Mark McStay

NEWMARKET, UK -- Having brought his Blue Point filly to the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale in an attempt to make her stand out, it's fair to say that Paul McCartan's methodology paid off and then some at Park Paddocks on Wednesday when the daughter of Darley's red-hot stallion smashed the record price for the Somerville at 190,000gns. Kerri Radcliffe struck the winning bid, with the filly reportedly heading into training with Richard Hannon. Lot 244 was the second yearling on the day to change hands for a greater sum than...

Medallion Racing Partners and Steve Weston's Parkland Thoroughbreds have purchased a 50% interest in exciting two-year-old Celeron (Mohaather). The deal was brokered by Avenue Bloodstock's Mark McStay. Trained by Michael O'Callaghan, Celeron has won two of his three starts to date in the colours of the New Morning Syndicate. A debut winner at the Curragh in early-June, he then finished in mid-division in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot, before leaving that form well behind when returning to the Curragh to win the G2 Railway Stakes by three...

The second running of the Goffs Classic Breeze-Up Sale provided a heavy dollop of déjà vu with Mark McStay, who bought the best horse out of the inaugural running of the sale, matching last year's top-lot figure of €330,000 on a Lope De Vega colt consigned by Norman Williamson.  Top-notch prospect Extremely Zain (Hello Youmzain) was sourced by McStay for €185,000 at this sale 12 months ago from Katie Walsh, who has sold a handful of classy runners to the leading bloodstock agent down through the years.  While Walsh did...

Katie Walsh, consignor of Extremely Zain, the poster boy for the Classic Breeze-Up Sale, explains why she has the confidence to send more quality juveniles to Goffs The hunt is on at Goffs for the next Extremely Zain (Hello Youmzain), unbeaten in three starts and bound for Group 1 races after being sourced at the inaugural Classic Breeze-Up Sale. It was Katie Walsh who sold Extremely Zain at the sale 12 months ago to bloodstock agent Mark McStay on behalf of owner Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum for €185,000.  Trained...

If Tuesday's opening session of the December Foal Sale at Tattersalls was all about Dragon Symbol, then Wednesday was the day that the young upstart received a sharp warning should he wish to assume the throne as Whitsbury Manor Stud kingpin, with the present incumbent, Havana Grey, taking his turn to play the starring role on a day of fierce trade at Park Paddocks. By the close of play, Havana Grey accounted for five of the day's top 18 lots, headlined by lot 650 from the Whitsbury Manor draft. The...

DEAUVILLE, FRANCE-- When U.S. President Donald Trump made good on his threat to impose tariffs on countries around the world on August 1-including a 15% tax on goods coming into America from the European Union-markets across the world shuddered. In the bloodstock world, the first to be affected will be the Arqana August Sale, which starts this Saturday, August 16. An Arqana-sponsored plane full of Americans arrived Wednesday morning from Saratoga, and the TDN spoke with some of those who came over, and others who stayed home, and international buyers...

Marygate Stakes winner Secret Hideaway is the latest juvenile to have been snapped up by new connections ahead of Royal Ascot with Medallion Racing and partners purchasing an interest in the Adrian Keatley-trained daughter of Starspangledbanner.  Secret Hideaway was a gritty winner of the Marygate at York for owner-breeder Paul Shanahan and would appear to have a host of options at the Royal meeting, including the Queen Mary Stakes, for which she is generally available at odds of 20-1. Mark McStay commented, "I was delighted to help secure an interest...

Leading bloodstock agent Mark McStay has labelled the ITM Barrier Trials as one of the most important innovations on the Irish racing scene for a number of years but implored more trainers to get behind the initiative ahead of the return of the concept at Naas on Monday.  This year marks the fifth running of the ITM Barrier Trials, with trainers like Joseph O'Brien, Gordon Elliott, Gavin Cromwell, Jessica Harrington, Henry de Bromhead and Donnacha O'Brien heavily represented across a 10-trial card that features races over six and seven furlongs...

"A victory for small breeders!" That was the emphatic verdict from an emotional Muriel Knox after her family had topped Tuesday's opening session of the Goffs UK Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale with their homebred Havana Grey (GB) filly for £240,000. Mark McStay's Avenue Bloodstock struck the winning bid on behalf of Skara Glen Stables. Lot 157 might have been consigned by Sarah Fanning Sales, but it's fair to say that this was a Knox filly through and through with Miss Mercy (Ire) (Law Society) as her fourth dam, a mare...

The recent Kevin Coleman-trained Leopardstown maiden winner Latin Fever (Ire) (Equiano {Fr}) has been purchased to continue her career in the United States in a deal brokered by Avenue Bloodstock's Mark McStay and Philip Shelton of Medallion Racing. The juvenile filly, who was bred by Donal Boylan and bought as a yearling by Adam Potts and Danny Donovan for €27,000, won on debut at odds of 80/1. Commenting on the purchase, McStay said, "Latin Fever couldn't have been more visually impressive on debut and I'm delighted that we've secured her...

The recent Dee S. winner Capulet will leave Ballydoyle to continue his career in Hong Kong.  The son of Justify has been purchased privately by prominent owner Peter Lau, who has enjoyed phenomenal success with the globetrotting eight-time Group 1 winner Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). It is believed that Capulet will join the stable of Romantic Warrior's trainer Danny Shum. The agreement to purchase the colt was brokered by Newmarket-based Mark McStay of Avenue Bloodstock in partnership with Hong Kong agent Eric Sze, who operates as Standard Bloodstock.  Confirming...

Group 3 winner Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road) has been purchased by Refai Alghuraban, a leading owner in Kuwait. The deal was brokered by Avenue Bloodstock's Mark McStay. Successful in the G3 Killavullan S. in 2022 for the Coolmore partners and trainer Aidan O'Brien, the bay was second in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas to Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) last May. He kick-started his 4-year-old campaign in his 10th lifetime start with a close runner-up effort in the $500,000 Listed Irish Marketing Cup in Doha, Qatar, in February. The son of...