£280,000 sale-topper out to swoop on debut for George and Cobden at Newbury

Our resident bloodstock experts profile the well-bred eyecatchers and expensive purchases set to grace the track.

HERON IN THE PARK

OLBG Racing Club Mares' Open National Hunt Flat Race (4.50 Newbury, Saturday)

What's the story?

The closing mares’ bumper at Newbury on Saturday will get next to no coverage, however it contains a few of the most interesting horses running on the day, none more so than the Tom George-trained Heron In The Park.

The five-year-old, who is the mount of Harry Cobden, kept on well to justify favouritism by nine and a half lengths at Borris House for Donnchadh Doyle and Rob James on her point-to-point debut in December. 

Less than a fortnight later she was topping the Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale to a £280,000 bid from Damian Tiernan, whose colours she carries on this debut under rules.

How's she bred?

You can have only one guess over the identity of the sire. Yes, that’s correct, Walk In The Park.

Her name is from the bank of mum and dad, for the dam is the unraced St Jovite mare Night Heron.

She has produced three winners under rules so far headed by Fame And Glory’s son Glory And Fortune, like Heron In The Park bred by Pat Connell.

Glory And Fortune won five times – a bumper and four over hurdles – most notably the Grade 3 Betfair Hurdle at Newbury in 2022, where he sprang a 20-1 surprise for the Tom Lacey yard.

Her sale-topping sojourn to Prestbury Park in December was not Heron In The Park’s first time in a sale ring, for she had first changed hands for €40,000 as a foal at the Goffs December National Hunt Sale, when Rathmore Stud snapped her up from Peria Stud.

What was said at the sales?

Saturday's debutante was bought by Tiernan in conjunction with former top jockey Tom Morgan, rider of the great Pearlyman.

Tom Morgan and Damian Tiernan, who teamed up to buy Heron In The ParkCredit: Debbie Burt

Morgan told colleague Tom Peacock: “The plan is she’s been bought for The Jekyll partnership that used to own Mrs Hyde, we’re going to look to go down the same sort of route as her, bumpers into Listed company and hopefully a bit of black type and go from there.

“We haven’t made any firm plans on a trainer, we just wanted to find a nice mare to race first and then hopefully breed from her.”

Morgan added: “Damian Tiernan is in the partnership, he had Mrs Hyde with Fergal [O’Brien] and we’ve had a lot of success with her. 

"This horse jumped very well [in her point] and we just loved the way she travelled. She has a fair page, that’s the residual value. One of the clients has got one of the best colts in France, Nietzsche Has, so hopefully she’ll be mated to him somewhere down the line. We’re buying some nice fillies to hopefully do that.”

Who does she face?

There Runs Mary won her bumper first time up for Olly Murphy last month at Wincanton. She was a six-figure sales purchase herself, setting the trainer and his dad Aiden back €105,000 as a store at the 2023 Derby Sale.

The five-year-old is a sister to three-time winner and Graded-placed She’s A Fine Wine.

There Runs Mary reopposes Wincanton runner-up Hill In Brazil, a James and Jean Potter homebred daughter of Blue Bresil. She is from the family of Denman.

Queens Abbey makes her rules debut for the shrewd Lynne MacLennan, having cost £78,000 at the Goffs UK Coral Gold Cup Sale at Newbury in November.

The Ben Pauling-trained mare, a half-sister to Sporting John, is bound to have her supporters after finishing placed on both point-to-point runs.

The two four-year-olds in the line-up receive a handy 10lb. Newcomer Ace Artist is a Jack Hobbs half-sister to Urban Artist, the Listed bumper winner whose good Flat form included being a close runner-up in the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes. She is quite interesting in a race worth watching.

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