High Stakes the headline act as Gigginstown House dispersal brings £500,100

All eyes may have been on the legends of the saddle competing at Doncaster racecourse on Wednesday, but at the Goffs UK September Sale, which took place a stone's throw from the Town Moor four-furlong pole, it was a name with his future very much ahead of him who took centre stage.

Warren Greatrex is gearing up for his first season operating out of the historic Rhonehurst yard in Upper Lambourn after moving down the road from his old base at Uplands, and the Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer has an exciting new recruit to look forward to after his wife and Highflyer Bloodstock agent Tessa Greatrex went to £85,000 for the promising High Stakes.

The seven-year-old son of Scorpion had been something of a late developer for his former handler John Walsh, but made up for lost time when winning four Irish point-to-points during a fruitful six-year-old campaign.

The champion Irish point-to-point performer was last seen streaking 18 lengths clear in a Wexford point-to-point bumper in March and is now set to carry the colours of the Greatrexes' new landlords, Jim and Claire Bryce.

Tessa Greatrex signs at £85,000 for High StakesCredit: Frances de Haan

"He's going to Warren for our landlords," said Tessa Greatrex. "We just want to make sure he's got some nice horses to go to war with this season. We loved the horse and loved the way he won his bumper and he looks a nice prospect.

"He's a late developer, they didn't get him until he was five, but what he's done since is all there in the book. He's one to crack on with in novice hurdles this winter."

The Bryces and Greatrexes are in the middle of some significant redevelopment work at Rhonehurt, with the team aiming to have the project completed before the National Hunt season hits top gear.

Tessa Greatrex added: "There's all sorts of things happening, more stables, a new horse walker, a treadmill, a vibrating plate and an outdoor arena.

"The place hasn't had anything done to it for 30 years so we're adding some facilities to make sure we can compete with the rest of them. We've done loads already and we've been there only two months."

High Stakes topped a market that saw 129 of 152 offered lots sell for a clearance rate of 85 per cent. A much-reduced catalogue saw aggregate sales drop by 44 per cent against last year's renewal, which featured Trevor Hemmings' Gleadhill House Stud dispersal.

The average price was clipped in by four per cent at £11,805, while the median was up by 33 per cent at £8,000.

Gigginstown goldmine

The annual Gigginstown House Stud dispersal was one of the main attractions at the September Sale, and the draft duly accounted for 33 per cent of turnover as 39 lots (30 per cent of total sold) generated receipts of £500,100. That total was reached without the catalogue's cover star Battleoverdoyen, who was withdrawn on Tuesday.

The headline act among the remaining lots was Forged In Fire, who departs Joseph O'Brien and joins Gordon Elliott, who returns from suspension on Thursday, after the trainer and his chief talent scout Aidan 'Mouse' O'Ryan went to £42,000 for the son of Presenting.

Lot 59: Forged In Fire fetches £42,000Credit: Frances de Haan

The six-year-old had in fact been signed for by Elliott at €110,000 as a store but went on to make his debut for O'Brien when beating none other than Ferny Hollow in a Leopardstown bumper. The brother to the smart Stellar Notion added a second career victory on his most recent outing in a Tipperary novice chase in July.

"We put these horses to a few people this morning and they were interested and they're all nice horses in their own way," said O'Ryan. "Forged In Fire looks like a grand horse and he's got proven form. I don't know about improving one off of Joseph but he might not be desperately handicapped off 114 so hopefully there's a bit of progression in him."

Later in the session Elliott and O'Ryan combined at £37,000 to secure Smoking Gun, a five-time winner by Gold Well who made his debut for the Cullentra House team on his latest start when sixth of nine in a Killarney handicap chase. Tim Gredley filled the role of frustrated underbidder.

Aidan 'Mouse' O'Ryan signs the docket for Forged In FireCredit: Frances de Haan

"Smoking Gun was with Joseph but then came to Cullentra before his last run," said O'Ryan. "We liked him so we decided to buy him back at that price.

"We had to fight off Mr Gredley to get him, which I didn't think we'd manage, but we got there eventually! At that type of money I think he's a bit of value. He's been bought on spec so is for sale. Hopefully they'll both be lucky for us."

The six-year-old Smoking Gun, who boasts a peak Racing Post Rating (RPR) of 142, was making his third appearance at public auction, having cost Mouse Morris €80,000 as a store after Fethard Bloodstock spent €13,000 on the sibling to two black-type performers as a foal.

Drinkwater's online breakthrough

Samuel Drinkwater was not among the bustling crowd of prospective purchasers that had gathered at the Doncaster sales complex, but the Worcestershire-based trainer made his presence felt when striking a £40,000 online bid to secure the useful Fontana Ellissi, who was offered by Nigel Twiston-Davies's Grange Hill Farm.

The five-year-old son of Sinndar scored twice for Twiston-Davies, including when landing a Market Rasen novice hurdle on his penultimate start. He matched his peak RPR of 121 when runner-up at Sedgefield on his most recent outing.

"I'm very friendly with the Twiston-Davies family and when this horse came up for sale he looked exactly like what my owner was after," said Drinkwater.

"He's still a novice until the end of the year and looks like he has the scope to make up into a nice novice chaser down the line. He's been bought for a new owner to the yard so hopefully he's lucky."

Samuel Drinkwater: 'He's the first horse I've bought online'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Although Drinkwater was not present in Doncaster, he explained he had done his homework on Fontana Ellissi, who was first sold to Highflyer Bloodstock at €11,000 as a yearling.

"The Twiston-Davieses recommended him to me and I viewed him in their yard," continued Drinkwater. "I had him vetted yesterday and got a glowing report and thankfully was able to purchase him today.

"The horse is going back to their yard now and I'm picking him up there later on. He's the first horse I've bought online. I'm having a hectic day today so I couldn't make it to Doncaster, but the online bidding worked really well."

Kent hails Gigginstown's enduring appeal

After the final lot had left the ring, Goffs UK's managing director Tim Kent commented: "The annual dispersal from Gigginstown House Stud will always draw a crowd to the Goffs UK sales complex and this has been the case throughout the day, with buyers at all levels bidding for a range of horses from a wide variety of vendors.

"These high-profile drafts have proven to be happy hunting grounds for those looking to buy future winners and we would like to extend our sincere thanks to Michael and Eddie O’Leary for once again entrusting their draft to Goffs UK and this sale.

"It’s a busy time for the Goffs UK team as we have back-to-back sales this week, with the third annual Yorton Sale to be held tomorrow from 1pm at Yorton Farm in Wales. We look forward to seeing many of today’s buyers at Yorton tomorrow and we extend our thanks to all those that were involved with today’s sale and wish everyone the best of luck with their purchases."

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