Cheltenham Star Laurina Leads The Way For €290,000 At Tattersalls Ireland
Laurina, the Fairyhouse Mares’ Novice Hurdle (Gr 1) and Cheltenham Festival winner, is set for a date with Jet Away after selling to Douglas Taylor for €290,000 at Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale on Monday night.
The seven-year-old daughter of Spanish Moon, consigned by Ballincurrig House Stud, was a wildcard entry to the sale last week after her retirement from racing was announced, and her inclusion added extra spice to a mares’ section that was already brimming with exciting prospects.
Taylor owns the up-and-coming son of Cape Cross in partnership with Eoin Banville, who stands Jet Away at Arctic Tack Stud, and he was delighted to get Laurina although he was forced to go a little higher than he had anticipated.
“Mares like her are hard to come by, I was one of the underbidders on Apple’s Jade last week but there were two bigger guys in there,” said the happy buyer.
“Laurina is a Grade One winner and was fourth in a Champion Hurdle so she was a top-class performer and it’s difficult to buy mares like her. I had to go a bit deeper to get her than I thought I would but I’m delighted to buy her and looking forward to sending her to Jet Away in the spring.”
Jet Away, who is from the family of the brilliant sire Dansili, as well as Group One winners and sires Champs Elysees and Cacique, had his first crop of four-year-olds this year and they are already creating a buzz around the Group Three winner’s daughter Brandy Love.
She was sold for £200,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale this year by Colin Bowe after a winning point-to-point debut, made an equally positive impression on her track debut winning her bumper across the road from the sales complex on Saturday for Willie and Patrick Mullins.
Out of a Saddler’s Hall mare, she is bred on a similar cross to the foal Taylor is hoping to breed out of Laurina. Laurina’s purchase price made her the most expensive National Hunt mare sold by Tattersalls Ireland and one of three mares to sell for six figures on Monday evening, making her the brightest star on top of the Fairyhouse Christmas tree.
