THERE were ‘ominous signs’ for his rivals as Willie Mullins made a scene spending over £1million at a sales proven for Cheltenham Festival winners.
The Closutton boss signed for nine horses in all with top lot among his purchases being a Nathaniel gelding out of former Nicky Henderson mare Floressa.
Mullins has had two Nathaniels before and both have won at the .
Burning Victory won the when miles clear.
While the late Concertista won the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle the same year.
But they were out of Flat mares, whereas this new kid on the block is bred for the jumping game.
Mullins and his sales guru Harold Kirk went to a shade over £150,000 to land lot 138 who, through his dam’s sire Poliglote, can be linked to current Mullins superstar Fact To File as well as former champs Politologue and Don Poli.
The three-year-old gelding was immediately given a future target – the €100,000 Tattersalls Ireland MSL Mercedes-Benz Sales Bumper in December.
The second most expensive purchase made by the all-conquering trainer was £140,000 Messire Corton – a half-brother to Black Corton.
The Paul Nicholls-trained Black Corton put Bryony Frost on the map and was a 14-time winner including the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton.
Of the nine purchases Mullins made only one cost less than £100,000.
Mullins had three Cheltenhan Festival winners from this sale last year alone in the shape of Kopek Des Bordes, Lecky Watson and Final Demand.
It’s clearly been a happy hunting ground for him and he told Tattersalls about why he loves this sale so much.
He said: “I’ve got a nice few horses – it’s been a lucky place for us.
“I like the type of horses that are sold here and they’ve been good to us – so why change?
“The Nathaniel gelding is out of a jumping pedigree – we’ve had two Cheltenham winners out of Nathaniel with a Flat pedigree.
“We’re very happy with the purchases. Goliath Du Berlais is a nice stallion coming through too and we always look at his stock.
“I get Harold to do all the work!
“Sales are not my first love so he’s quite busy for the two or three days before the sales, he whittles them down, we have a look and we make a decision then when they’re in the ring.
“I’m very happy with the value I’m getting here.
“I’ll put saddles on these horses as soon as I can. Why let them go out in a field?
“I believe in getting stuck into them straight away.”;
Kirk added: “We’ve bought more horses here this year than we ever have.
“If you go back years we had Cousin Vinny, Wicklow Brave and Pique Sous from this sale.”;
Mullins has had a busy few days having saddled a winner at Royal Ascot as well.
He was in the Royal Procession on Saturday – hours before Sober claimed the Queen Alexandra under Ryan Moore.
will take aim at a number of the money-spinning Flat races over the summer, possibly with King Charles’ horse Reaching High.
He looked to be travelling incredibly well in the Ascot Stakes but couldn’t find a run through when it mattered most.
He’s also been keeping tabs on the sales, with his most expensive purchase of the season so far being the .
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