The 4-year-old gelding Flemenshill (Ire) (Flemensfirth) became the most expensive point-to-pointer ever sold at auction when realising £480,000 from agent Tom Malone and trainer Colin Tizzard at Tattersalls Ireland's Cheltenham January Sale on Thursday. Flemenshill had won his debut on Feb. 5 by four lengths.
“We are delighted to have got him,” said Malone of lot 20. “He is a big, raw horse that was extremely impressive on his debut and ticked every box. It was very hard not to like him. He's been bought for Alan and Ann Potts.”
Also drawing plenty of interest at the sale was 5-year-old gelding On The Blindside (Ire) (Stowaway {GB}) (lot 49). Also a first-out winner in January, he was picked up by Tessa Greatrex of Highflyer Bloodstock for £205,000.
Taking third-top billing was Punchestown maiden winner Bitingthebullet (Ire) (Gold Well {GB}) (lot 36), who was bought by trainer Evan Williams for £170,000.
Final figures for the sale showed great improvement from last year. The aggregate was up 110% to £2,562,000, while the average climbed 46% to £77,636, and the median was up 25% to £50,000. The clearance rate was 79%.
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