NICKY HENDERSON said ‘wow’ after winning a monster £400,000 battle for ‘the best horse in a long time’.
The Seven Barrows handler is the new trainer of four-year-old sales-topper Minella Premier.
Henderson and sales ring expert Jerry McGrath were locked in a mega-money fight that included former Premier League footballer Alan Rogers for the much-hyped point-to-point winner.
They struck the decisive blow, seeing off legendary jumps trainer Jonjo O’Neill and his son AJ, with the massive bid on behalf of new owner Oli Harris at the Goffs Doncaster Spring HIT/PTP Sale.
The loaded businessman already owns the likes of Peaky Boy, Willmount and Kingston Pride with Henderson.
But this new recruit could be the best of the lot coming with a massive reputation from Ireland.
He won his debut point-to-point by 12 lengths and was sent to the sales by John Nallen, the man behind the famed Minella stables responsible for former Gold Cup winner Minella Indo and Grand National hero Minella Times.
Nallen said Minella Premier was ‘the best horse I’ve had in a long time’ before he even raced.
That promise was confirmed in his win and subsequent huge price tag.
A delighted Henderson told Goffs: “Jerry’s known all about him and we followed him into his point-to-point and out of his point-to-point.
“Everybody was impressed by him and he had a lot of ‘wow’ around him.
“He’s come here with that behind him and all the right people followed him into the ring.
“It’s great to see a horse make that sort of money.
“A really good horse with a real vibe around him is entitled to go and do that. He’s beautiful.”
While a delighted Nallen added: “He’s the most impressive point-to-pointer we’ve ever produced.
“He’ll improve stones for Nicky. He’ll be a two-and-a-half-mile horse at Cheltenham next March. He’s the real deal.”
Point-to-point horses continue to sell for huge sums.
A total of 13 lots went for £100,000 or more on the day.
While turnover of £6,813,000 was a record for the first day of this section of the sales.
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