Its Goffs latest ‘Horses In Training’ sale on Wednesday. Seems like the ideal time therefore to have another round of ‘estimate the purchase price’. Make your estimate(s) below and the one closest to the actual purchase price, in each instance, is the winner. A chance for you to demonstrate your knowledge of form, bloodstock and the market place all in one go. Recent sales have all been in £’s so that is the currency to use. I’ve chosen 2 horses at very different stages of their career – an 11YO former Grade 1 winner and a 4YO who has run in 2 Bumpers and 1 novice hurdle. You are welcome to estimate the sale price on both or just the one if you prefer. The 11YO (Lot 81) is Road To Riches who has won in excess of half a million in prizemoney, including heats at Grade 1 level, and is being consigned by Gigginstown. This is his sales page - https://www.goffsuk.com/GoffsCMS/_Sales/156/81.pdf?a=1. I think this is very difficult to estimate (but that, of course, makes it better for competition purposes) as, I guess, you have to find the precise balance point between (i) the fact that he is a ‘name’ with big race crowns and (ii) that he is now in the twilight of his career and obviously his form is regressive. The other horse is Knighthood (Lot 125) who is the total opposite of Road To Riches in that he is just commencing his career. Formerly with none other than Lieutenant Henderson I’m sure some will be hesitant to bid as it is all but impossible for another trainer to improve on perfection – maybe as a result any new purchaser will send him back to the great man. I have though long been a fan of this horse and some may recall I even put him up prior to his debut in a Newbury Bumper back in January. Form figures of -645 hardly inspire but his first couple of runs hinted that the ability was certainly there and if I had enough loot in the old vault, right now, I’d certainly consider this 4YO gelding by Delegator. Maybe a Flat career would be the way to go given that his dam was a Listed winner and runner-up in the Italian 1,000 Guineas. Anyway I’ll stop waffling and point you towards his sales page - https://www.goffsuk.com/GoffsCMS/_Sales/156/125.pdf?a=1 That then is it, people. Estimate below the purchase prices of (i) Road To Riches and (ii) Knighthood.
‘Horses In Training Sale’ now underway. This is the link if you want to follow proceedings LIVE - https://www.goffsuk.com/sales-results/sales/september-hit-sale-2018 Who will get the best bargain??? Who will massively overpay??? And who will be brave / stupid (delete as appropriate) enough to purchase an ex-Lieutenant Henderson trained animal???
Road To Riches sold to David Christie Bloodstock for £35,000. Oddy, brilliant estimate! You were correct to the very penny!
Cor bally blinkin’ blimey I’m in a state of flummox! Knighthood has been sold for just £2,000! Ron takes the crown with this one as his estimate of £12k was the one closest to the pin. I honestly think that John Gleeson (the purchaser) has got an incredible bargain with that buy. I take it Knighthood will now be off to run across the Irish Sea as Gleeson has a training establishment in Limerick. Will closely watch his progress as I still think this horse could achieve a great deal. The Lieutenant’s other 2 in the sale saw these results – Barkis (to Maurice Barnes for £1,000) and Ballinure (not sold).
I thought Road to Riches was a bit of bargain as he'd be a guaranteed Grand National runner for someone with a few quid. Got round and finished an honourable 6th this year. However on his current chase mark he wouldn't have got in this year and will probably need to up his perch by around 5/6 lb to line up in 2019. No wins for nearly 3 years would suggest his rating will only continue to go down. My considered opinion now is that £35k is more than plenty for the 11 year old.
So here's the cunning plan Ron. Tune him up with a few quite runs to further lower his handicap. Bang him in the Eider in February, win that (£50k), get a revised mark just before the weights are finalised for the GN in early March and then get another place (6th was worth £30k this year). Money back and training fees paid. A plan so cunning that Blackadder himself would be proud of. Easy game .
I suspect Gigginstown sold him because they think he's only going one way and that is downhill. I would imagine they would think my cunning plan is not cunning at all put pure fantasy .
There's an article posted on ATR website now explaining that ol boy Road to Riches has been bought to go X Country racing. New connections on the blower to Enda Bolger no doubt. In the article the buyer does say that if X Country doesn't work out they may chuck him at one of the Nationals. So looks like my cunning plan is plan B. Gigginstown got rid of a few of their old guard. The bargain amongst them would appear to be the 9 yo Lord Scoundrel who was picked up for £9k. A former winner of the Galway Plate and although he's not won since he's still has his going days and his getting back down to a workable mark. I'd be surprised if he hasn't got one or two more handicap chase victories in him. That £9k could be money very well spent.
