In 2020, the bloodstock agency Kerr & Co celebrated its 100th anniversary and it has ventured into new territory in its 101st year with a first online purchase at the Goffs February Sale.
Bert Kerr, whose uncle of the same name was the founder of the business, bought the top lot of the first day of the online auction, the 3-year-old Drish Venture (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), for €50,000.
Sold through Baroda Stud as lot 92A, the gelding has had a successful winter for his owner/trainer Donal Commins, winning at Dundalk in December and January over five and six furlongs, as well as placing twice, most recently on Feb. 5.
“He will be racing abroad,” Kerr said. “I do a lot of business in central Europe and that's where he will be going, for a long established client. I've been tracking him since 2 December when he won his first race and I just thought he ticked all the boxes, he was a proper horse. The order was for a sprinter and he'll be carrying Ireland's flag next season.”
He added, “Our company was 100 years old last year and now we are stepping into a brave new world because today was our first ever online purchase. It's great to know that the sales can continue through this. If it had been 20 years ago that this had happened we would all be keeping the horses in the boxes and not being able to go to the sales. But now, with all the technology, you get all the vet reports and the only other thing you need, if you can't see the horses yourself, you can get someone you know and trust to have a look. We're adapting and business is carrying on.”
Drish Venture, who was bred by Mark Commins, is out of Flashing Blade (GB), an Inchinor (GB) half-sister to the Group 3-winning sprinter and stallion Needwood Blade (GB) (Pivotal {GB}).
Chris Timmons signed for two horses from the draft of the Aga Khan Studs, the 3-year-old geldings Razdan (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Kasansay (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}). The former (lot 104) has a rating of 76 after finishing runner-up twice in four starts for Michael Halford and was knocked down at €32,000.
Three-year-old geldings were very much the order of the day and British-based trainer Roger Fell placed the successful bid on the third-top lot of the session, Ginato (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), who was consigned by Friarstown Stables. Previously trained by Kevin Prendergast, the 70-rated Ginato is out of a full-sister to the prolific Fayr Jag (Ire) (Fayruz {Ire}), whose 11 wins included the G1 Golden Jubilee S at Royal Ascot. He changed hands for €25,000.
A high number of withdrawals since the switch to the online format meant that only 82 lots were offered during the first of two sessions. Forty-five horses were sold for a total of €398,700 and average of €8,860. The sales concludes on Wednesday with the final session starting at midday.
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