Sporting a 90% clearances rate with 18 of the 20 lots through the ring finding new homes, the Goffs Punchestown Sale was topped by Absolute Notions (Ire) (Milan {GB}) (lot 21). Offered by Gordon Elliot's Cullentra House Stables, the 4-year-old bay gelding attracted a winning bid of €370,000 from Mags O'Toole. A winner of his only start, a National Hunt bumper at Punchestown on Tuesday, Absolute Notions is from the same family as Grade 1-winning hurdler Chief Dan George (Ire) (Lord Americo {Ire}), as well as G2 Martell Cup Chase victor MacGeorge (Ire) (Mandalus {Ire}).
Jenny Wyse (Ire) (Flemensfirth) (lot 14) drew the attention of Tom Malone and Paul Nicholls, and they duly shelled out €360,000 for the winning point-to-pointer. From the draft of Colin Bowe's Milestone Stables, the 4-year-old filly captured a point-to-point at Monksgrange on Apr. 24. Her unraced dam is a full-sister to Grade 3 winner Morning Run (Ire) (King's Theatre {Ire}), as well as a half-sister to the listed hurdler Morning Supreme (Ire) (Supreme Leader {GB}).
Rounding out the top three lots was The Gooner (Ire) (Flemensfirth) (lot 6). Consigned by Matthew Flynn O'Connor's Ballycrystal Stables, the 4-year-old gelding was knocked down to Jonjo O'Neill for €280,000. The Gooner won a three-mile point-to-point at Curraghmore earlier in April.
At the close of the sale, the 18 lots grossed €2,885,000. The average was €160,278 and the median was €135,000. An even dozen were sold for six figures.
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