Walk In The Park Colt Tops Arkle Sale At €230,000
Following a season in which he was crowned champion sire on the racecourse and between the flags, Walk In The Park’s progeny were in understandably high demand at the first major store sale of the year.
Six lots by the Grange Stud sire sold for six-figure sums at the Goffs Arkle Sale, with trade topped by one of his two-year-old colts at €230,000. It was the second time that the half-brother to dual Grade 1 winner Stage Star (Fame And Glory) had lit up the Goffs sales ring, having brought €110,000 from Richard Frisby at the December NH Sale as a foal.
“He had the pedigree, the looks, everything,” Richard’s son JJ said on Wednesday after their Glenwood Stud sold the prized colt to Coolmore’s Gerry Aherne. Since the Frisby family pinhooked the bay, his full-sister La Malmason had twice earned black-type.
“I was amazed by his attitude,” Aherne said of his purchase. “He's a beautiful individual by the best jumps sire we’ve probably seen in my lifetime, with the pedigree to match. He made a lot of sense for our job.”
Plans remain fluid for the top lot, Aherne added: “He's a colt so a lot of avenues are open. He's a possibility for France, a possibility for Ireland, everything’s on the table.”
Over the course of the two days, Ballincurrig House Stud sold a pair of Walk In The Park geldings on behalf of client Fiona Magee. The first was knocked down to Anthony Honeyball for €105,000, while the second sold to Gordon Elliott for €160,000.
Joined ringside by Aidan O’Ryan and Eddie O’Leary, Elliott commented: “He is a great walker with a great way of going. We’ve liked him more and more over the last couple of days, he’s the one we have been waiting for. He looks a nice horse and we are delighted to get him.”
The tone was set early on Tuesday when the father-and-son training partnership of AJ and Jonjo O’Neill combined with agent Matt Coleman to purchase a Walk In The Park gelding for €105,000.
After securing the half-brother to Labaik, AJ commented: “He’s a really lovely horse, definitely the standout in today’s session, so we’re happy we managed to get him.
“He’s got the right breeding on both sides; Walk In The Park is obviously a very talented stallion and the mother can produce a good one. Hopefully he’ll come to hand early enough. He seems racey and walks with purpose, with a good stride.”
Matt Coleman added: “This gelding was athletic, with loads of strength and quality, and he put on a lovely display around the parade ring.”
Later in the session, Megan and Paul Nicholls stretched to €155,000 for Ballintogher Stud’s Walk In The Park gelding out of the Grade 3 winner Lackaneen Leader. On their most expensive purchase of the sale, Megan Nicholls remarked: “I’m absolutely delighted to get him.
“Dad actually loved him from the moment he came out of his box. His eyes lit up really, the horse had that bit of class about him. He’s really athletic, and we can’t wait to get him back and get him going.
“We knew he would make this sort of money – he really is classy, he had that swagger about him, and he’s by the right sire.”
Nicky Henderson was another trainer to successfully secure a son of Walk In The Park, spending €120,000 on Brook Lodge Farm’s relation to Listed winner Listentoyourheart (Getaway).