'They've been bought to order' - Snowden positive after productive Goffs UK sale

Gordon Elliott and Nicky Henderson were among those taking home six-figure lots from the Goffs UK Horses in Training and Point-to-Point Sale, but so too were Rose Dobbin, Alistair Whillans and Jamie Snowden amid a diverse range of spending power at the two-day auction.

Having trained Ga Law and Anythingforlove to Grade 2 success last term, Snowden was intent on adding more firepower to his Lambourn yard and picked up the winning and placed pointers Git Maker and Super Survivor for £105,000 and £115,000 respectively.

He said on Friday: "We're very fortunate to have a couple of wonderful owners in the yard and they've both been bought to order."

Git Maker, who was consigned by Warren Ewing's Bernice Stables and ran out a ten-length winner on his most recent point start, was snapped up for an owner coming out of a syndicate share.

Snowden said: "We've got a lovely horse called Some Day Soon - who runs tomorrow at Stratford - and there's a chap who's dipped his toe into the water and has a small share. He has been a decent horse and, off the back of Covid, he's decided to invest in a horse by himself."

Aside from the excitement of recruiting the two promising pointers from Goffs UK, the 2021-2022 season has started well for the trainer with six winners and counting.

Snowden continued: "We had a wonderful season the campaign before Covid, and last season was good, with a couple of Grade 2 winners. We've started off this season on a good foot and it's great having six winners on the board already. Hopefully we're moving forwards."

There were some notable positives to take away from the Goffs UK sale on Wednesday and Thursday, particularly The Player Queen's graduation from British point winner to Cheltenham victress and then six-figure lot at the sale, and Snowden believes the demand for British pointers will continue.

He said: "There was a mare at the sales [The Player Queen] who made £140,000 who had won a point and then went on to win at Cheltenham. There's certainly appetite for British as well as Irish pointers - look also at Energumene, who won at Larkhill before moving to Willie Mullins."

With a strong two days of trade at the Spring Store Sale preceding the HIT/PTP Sale at Doncaster, activity in sales rings in Britain has been healthy, even if the nation's jumps trainers have been struggling with the effects of Covid-19, low prize-money and taking on the Irish big guns at the major festivals.

"I think there are many reasons why the Irish dominated at Cheltenham, it's not just the buying power, there are lots of issues that need to be addressed," said Snowden.

"The handicapping system, the programming and prize-money are just three that need to be tackled. Nothing's going to happen overnight, but there are wheels in motion and things will change."

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