‘I didn’t expect it at all! - teenager pinhookers in clover as Minzaal filly delivers massive profit at 450,000gns

The next generation was to the fore at Tattersalls on Monday, and not just the thoroughbred variety. 

Friends Fionn White and Jack and Max Galway, a group boasting a cumulative age of just 46, pulled off the sort of pinhooking success that would have even the most seasoned campaigners going weak at the knees. 

The teenage triumvirate were behind the Minzaal filly out of Chiclet who went from €85,000 Goffs November foal pinhook to 450,000gns market leader on day one of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. 

Karl and Kelly Burke landed the six-figure bid when the filly was presented by Baroda Stud.

The page has received a notable enhancement in the intervening months, as the filly is closely related to the Jessica Harrington-trained Saratoga Special. She won this year’s Listed Land O'Burns Stakes in the colours of Alpha Racing, which was set up by Jack (17) and Max’s (13) father, well-known industry face and Punchestown racing manager Richie Galway. 

“I didn’t expect it at all, I can’t get over it, I can’t even put it into words really,” said a remarkably relaxed White, 16. “Me, Jack and Max were going around the foal sales together last year. Jack and Max had to go back to school but because I had the year off for TY [transition year] I was working for Baroda. 

“I really liked her so I followed her in. I rang Richie before I went in and asked him how Saratoga Special was getting on and he said ‘She’s a nice horse who should do well next year.’ She went on to win a Listed race, which always helps. We bought her off David Byrne but obviously we didn’t expect anything like this at all.” 

The Baroda Stud-offered Minzaal filly sold to Karl and Kelly Burke at Tattersalls on MondayCredit: Laura Green

The mighty result is not the first taste of pinhooking success for White, whose family own Clunemore Lodge Stud in Kildare. Last year’s renewal of Book 1 saw him turn a €36,000 son of Gleneagles into a 205,000gns yearling who was knocked down to agent Will Douglass. 

Asked what he’d be doing with Monday’s windfall, White said: “I’ll be back at the foal sales this year. I won’t be buying too much because I’ve my leaving cert next year, but I’ll try my best.” 

After signing the docket, Karl Burke said: “She’s a lovely filly, we really liked her and she vetted well so I’m delighted to get her. We’ve got a couple of Minzaals now and he’s a sire we really like. 

“Jim Crowley used to ride him and he said he was a great laid-back horse, and he recommended we have a look at his offspring a good few months ago. I’ve been impressed by them. It was a lot of money but hopefully she can run. She’ll certainly be a two-year-old anyway. She’s been bought for an owner in the yard.”

This was far from the first big result for Shadwell’s Derrinstown Stud resident Minzaal. His six Book 1 lots averaged 189,165gns, headed by the half-sister to Asymmetric and Mill Stream who fetched 550,000gns from Amo Racing. 

The son of Mehmas also supplied the top lot at this year’s Doncaster Premier Sale, with Shadwell going to £190,000 for a filly out of the Listed winner Hateya. His debut crop was bred at a fee of €15,000. 

Read more sales news:

'It’s a very exciting time' - Amo Racing recruitment drive continues as Starman filly shines at 525,000gns 

'If he’s a very good horse he’s going to be a stallion' - Amo Racing outmuscle Coolmore for 3,600,000gns Frankel colt 

'This is my best day in the sales ring, it’s very emotional' - a new high for Luca Cumani as Frankel colt fetches 2,200,000gns 

'This colt has a proper pedigree' - Juddmonte outbattle Godolphin as they spend big on Book 1 final day

Good Morning Bloodstock is our unmissable email newsletter. Leading bloodstock journalist Martin Stevens provides his take and insight on the biggest stories every morning from Monday to Friday.