A TEENAGE horse breeder is going back to school £70,000 richer – after he pulled off a ‘phenomenal’ coup at the sales.
Ruairi Kilmartin was the star of the show at the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sales with his Dark Angel foal.
Ruairi, who works at his dad Dermot’s Kildallan Farm in Westmeath, Ireland, bought the filly for just €7,000 – a shade under £6,000.
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But he was left chuffed to bits after flogging the horse for £73,500 (70,000 guineas), a profit of almost £70,000.
It was some return for the lad, who initially was hoping just to double his money on the original purchase.
Interviewed afterwards, Ruairi said: “I can’t believe it.
“When we bought her as a foal I thought I might be able to double my money, but I never thought she’d make that today. I’m over the moon.
“She’s by Dark Angel and her dam is a half-sister to Mehmas, so that’s all speed, and she’s a strong, bulky filly who looked like she’d be able to run fast.
“Heritage House, her full-sister, was in training with the Fanshawes and I saw she’d been placed in a Listed race.
“I thought if she could get some more black type then the filly would be worth a bit more, and luckily she did.
“It’s the stuff of dreams. Expectations were high but low at the same time, because you never know what’ll happen in this game.
“I’m absolutely delighted and it was pretty emotional.
“I couldn’t believe it, I’m just so happy.
“I want to thank the purchaser, Paul Corrigan, and Roger O’Callaghan, who underbid her, as without Roger this wouldn’t have happened, so I’m grateful to both of them.”
But it’s back to the classroom now for Ruairi – although maybe not for that much longer.
With his bank account certainly looking a lot healthier than his classmates’, he seems destined for a career in the bloodstock world.
He added: “My dad always tells me to stick to the books but we’ll see how it goes – I don’t know how it’ll go after today!”
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