'When you're selling horses here, it's a lonely day' - Shark Hanlon dispersal heads through the ring at Goffs UK

The Goffs UK October Horses in Training Sale hosted a dispersal of stock from trainer Shark Hanlon, who is awaiting the outcome of his appeal against the severity of a ten-month suspension for bringing racing into disrepute.

Consigned under the banner of Court Stud, Hanlon offered 24 lots in Doncaster, 15 of which sold for receipts totalling £113,000 – 15 per cent of aggregate sales on the day – and an average price of £7,534.

The most expensive offering among the group was Chanceawetmorning, who was last seen finishing a staying-on third in a Sedgefield maiden hurdle. The four-year-old son of Snow Sky was knocked down to trainer Noel Kelly at £20,000. Eight other lots were led out unsold, including the bumper winner Lion City, who failed to find a buyer when the bidding reached £24,000.

Hanlon was on hand to oversee the dispersal, and reflected on events by saying: "When you're selling horses here, it's a lonely day. We got on well with some but we didn't get all of them sold [in the ring]. There's a couple left we'll try to get sold before the evening is over but it's a lonely day when you have to come here, when they put you to do this. I don't think it's very fair."

The trainer had his licence suspended for ten months and was fined €2,000 for transporting a dead horse in an open trailer attached to one of his branded lorries, with the carcass fully visible to the public. Hanlon subsequently apologised for the incident, which he described as an unfortunate accident.

Hanlon said he would wait until the outcome of the appeal lodged with the IHRB before confirming plans for his stable star, the King George VI Chase winner Hewick. As many as a dozen of his stable staff are at risk of losing their job, with his partner and longtime head lass Rachel O'Neill having been denied a licence by the IHRB until she completes the trainers' course.

Read these next:

Shark Hanlon 'surprised and disappointed' at ten-month suspension over transport of dead horse in open trailer 

Shark Hanlon 'hopeful' of getting licence back after fellow trainer Edward O'Grady fights his corner at appeal 

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.