Petit Mouchoir heading to Elliott after Gigginstown sale

Ashley Iveson
September 15, 2020 5:15 pm

High-class nine-year-old to be aimed at Morgiana Hurdle.

Dual Grade One-winning hurdler Petit Mouchoir will move to Gordon Elliott’s yard after being sold as part of the annual Gigginstown House Stud dispersal at the Goffs UK September Sale.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, who announced last year that he was scaling back his racing operations, sent a large team of horses to be sold without reserve at Doncaster on Tuesday.

The undoubted star of the squad was the nine-year-old Petit Mouchoir – the winner of five races since joining Henry de Bromhead, including the 2017 Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

While winless in almost three years, the grey has been running well in defeat in 2020, finishing placed behind then stablemate Honeysuckle in the Irish Champion Hurdle in February, fifth in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and third in the Galway Hurdle last time out.

Petit Mouchoir will return to Ireland after being knocked down to bloodstock agent Mouse O’Ryan and Elliott for GBP 70,000.

“He’s been bought for an existing owner in the yard,” said O’Ryan.

“We (Elliott) actually had him as a four-year-old, when he won the Land Rover Bumper at Punchestown.

“He’s a star and as long as he stays safe and sound, he’ll be able to go for all those big races on a Sunday in Ireland.

“He’ll aimed at the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November.”

Gordon Elliott will receive some new recruits (PA)

O’Ryan also bought the Gigginstown trio of Cuneo (GBP 7,000), Or Jaune De Somoza (GBP 24,000) and Fierami (GBP 11,500), with all three moving to Elliott’s yard from De Bromhead’s.

Reflecting on the day as a whole, O’Ryan added: “I thought it was a very good trade. A lot of people have been giving out, but I think the trade has been brilliant, considering we’re in the middle of a pandemic. All credit to Doncaster for getting it on.”

Another Gigginstown-owned veteran to go under the hammer was De Bromhead’s 11-year-old Sub Lieutenant, who was bought by David Phelan on behalf of an unnamed client for GBP 50,000.

Phelan said: “I’ve bought him for a friend with a view to him running in the Grand Sefton at Aintree and possibly ending up in the Grand National next year.

“He’s been second over the National fences in the Topham and ran a good race last time to finish second in the Galway Blazers.

“Horses like him don’t come along very often – you can sometimes pay GBP 50,000 for a store horse who’ll never make the track.”

It’s the Grade 1 JNwine Champion Chase at @Downroyal on 3 November next for Sub Lieutenant, good winner of the Irish Daily Star Chase at @punchestownrace earlier for @rachaelblackmor and @HenrydeBromhead: pic.twitter.com/7lYqE3aBVt
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 17, 2018

Grade One-winning hurdler and dual chase victor Mengli Khan, meanwhile, was bought out of Elliott’s yard for GBP 65,000 by Highflyer Bloodstock’s David Minton.

An even bigger team of around 50 horses went through the ring for three-time Grand National-winning owner Trevor Hemmings.

The 85-year-old has been one of National Hunt racing’s most successful owners during a 36-year spell in the sport, but confirmed last month he was significantly reducing the number of horses he has in training, citing the impact of coronavirus on his personal life and business interests as a major factor.

The top lot from the Gleadhill House Stud dispersal was Stoney Mountain, who won six races in the Hemmings silks for trainer Henry Daly, including the Grade Three Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Haydock last November.

Leading bloodstock agent Tom Malone went to GBP 140,000 to secure the seven-year-old services, and said: “He’s going into training with Jamie Snowden for a new owner in Anita Gillies and her husband.

Stoney Mountain (centre) is to join Jamie Snowden's yard — Stoney Mountain (centre) is to join Jamie Snowden’s yard (Anthony Devlin/PA)

“He’s a Grade Three-winning hurdler already, so he’s been there and done it. He’s a very likeable horse and should make up into a lovely novice chaser, hopefully.”

He added: “The trade has been extremely strong – I think this industry is nearly shatterproof.

“People are still willing to spend money, they still want to go racing and they’re still looking for Grade One horses, which is great.”

Trainer Donald McCain bought the high-class Mount Mews for GBP 16,000. A Grade Two winner over hurdles for the late Malcolm Jefferson, McCain has trained Mount Mews for Hemmings for the past couple of seasons.

Burbank – a high-class performer for Hemmings and trainer Nicky Henderson – was snapped up by Jimmy Moffatt for GBP 62,000.