The annual Goffs London Sale for tried racehorses ahead of the Royal Ascot meeting produced fireworks overnight with McKeever B/S Gai Waterhouse A Bott & Go Bloodstock combing to purchase Epsom Derby runner Hoo Ya Mal for a whopping £1.2million.
Previously trained by Andrew Balding, the Territories colt is an acceptor for the Group II King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot on Friday.
Hoo Ya Mal has never missed a place in six starts, winning once and being stakes-placed four times.
He has a pedigree featuring a good mix of stamina and speed being by Invincible Spirit’s Territories from Montjeu mare Sensationally, a daughter of Group I Juddmonte International winner One So Wonderful.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have had success through purchasing at this sale previously securing their 2015 Group I BRC Doomben Cup winner Pornichet in London for £425,000 in 2014.
Hoo Ya Mal will race in Australia for a syndicate headed by Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock and will target all the big staying races.
Goffs group chief executive Henry Beeby was well satisfied with the results.
“I’m delighted to be back as a huge amount of work has gone into bringing the sale back to Kensington Palace Gardens. The team were extremely proactive in following so many horses and we’ve been very well supported by a number of vendors,” Beebe said.
"To have the horse who finished second in the Derby was a once-in-a-lifetime event and I think it was fitting that he ended up making such an impressive price to the legend that is Gai Waterhouse, who opened with a very bold bid.
"I’m just delighted and I’m very grateful to our partners for making it happen with us. It’s a wonderful sale, it’s a great start to the week and this was a wonderful renewal.”