News: 28 November 2011

Better Buy Boardsmill

Boardsmill Sales Graduates are enjoying a purple patch on both sides of the Irish Sea at the moment. Not surprisingly, most of these graduates are by Boardsmill Sires and the recent run of success kicked off in October with the successes of Champion Court over fences and Court In Session over hurdles (twice).

Champion Court was offered by Boardsmill for sale as a foal at Tatts November Sale but was retained and sold privately afterwards. Just a few months later at the Tatts Feb Sale ‘06, Court In Session was offered by Boardsmill on behalf of his breeder His Highness Niall Kelly of Bagenalstown Estate! He was purchased by Glenview House Stud for €9,500.

November 9th: Boardsmill’s success continued into November with the impressive debut bumper winner Jigsaw Puzzle, who romped home at Bangor by 7 lengths showing a serious turn of foot in the final furlong. Trained by Warren Greatrex. this son of Presenting was offered for sale at the Derby Sale in 2009 and was purchased by Mark Pitman on behalf of Malcolm Denmark for €30,000.

November 19th at Kirkistown Point to Point, Joseph Mercer was the runaway winner of the 4yo Maiden. This son of Court Cave was offered for sale by Boardsmill at Tatts Feb Sale in 2008 but was led out unsold at €3,500. Breeder Alastair Thompson, who still owns the gelding in partnership with a friend, had his patience rewarded last week as his gelding was the most impressive winner of the day in the fastest time and impressed a lot of astute judges on the day with his round of jumping and the manner in which he quickened at the finish.

November 21st: The Boardsmill bandwagon rolled on into Ludlow on Monday 21st, as Boardsmill bred Court Minstrel was another winner from Court Cave’s 3rd crop. The 4yo was the comfortable winner of the bumper on just his 2nd start. He was purchased from Boardsmill by Evan Williams at last year’s Goffs Land Rover Sale for €20,000 and is the last foal our of the winning Orchestra mare, Theatral, who was also bred by Boardsmill.

November 21st: A double on the day was earlier initiated at Ffos Las where Top of The Range landed a 2m4f Maiden Hurdle on his hurdling debut to compliment his course bumper success in April. Trained by Nicky Henderson for Ffos Las supremo Dai Walters, Top Of The Range was sold by Boardsmill as a foal at Tattersalls Ireland on behalf of his breeder Kevin Foley. He looks a very smart prospect and is bred on the same Presenting/Good Thyne cross as Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition. Here’s hoping! His dam Brenny’s Pearl has a 2yo Kalanisi gelding which realized €22,000 as a foal and Kevin has retained a yearling filly by Kalanisi.

November 23rd: Last but not least, Hold Court completed the recent run of success at Fontwell on his racecourse debut. He is another 4yo son of Court Cave and like Court Minstrel is trained by Evan Williams. He was the facile winner of the Bumper run over 1m6f. Hold Court was sold as a weanling at Tatts Feb Sale in 2008 and was purchased by Susan Traynor for €6,500. He was the last foal bred by the late Jim Ruane from Belper in Tara Co. Meath, who passed away in 2007. Jim only ever kept a couple of mares at one time but he bred some very good horses including black type winners Now Your Talkin (trained by David Nicholson), Beakstown (trained by Paddy Mullins) and Hold Court’s half brother Amalfitano, to name just a few. Jim’s daughter Michaela has retained a full sister to Hold Court, named Mixie the Pixie, who will hopefully fly the flag for the family in years to come.

Let’s hope the Boardsmill graduates recent winning run will continue throughout the coming National Hunt Season!

Click here to view all News articles