The Goffs December National Hunt Sale started its two-day run on Wednesday with the first session of foals led by a colt by Walk In The Park (Ire) at €82,000. Consigned by Yellowford Farm, the youngster (lot 70) is out of a dual-winning half-sister to the prolific Champion Hurdler Hurricane Fly (Ire), who is himself by Walk In The Park's sire Montjeu (Ire). His dam Blixt (Ire) is a dual winner by Yeats (Ire), meaning the colt is inbred 3×3 to Sadler's Wells.
He was one of two colts by Walk In The Park bought by the pinhhooking outfit Pine Tree on the day, the other being lot 52, a son of Ballyknock Hill (Ire) (Indian Danehill {Ire}).
Weanlings by stallions from Coolmore's National Hunt division dominated the leader board, with a Soldier Of Fortune (Ire) half-brother to recent chase winner Impact Factor (Ire) (Flemensfirth) (lot 196) selling for €72,000 to Park Farm.
Kevin Ross and trainer Ben Case paired up to buy a colt from the first crop of Ascot Gold Cup winner Order Of St George (lot 242) for €65,000. Offered by Peter Molony's Rathmore Stud, he is out of the unraced Land Of Pride (Ire) (Presenting {GB}), a half-sister to Splash Of Ginge (GB) (Oscar {Ire}), a Grade 3 winner over fences and hurdles. The colt's 5-year-old half-brother Seelotmorebusiness (Ire) (Sholokhov {Ire}) is unbeaten in his two starts for Paul Nicholls. Also cracking the top five was a colt by No Risk At All (Fr) (lot 254) who was hammered down to Richard Frisby for €58,000 from the draft of Galbertstown Stables.
At the close of trade, €2,418,500 was spent on 163 foals from 236 offered for a clearance rate of 69%. Last year's opening session of the sale saw 178 youngsters sold (68%) for an aggregate of €2,424,600. The average rose 8.9% to €14,837, while the median stayed steady at €10,000.
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