The 2019-20 point-to-point season once again brought promising returns for the off-spring of Doyen within the four-year-old division, which contributed to big returns at the sales.
The Sunnyhill Stud resident ended the shortened campaign among the top six grossing stallions for the returns their point-to-point progeny earned in the sales ring.
Those returns were earned in part by a number of notable successes by his promising youngsters, including Cian Hughes’ Yousayitbest.
That son of Doyen, who was purchased for €25,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale, made a winning debut at Moig South in November, when getting the better of Gabynako by two lengths under Jamie Codd.
The performance certainly caught the eye of a number of interested potential buyers, as when he returned to the sales ring, this time at the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale, he was knocked down to Bloodstock Agent Alex Elliott for £220,000 providing his connections with a substantial profit for their efforts.
Bred by Claire Martin, he is now in training with Henry de Bromhead for owners Robcour.
The success of Yousayitbest was one of two notable four-year-old successes during the month of November for Doyen, as he also sired the Tinahely victor Corran Cross.
With Jamie Codd also in the saddle, Denis Murphy’s charge was another son of Doyen to get off the mark at the first time of asking, as he got the better of the more experienced Junior Rattler by two lengths.
Following the success, the €13,000 Goffs Land Rover Sale purchase was sold to Aidan O’Ryan and Gordon Elliott for a profitable return of £130,000.
Of those off-spring of Doyen to appear in the sales ring having come from the point-to-point circuit, it is notable that they were sold for a very taking average price of £113,000, with Paddy Turley’s Hollymount Holly and Donnchadh Doyle’s Press Your Luck among other notable sellers.
These latest batch of successes, particularly in the four-year-old division, follow on other notable four-year-old winners such as Andy Dufresne (£330,000), the now Grade 1 winner Battleoverdoyen (£235,000) and Rapid Escape (£240,000).
The signs are also promising for the autumn, as with the spring campaign having been brought to a premature end before the four-year-old races had the chance to hit full stride, there are a large number of horses to be carried over, with many of the Doyen youngsters that are contained in the yards of top handlers such as Colin Bowe, Colin McKeever, Ellen Doyle, Andrew Slattery and Cormac Doyle among others.
Doyen 2019/20 point-to-point winners:
For Rita
Handler: Louis Archdeacon
Press Your Luck
Handler: Donnchadh Doyle
Yousayitbest
Handler: Cian Hughes
Hollymount Holly
Handler: Paddy Turley
Trump Lady
Handler: Willie Murphy
