January Sale 2017
P2P.ie review: There was an awful lot to like about the debut success of Minellafordollars at Lingstown last month as he ran out a very taking eight length winner. Settled in mid-division for much of the contest, the King’s Theatre gelding made strong progress between the fourth and third-last fences before being produced to challenge at the penultimate obstacle. Once striking the front, it was only after jumping the final fence that his true ability really shone through, as in a matter of strides he instantly began lengthening clear of his nearest pursuers in a big field contest. He clearly possess an eye-catching turn of foot and the indication from that performance was that he will have learned a lot from it which will only stand to him further as he progresses.
This was a classy looking performance from a potentially smart recruit to the game who has the pedigree behind him to rise to a high level on the track.
P2P.ie review: Broken Quest showed the clear benefit from his introduction to competitive action at Boulta in late November by getting off the mark at the same venue just over a month later on New Year’s Day. On that opening effort, the Ask gelding had to overcome a number of small mistakes in-running to finish third behind the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Eviscerating, a €40,000 store purchase who had the benefit of two previous efforts.
Jumping with far greater fluency following that initial experience, Broken Quest travelled notably well through his race, but to his credit he also proved his ability to battle once challenged at the penultimate fence. Jumping the final fence upsides, he picked-up once again to pull clear up the run-in and was ultimately in-command at the line. In doing so he also beat two far more experienced horses with the runner-up having run three time previously, whilst the six-times previously raced Jack Devine was back in third.
P2P.ie review: Making his seasonal re-appearance in a strangely run Dromahane maiden where the eventual winner Legal Ok was allowed to extend a distance clear of his rivals, Forgot To Ask quickened up very well when sent in pursuit in the home straight to lead the chasing group home in second position. Notably the fifth and ninth-placed horses in that race, Eviscerating and Cup Of Ambition, have both subsequently won their maidens, with the former having entered the race after finishing second, beaten just a short-head by Minella Till Dawn who has subsequently advertised the form by winning a 15-runner Fairyhouse maiden hurdle for Gordon Elliott and JP McManus.
The son of Ask vindicated that step forward when only going down by half a length on his final outing between the flags at Mainstown in late November. Making almost all of the running, he stuck his head down and battled all the way to the line once challenged. Notably, Warthog who finished behind him in third, has since come out and advertised the form in no uncertain terms by winning a Lingstown maiden by 10 lengths.
By a promising sire, this is a most progressive sort who has finished in front of a number of form horses to date.
P2P.ie review: Minella Encore was most unfortunate not to shed his maiden tag at the very first time of asking at Borris House last month as the King’s Theatre gelding was travelling all over the eventual winner when coming down that penultimate fence. Prior to that point, he jumped confidently for a newcomer and travelled with ease, only to make a mistake three-out. However it was taking that after that slow leap, he was soon able to regain any lost ground to come back up on terms and hit the front before coming down at the penultimate fence when not appearing to make a serious error. Compensation was soon to follow however, as despite switching to a sharper track for his next outing at Killeagh, he overcame the characteristics of the course which likely would not have flattered him, with a strong staying performance. That is also a maiden which has produced the likes of the Cheltenham Festival victor Next Sensation in the recent past.
Aided by a dream run up the inside of runners around the home bend, Minella Encore soon hit the front, and although his nearest rival came down at the last, he appeared to be in command at the time to run out the 10-length winner. A well-bred sort, he is a stayer for the future who looks smart.
P2P.ie review: Having chased home the eye-catching and impressive Never Off Duty on debut at Dromahane over Christmas, Indian Hercules backed-up the promise of that opening effort when getting off the mark on his very next start at Aghabullogue in a 12-runner contest. Always racing close to the pace, the Whitmore’s Conn gelding was sent for home after jumping the penultimate fence in a notable pace injection to the race which saw the number of challengers who had been contained within the main group whittled down significantly in a matter of strides.
To his credit, Indian Hercules kept to his task well all the way to the line and was holding the runner-up, and short-priced favourite Pallaskerry, all the time. His jumping was a notable asset which will really stand to him when switching inside the rails, whilst it is noteworthy that he won in the quickest time of the day, some 10 seconds quicker than the day’s average.
P2P.ie review: Swift Crusador has proven himself to be a most consistent sort to date and marked himself out as a capable performer with a fine second placing at The Pigeons last season when finishing just five lengths in arrears of Garran City. That performance saw him finish in front of two subsequent maiden winners Sumkindogking and Predict A Riot, with the former being purchased by Tom George for £70,000 at the Goffs UK Aintree sale before going on to win at both Chepstow and Southwell, whilst the latter realised £50,000 at that same sale at the Grand National fixture.
Swift Crusador returned from his Summer break to chase home De Dollar Man at Castletown-Geoghegan, a horse who has since remained unbeaten under rules winning at Uttoxeter and recently easing his way to success at Ayr. Given how the form of his placed efforts have developed, it was unsurprising that the Kayf Tara gelding got off the mark in good style at Borris House in a race which contained plenty of decent form lines. Given all of the future winners that have surrounded Swift Crusador in his previous outings to date, great confidence can be taken from the performances which he has produced to date.
P2P.ie review: Annie Angel created a very notable impression on her debut winning a race which at the time appeared to be a competitive contest, and the form of the race has certainly justified that view with the race subsequently working out particularly well. Showing a likeable attitude which is sure to stand to her as she heads to the track, the well-bred daughter of King’s Theatre, who had raced up with the pace throughout, picked-up smartly when headed at the third-last to soon regain the advantage. A slow leap at that third-last fence was responsible for her losing the lead, whilst she made another mistake at the final fence, which gave her rival another chance to come back at her. However to her credit, she once again picked-up to win going away on the very short run-in.
She has to be given real credit for overcoming those jumping errors and is certainly value for further than the four length winning margin in a race which saw the front pair pull 10 lengths clear of the remainder. The runner-up Barossa Pearl defeated geldings by eight lengths on her very next start at Borris House, whilst the third-placed Chapter Two, who was 14 lengths in arrears at Lisronagh has also enjoyed success recently, defeating geldings at both Borris House in a maiden, and Tinahely when stepping-up to winners company. Great confidence can therefore be taken from the performance of Annie Angel on debut and this well-bred mare has to be considered exciting as a result.
Under 2nd Dam - THREE MUSKETEERS is now the winner of 4 races and £69,444 including on his latest start over fences at Market Rasen last week
Under 2nd Dam - THREE MUSKETEERS is now the winner of 4 races and £69,444 including on his latest start over fences at Market Rasen last week
Under 1st Dam - BONNY DAZZLER (FR) is now in training in France
HIGH GROUNDS is being sold on behalf of the Partners and the Executors of the late Mr. J. Hanson
Should read 90% With Vat
Should read 25% With Vat
Should read With Vat
Not named in G.B.
He had a tie-forward operation on 28 November 2016
Not named in G.B.
Should read Gelding
He has been seen to windsuck
Not named in G.B.
Should read Non Vat
Should read Non Vat
Should read Non Vat
Should read With Vat
Should read 50% With Vat
Eligible for Elite Mares Scheme
Eligible for Elite Mares Scheme
Should read With Vat
Under 1st Dam, should also appear :
2008 f. Kahar (GB) by Kayf Tara (GB): ran a few times in N.H. Flat Races to 2015 and in point-to-points.
2010 f. Sweet Chardonnay (GB) by Grape Tree Road (GB): ran twice in point-to-points.