'Potentially top-class' pointer could steal the show at January Sale

A treasure trove of talent has been assembled for the Goffs UK January Sale, the company's curtain-raiser which takes place from 11am on Tuesday and 10am on Wednesday in Doncaster, and high prices are expected to flow thick and fast during the point-to-point segment.

Among the standout lots is Presentandcounting (264), a five-year-old son of Presenting who won his Aghabullogue maiden by 12 lengths last Sunday week and who is offered by trainer Philip Dempsey's Kilkeaskin House Stables.

"Everything about him is fast," said Dempsey. "He's out of a half-sister to Binocular, which suggests he'll be a two-miler.

"He's a horse who has shown plenty from the start and just took a bit of time to come to hand. He seems to have everything going for him and could be anything."

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Winning rider Derek O'Connor also heaped lavish praise on Presentandcounting, writing in his point-to-point column in the Irish edition of the Racing Post on Wednesday: "His jumping was brilliant, and he bolted up despite the fact I was easy on him. He gave the impression of being a potentially top-class two-mile performer."

Dempsey and owner Denis Cusack have landed a touch with a son of Presenting before, as they sold Presenting Forever - out of the same mare as Champagne Fever - for £370,000 at the Doncaster sales after he won his Templemore maiden by five lengths.

County Kildare-based Dempsey also does well with his runners inside the rails with Derrinross winning a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Limerick in late December.

Dempsey will be hoping for a change of luck at Doncaster, though, following three close seconds for his string in recent days.

Other pointers sure to attract the attention of buyers include Woodbrook Boy (260), a five-year-old gelding by sire of the moment Doyen, whose son Battleoverdoyen made his Grade 1 breakthrough in the Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle earlier this month.

The sibling to classy chaser Carthalawn is consigned by Shark Hanlon's Court Stud.

Another to catch the eye is the Mainstown maiden winner Avoid De Master (259), who will precede Woodbrook Boy into the ring. The five-year-old son of Getaway hails from the same Paurick O'Connor academy as the high-class Vision Des Flos.

Blue-blooded

Blessings often come in disguise and that appears to be the case for former trainer Will Kinsey of Peel Bloodstock, who made the decision to breed from Whenskiesareblue after the Presenting mare suffered an injury after just one run, sending her to Getaway.

At that stage, her half-sister Verdana Blue, also by Getaway, had won her bumper and two novice hurdles, but her achievements since then - including her defeat of Buveur D'Air in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton in December - have marked her out as a serious Champion Hurdle contender and her owners even have designs on the Melbourne Cup.

The result of that first mating, a filly, will be offered as lot 47 during Tuesday's National Hunt foal session.

"I sent her to Getaway because I heard Verdana Blue was coming through and I loved the stallion," said Kinsey. "It's worked out really well - better than you could hope for - and she's a gorgeous, good-moving and strong filly."

Whenskiesareblue is in foal to Kayf Tara, though Kinsey is yet to decide on a 2019 cover for the mare.

Peel Bloodstock also consigns an April-foaled colt from the last crop of Presenting (22) whose dam Ruby Reel is an unraced granddaughter of Irish Grand National heroine Ebony Jane.

"He's the only Presenting colt in the catalogue," said Kinsey. "He's got a great pedigree and should stand out."

Another foal who received an update in recent weeks is Little Lodge Farm's Shirocco colt (75), whose dam Early Dawne is a Kayf Tara half-sister to Grade 2 Bristol Novices' Hurdle winner Rockpoint as well as a three-parts sister to Grade 1 Sefton Novices' Hurdle winner Santini.

Also on offer on day one is a Flemensfirth colt out of dual Grade 1 hurdle winner Petite Parisienne (6), offered by Ballincurrig House Stud on behalf of Coolmara Stud, while the same vendor consigns a Telescope half-brother to Sizing John (96) on behalf of breeder Bryan Mayoh.

Tuesday will also see 35 mares come under the hammer, with Dan Skelton's Lodge Hill Stables sending the smart chaser (134) into the ring. The six-year-old Scorpion mare is out of an unraced sister to Irish Champion Hurdle hero Ned Kelly and is sold with a breeding certificate.

Deauville to Doncaster

In addition to point-to-pointers, Wednesday also features a horses-in-training session, with drafts from Godolphin, Shadwell and leading trainers such as Alan King, Charlie Hills, Dan Skelton and Ralph Beckett.

As well as stakes performers such as Don't Give Up (209) and Kidmenever (215), the 14-strong Godolphin draft also features the five-year-old Dubawi gelding Parabellum (222), whose last date with the auctioneer was in 2015 when hammered down for a sale-topping €2.6 million at the Arqana August Yearling Sale.

Though out of sorts last season, Parabellum showed ability on the Flat over middle distances and earned a Racing Post Rating of 108 for a creditable sixth in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris at Saint-Cloud.

Goffs UK January Sale

Where/when Goffs UK Sales Complex, Doncaster; two-day sale begins at 11am on Tuesday and continues at 10am on Wednesday; TBA National Hunt Stallion Showcase takes place in Barn B on Tuesday

Sold last year From 351 offered, 265 sold for turnover of £4,134,500, an average of £15,602 and median of £8,000

Star graduates (bought by Jamestown Consignment for £24,000) - winner of last year's Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown

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