‘It’s a nerve-racking game’ - rookie consignor enjoys a debut to remember as Crystal Island brings £205,000 at Cheltenham

A competitive renewal of the Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale was topped by the taking debut winner Crystal Island at £205,000. Agent Jerry McGrath was suitably impressed by the performance and struck the winning bid on behalf of the connections behind Arkle hero Jango Baie. 

Crystal Island, a four-year-old son of Crystal Ocean, made the perfect start to his racing career by winning a Rathcannon maiden by three and a half lengths under jockey Jamie Scallan. He also helped rookie consignor Eamonn Doyle get off to the perfect start in the ring, as he topped the sale with the first lot offered under the Mossy Fen Stables banner. 

“He’s a beautiful horse by a very good up-and-coming sire,” said Doyle. “He’s got a very nice future ahead of him. We were hoping for something around there because he’s a quality horse. It’s hard to get those quality horses.” 

Doyle, one of nine siblings that includes the renowned Monbeg operators Cormac, Donnchadh and Sean, added: “It’s a nerve-racking game; every day is a nerve-racking day in this game because you’re dealing with high-quality animals. This is a nice horse though and hopefully he can go on and do good things. He’s gone to a good home.” 

Crystal Island was pinhooked as a foal by Jane Mangan, who spent €34,000 back in December 2021. He turned a profit when he returned to last year’s Goffs Arkle Sale as Monbeg Stables signed the docket at €60,000. The youngster is backed up by pedigree as well as performance as he is out of Je T'Aime, a half-sister to the Grade 1 winner J'y Vole. 

“When I was doing the rounds in January looking at the four-year-olds I went to Eamonn’s and this was one of the standouts,” said McGrath. “He’s a lovely horse and the sire is doing well. We bought what is hopefully a nice filly by him at the Aintree Sale as well. This is just a very likeable horse. He quickened well going to the last, made a mistake and was slow away but picked up again from the back of it. He’ll go have a summer break now and come back in the autumn.” 

When asked who his purchase had been made on behalf of, McGrath said: “He’s going to go to Seven Barrows. He’s going to be running in the colours of Tony Barney, who owns the Arkle winner Jango Baie, and some of his friends.” 

Mullins and Kirk on the mark

The Willie Mullins team may have been out of luck on the track at Cheltenham on Thursday but the operation’s chief talent scout Harold Kirk certainly didn’t miss in the ring. The agent gave £200,000 to secure The Irish Avatar, a son of the promising Poet’s Word consigned by Colin Bowe’s Milestone Stables. 

The four-year-old was well fancied on debut at Dromahane, and although he couldn’t quite justify his supporters’ faith he still showed plenty of potential to be beaten two and a half lengths into second by Ballycommon Boy.

“The sire’s on fire,” said Kirk. “He’s had a fantastic point-to-point season and he had the winner of the bumper here today [Poetisa]. This horse is out of a very good racemare by Saddler Maker, which I love. He’s a beautiful individual and was highly recommended for the long term by Colin Bowe. 

“He ran well on debut but he’s a big backward horse. Colin thinks he’ll improve plenty into next year. It’s enough to give for a horse that finished second but he’s a lovely individual so I knew he’d make good money.” 

The Irish Avatar, a son of Poet's Word, will head into training with Willie Mullins after Harold Kirk purchased the gelding for £200,000Credit: Debbie Burt (Tattersalls Cheltenham)

Bred by Mountainview Stud, The Irish Avatar is the second foal out of Dinaria Des Obeaux, who carried the Gigginstown House Stud colours to victory in a Grade 2 mares’ novice chase at Thurles. 

The daughter of Saddler Maker won six races and was also Grade 1-placed when third in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle won by Mega Fortune in 2017. She was bought as a broodmare prospect by White Bloodstock at the Goffs December National Hunt Sale in 2019 for €42,000.

The six-figure youngster was making his third appearance at public auction, having joined the Milestone academy at last year’s Derby Sale, where he was knocked down at €100,000. He was offered at Fairyhouse by Ballyreddin and Busherstown after he was pinhooked through Joey Logan at €85,000 at the November Foal Sale in 2021. 

This transaction is the latest sales success for Boardsmill Stud’s Poet's Word, whose debut four-year-old crop have helped make a real name for their sire. He has now been responsible for five six-figure pointers, headed by Largy Go. The Loughbrickland maiden scorer, one of three winning pointers by the sire, was knocked down to the O’Neill Racing team of father-son duo Jonjo and AJ at £305,000. 

This was Kirk’s second six-figure signing by the stallion having also secured the £135,000 In A Sonnet, a winner at Maisemore Park, at Aintree. “The sire was a very good racehorse,” said Kirk. “I bought another one by him at the Aintree Sale off Tom Lacey, so I’m supporting the stallion a bit.”

Bowe’s draft also featured the £150,000 Unflinching. The five-year-old son of Montmartre won a Dromahane maiden on debut and will continue his career with Gordon Elliott after Eddie O’Leary struck the winning bid. The grey was a €95,000 Derby Sale pinhook by JM Bloodstock. 

The hammer also fell at £200,000 when Ballymaglassen Farm offered the highly touted Jet To Monte Carlo, but it subsequently transpired the 14-length debut winner had been retained by his vendor. 

Bromley sees value in British market

The February Sale at Cheltenham saw a big result for the British point-to-point scene when Tom Ellis and Gina Andrews’ Sheriff Hutton winner Edith Pelham was knocked down to Fergal O'Brien Racing for £180,000. 

There was another noteworthy result for another British handler on Thursday when Dale Peters’ Karaka De Thaix was sold to Anthony Bromley of Highflyer Bloodstock at £135,000. 

The five-year-old son of Cokoriko made a winning debut at Charm Park in March and had been on course to be offered at the Festival Sale before a minor hiccup put paid to that plan. However, his value still appreciated markedly since he last hit the open market, when he was picked up for just £13,000 at the Doncaster Spring Store Sale in 2023. 

Karaka De Thaix was knocked down to Anthony Bromley of Highflyer Bloodstock at £135,000Credit: Debbie Burt (Tattersalls Cheltenham)

“I’ve bought him for Paul Nicholls and one of the clients in his yard,” said Bromley. “He’s an English point-to-pointer, and I’ve always been a fan of those. I like Cokoriko too, he’s one of the leading sires in France. He’s having another big year. 

“I’ve known Dale Peters and Toby Hunt [part owner] for years and they’re good, genuine people. They’ve been telling me about this horse for a few weeks. We were interested in him at the Festival Sale but he got puss in his foot and was withdrawn on the day. I think he’s done well for a little bit of time, he looks magnificent today. That was about my last bid but I think there’s value to be had in the English market.” 

The maiden Karaka De Thaix won was sponsored by Tattersalls Cheltenham, who are aiming to boost opportunities for young commercial prospects in Britain. Bromley gave the initiative his seal of approval, saying: “I think these youngster races are a good idea, it’s something we’ve pushed for. 

“It’s all well and good having a horse win up north and beat a bunch of nine-year-old maidens easily, but we weren’t learning anything. The guys who are trying to produce young horses have to take each other on. That’s how the Irish got it going because then you have a number of people trying to win that race. You don’t want a non event.” 

Peters not only owned Karaka De Thaix in partnership with Toby Hunt, but rode and trained the horse to make a winning debut as well. He was also on leading up duty at Cheltenham on Thursday, and reacted to the transaction by saying: “It’s bitter-sweet really because I’d love to keep him but I can’t afford to. We’ve got to try and do it again now!”

Peters also produced Miami Magic to land the same Charm Park maiden before the son of Leading Light went on to finish runner-up in the Grade 1 Formby Novices' Hurdle for Stuart Edmunds. 

“He [Karaka De Thaix] did everything right when he won and he’s been a dream to do anything with since we’ve had him,” he said. “Whoever has him next has got themselves a lovely horse. He fell asleep up the yard but he came alive down here and really showed himself. I think he’s a good horse so hopefully he can go right to the top.” 

Bromley and Nicholls bagged a second British pointer later in the session when the agent went to £90,000 for Andrews’ Edgcote winner Outmaster. 

“Paul’s asked me what I’ve liked at the last couple of sales,” said Bromley. “I bought one at Aintree [£140,000 Lancelot Du Large] and a couple here. He wanted some horses to put in the shop window and he’s going to try to find some owners for them. I’m a big fan of the English point-to-pointing and I think there’s a bit of value to be had. 

“I tried to buy some of the Irish point-to-pointers as well but got blown out. I’ve bid on four horses for Paul tonight; I got blown out on the two Irish pointers and bought the two English ones. Time will tell, but at the end of the day if he’s going to put them on the shelf, they need to be at the sort of figures people like. They’re both nice scopey horses who won nicely, vetted well and hopefully they’ll be nice prospects for the years to come.” 

The Bromley-Nicholls axis added a third buy late in the piece, with Denis Murphy’s Kilnew Supreme, who finished runner-up to the sale’s top lot on debut at Rathcannon, secured for £110,000. That third six-figure signing took the team’s total spend to £335,000, making the pair the leading buyers on the day. 

Cheltenham April Sale statistics

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