KEIGHLEY TAKES THE MIKI FOR £46,000
Mar 3, 2023 · March Sale
Friday 3rd March, 2023 – The March Sale’s 40th and final lot, MIKIMOTO, topped this afternoon’s auction, with Martin Keighley going to £46,000 to secure the Hereford bumper winner from just five days ago.
The four-year-old Scorpion gelding was entered by owner and trainer Henry Daly as a wildcard to ThoroughBid’s March Sale, which offered free entry for the first time, following his debut success, and will now head to Keighley’s Condicote Stables.
Speaking of his new recruit, Keighley said: “We had the second in the race that Mikimoto won at Hereford and we thought that he was a decent horse, so I was interested when I saw him in the sale. I think £46,000 is a more than fair price and being able to sit here in my office bidding made the whole process very easy. It’s my first time using the platform and it was all very straightforward.
“Although he’s only four, I believe he’s not a backward horse at all and he’ll probably go for another bumper again before going over hurdles next season.”
Lots consigned by Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott both sold well, with the former’s DRAGON ROCK catching the attention of Shark Hanlon for £7,000, while Elliott’s two-time hurdles winner NOBLE BIRTH made £12,500 and will head south-west across Ireland to Eric McNamara’s yard in Rathkeale, Limerick.
There was also strong interest in two stores offered through the online auction house. ELLIE’S WARRIOR, a four-year-old Walk In The Park filly, sold to Ben Clarke for £30,000, and Unnamed (Lot 20), a four-year-old Califet filly out of a half-sister to G1-winning chaser Snoopy Loopy, made £25,000.
James Richardson, CEO of ThoroughBid, said: “We’re really pleased with the sale of Mikimoto, who was last seen winning his bumper just five days ago. Being flexible in the bloodstock sales space is key and I know that both Henry Daly and Martin Keighley are very happy with the deal they’ve got.
“Having two of Jump racing’s biggest yards in the shape of Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott both selling with us is great to see, while it was also good to have Shark Hanlon back buying again.
“Ben Clarke, who purchased Cheltenham Festival-bound Elegant Escape through us last year, looks to have purchased a nice Walk In The Park filly for £30,000, so she could be one to keep an eye on and we’d like to wish him the best of luck once again.”
You can see all the March Sale results here: https://thoroughbid.co.uk/collection/25