Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith paid 900,000gns for the sale-topper 13 year old Ventura (Ire) (Spectrum {Ire}), offered as one of Makfi (GB)’s first book of mares this year. The mare, owned by the Al-Thani family’s Qatar Bloodstock, was bought for 260,000gns at Tattersalls last year, but her daughter Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire} ) subsequently won this year’s G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest. M.V. Magnier outbid first Grant Pritchard-Gordon and finally Liam Norris for the mare.
“She’s for Derrick and Michael and they wanted her to send to Pour Moi (Ire) [Montjeu {Ire}] next year,” confirmed Magnier.
Fortune Denied Chance To Ride Again
While there has been widespread public support for the flamboyant sportsman, the door has been shut in terms of his options via the SA racing regulator channels