Chicquita — the winner of the Irish Oaks — has become the most expensive horse ever sold in Ireland, going for a record €6m (£5,010,685).
The 3-year-old filly by Montjeu, who was sired by the legendary Sadler’s Wells, was bought by bloodstock agents Peter and Ross Doyle — on behalf of an unknown buyer at the sale on Friday (22 November) at Goffs in Co Kildare.
Montjeu is also the sire of Camelot, St Nicholas Abbey, Motivator and Authorized.
Chicquita was the main attraction at the Paulyn Dispersal Sale — where 24 of Australian owner-breeder Paul Makin’s (pictured below) horses were being sold, as he is retiring from the breeding industry. His horses fetched a total of €13m (£10.8m) at the sale.
Among those in attendance were the Queen’s bloodstock manager John Warren, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing’s Harry Herbert, Prince Fahad Al Thani of Qatar, and the Coolmore team headed by John Magnier.
The star attraction was the filly. British buyer James McHale made a opening bid of €3m, but Irish father and son team Peter and Ross Doyle sealed the deal at £6m. There were audible gasps as the price rose — startling the filly — and a round of applause when the hammer came down.
Goffs’ Henry Beeby said: “What a thrill! It is hard to describe what we felt when the beautiful Chicquita realised all her pre-auction hype with a stunning final bid of €6 million.”
The sale breaks a record set in 1984 for a rare Shergar colt, which sold for £3.1m.
Peter Doyle said that if all goes according to plan she might return to training. “She could race on, the possibility is there,” he said.
The horse won the Irish Oaks for trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre, ridden by Johnny Murtagh.
