Maiden point-to-point winner Spark To A Flame was sold for £42,000 when coming under the hammer at Goffs UK’s September Sale yesterday.
The five-year-old daughter of Malinas (pictured above) was trained by Pembrokeshire's Robert Luke to win her sole start at Hereford in April under rider Zac Baker. Yesterday she was knocked down to a past-and-present jockey combination involving Darren O'Dwyer and Jeremiah McGrath.
The last-named was no stranger to the mare's family, for he is associated with Nicky Henderson's stable where a half-brother, four-year-old Giants Table, is in training following an Irish point-to-point win in the spring.
O'Dwyer said: "She's a good-looking mare who I've bought for a client who will probably send her to trainer Henry Oliver."
The Phil Rowley-trained nine-year-old Knight Bachelor, who won a mixed open race at Brampton Bryan last season in the colours of Point-to-Point Authority chairman Andrew Merriam, was also sent through the ring yesterday. He made £10,000 to a bid from Merriam's fellow PPA board member Alan Hill, who said: "I've bought him for the Cranfield family, for Henrietta Cranfield to ride in races this coming season. Henrietta rode her first winner earlier this year and her family will have four horses with me next season.
"I had a good chat with Phil about the horse and he said he was sound and would suit the job we've got in mind."
With a bid of £6,200 Hill also secured Mahlers Star, the winner of a handicap chase at Uttoxeter for trainer Milton Bradley in July. The new recruit will carry the colours of John Simpson, a current owner in Hill's yard.
On a day when turnover of just over £2m was achieved the top price of £75,000 was given for the five-year-old gelding Now Look At Me, who was offered as part of a reduction in horses by owners Paul and Clare Rooney. Tom George, who trained the gelding for the Rooneys and won two bumpers and a maiden hurdle, bought the horse and said he was seeking a new owner.