Impressive bumper winner Golantilla sold for €375,000
The five-year-old was trained by Sean O’Brien at Kilworth for his mother, Eileen, but will now move to Tony Martin.
Successful in his only point-to-point at Avaune, Dungourney, Golantilla went off a well-backed 7-4 favourite at Cork and exploded clear in the straight to score by 13 lengths.
Speaking yesterday afternoon, O’Brien confirmed that a deal had been done with Connell, a stockbroker and former amateur rider, who is now one of the major owners of National Hunt horses in this country.
Said O’Brien: “We got what we asked for from Barry and had to let the horse go at that price.
“Everything has a value and we had to sell. We have a lot of young stock around the farm here and the next generation has to be paid for.
“My mother deserves this and I am delighted for her. The deal is subject to the horse passing the vet in the morning, but I don’t see any reason why that won’t happen.
“He’s very sound and came out of Cork one hundred per cent. Tony rang me straight after the race on Saturday and just wanted him. My hope is that he will win a Gold Cup for Barry.”
Golantilla went to Brightwells sale at Cheltenham last month, but was led out unsold at £190,000.
It was on the back of just the single win in a point-to-point, but so impressive was he in the bumper that inevitably it was going to take more than that to buy him.
Among Connell’s best-known horses at the moment are Minsk, Mount Benbulben, Western Leader and Mumbo Jumbo.
Golantilla is currently around a 12-1 shot for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, which sees him near the top of the market.
