Monster Truck Sets New Tattersalls Cheltenham Record At £530k

[Wandering Eyes]

Gordon Elliott Racing snapped up debut winner Monster Truck (lot 29) for a record £530,000 to top the Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale after racing on Thursday. The four-year-old gelding is the highest-priced horse ever sold in the Tattersalls Cheltenham sale ring.

The son of Goliath Du Berlais won his only start, a three-mile point-to-point at Lingstown on March 8. Consigned by Cormac Doyle's Monbeg Stables, he is out of the winning Carmen Lady (Authorized) and is a half-brother to the winning hurdler Le Yacht (Buck's Boum). Granddam Shining Sea (Anabaa Blue) was placed twice at listed level in France. He changed hands for €49,000 as a Goffs December NH Sale weanling when purchased by Tally-Ho Stud.

Elliott said, “We saw him six to eight weeks ago at Cormac's. We did not think he would make that sort of money, but to get to the top, these are the horses you need. Mouse [O'Ryan] was at Lingstown when the horse ran, but the horse came highly recommended anyway. You won't see him on a racetrack until next season.”

A trio of fellow three-mile point-to-point winners each made £400,000–lot 5, Palinca, also by Goliath Du Berlais, Jezebel Eyes (Motivator) (lot 17) and Monzon Sport (Goliath Berlais) (lot 24). Also offered by Monbeg, Palinca caught the eye of Coolmara Stables and was originally a €23,000 yearling out of the Arqana Autumn Mixed Sale to Brown Island Stables. She is a half-sister to the listed chase winner Shokdor (Seabhac) and the stakes-placed AQPS hurdler Heros (Voiladenuo).

Jezebel Eyes was sold from Skehanagh Stables to Walters Plant Hire. The filly is a half to a pair of winners in the NH sphere and will visit Cracksman upon her retirement from racing.

“We bought into the stallion [Cracksman] and I want to buy him some quality mares,” said Dai Walters.

Monzon Sport, part of the Suirview Stables draft, went to Willie Mullins and Harold Kirk. The gelding is a half-brother to Grade 1-winning chaser Leader Sport (Nirvana Du Berlais) and Grade 3-scoring chaser Geelong Sport (No Risk At All).

Kirk said of Monzon Sport, “He is by the best sire in France, he has a very good pedigree, he looks a quick horse and he has come highly recommended by Pat Doyle. He goes to Willie Mullins, and a lot of good horses come out of this sale.”

Of the 28 horses offered, 25 sold (89%) for a gross of £4,385,000. The average was £175,400 and the median was £145,000. All three lots by rising sire star Goliath Du Berlais made £400,000 or more.

Tattersalls Cheltenham sales manager Shirley Anderson-Jolag said, “The Tattersalls Cheltenham team have put together a fantastic catalogue, arguably the best we have had for the Festival Sale, and this record-breaking evening is a superb testament to those horses, this unique sale at this brilliant location and to the trust placed in us by these brilliant consignors, and we thank them for that.

“To have two record Festival Sales in successive years, as well as a record-breaking top lot, is a brilliant achievement. We wish the new connections all the very best for the future.

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