In total, 188 horses were sold on the opening day of the sale for a combined sum of €10,306,500.
Daily Mirror
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Newsboy's ITV4 selections for Chester and Newton Abbot plus tips from Wednesday's other three meetings
Newsboy believes his Nap, Redorange, is a juicy tip at Chester and he also fancies Square D'Alboni to win the feature Chester Vase SQUARE D'ALBONI (3.05, nb) can continue where he left off last term with victory in the Group Three Boodles Chester Vase Stakes. The Zarak gelding may not be eligible for a Derby entry, but he improved with each of his four runs as a juvenile, culminating in a hat-trick of victories. Wins at Epsom and Salisbury were finished off at Chantilly in October, where Ralph Beckett's charge made light work of heavy ground in a 1m 1f Listed event with a four-length success. This extended 1m 4f at Chester will suit him down to the ground. ALI SHUFFLE (1.30) looks hard to opposed In the opening Caa Stellar Lily Agnes EBF Conditions Stakes. Karl Burke's two-year-old won with ease on his debut at Redcar, and followed up nine days later at Beverley, where he held on well despite a 9lb penalty. REDORANGE (2.05, nap), who ended his juvenile season for Clive Cox with a debut win in a nursery at Yarmouth over six furlongs, began this term with a fine effort over today's 5f trip in a competitive handicap at Sandown 12 days ago. Showing plenty of early speed in a first-time tongue strap, he finished a length and a quarter in third behind Queen All Star. From a favourable draw in stall 2, the Ladbrokes Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Handicap looks his for the taking. In a field of quality bred fillies, MINNIE HAUK (2.35), who cost €1,850,000 as a yearling, can give Aidan O'Brien a sixth win in the Listed Weatherbys ePassport Cheshire Oaks. The daughter of Frankel scored a comfortable success over a mile on her second outing in October and should relish this step up in trip. Cox has a double gold medal opportunity with DILIGENTLY (3.40) in the Love Federal Capital Handicap. Saffie Osborne's mount won a valuable sales event at York's Ebor meeting when last seen as a two-year-old, and has the benefit of a stall 1 draw. At Newton Abbot, HELTENHAM (1.05) can defy an 8lb rise in the Kauto The King Handicap Chase following a comfortable 13-length victory at Perth 13 days ago. Wednesday's selections CHESTER 1.30 ALI SHUFFLE 2.05 REDORANGE (NAP) 2.35 MINNIE HAUK 3.05 SQUARE D'ALBONI (NB) 3.40 DILIGENTLY 4.10 SEA SUITE 4.45 THUNDER BLUE NEWTON ABBOT 1.45 HELTENHAM 2.15 ROXANNE 2.45 GWENNIE MAY GEM 3.15 CLEAR STORM 3.50 A DEFINITE GETAWAY 4.20 AL SAYAH KELSO 2.25 EDGEWELL 2.55 BLAZING COURT 3.25 GALAHAD THREEPWOOD 4.00 ASHINGTON 4.35 WINDS OF WINTER 5.05 LUCKIE DEVIL
