Third Time Lucki, who began his racing career on the British point-to-point circuit, proved by far the highest-valued horse at Goffs’ August Sale in Doncaster.
The eight-year-old son of Arcadio was knocked down to Gloucestershire trainer Fergal O’Brien on behalf of the racehorse-owning cousins Lee and Mark Craze for £190,000. Third Time Lucki (pictured in the ring at Doncaster), who has been racing from the yard of Dan Skelton, collecting nine wins and earning just over £183,000 to date, headed a dispersal of horses by Mike and Eileen Newbould.
O’Brien’s partner, Sally Randell, told the Racing Post: “We think this is a lovely, readymade Saturday horse. It’s a rare opportunity to get this type so we’ll try our absolute best to get them [the Crazes] a Festival runner and have some fun along the way.”
Third Time Lucki made his racing debut in January 2019 when trained by Fran Poste and ridden by Tommie O’Brien in a ten-runner maiden point-to-point at Thorpe Lodge. A four-year-old at that time, he finished second to the experienced eight-year-old Thomas Shelby and one place ahead of General Arrow. Thomas Shelby went on to win two handicap chases for trainer Caroline Bailey, while General Arrow has now won ten point-to-points and been placed in seven more for Tom Ellis’s stable.
Tommie O'Brien on Third Time Lucki in 2019 before the then four-year-old made his racing debut at Thorpe Lodge (Ce)
A number of British point-to-point trainers were on the hunt for store horses at Doncaster. Ruth Pennock, whose husband Andrew trains pointers near Bury St Edmunds, invested £4,500 on a four-year-old son of Scorpion, while the same sum enabled Yorkshire-based Fiona Needham to sign for a Sir Percy three-year-old filly.
Fran Poste, who trained top lot Third Time Lucki from her Warwickshire yard early in his career, teamed up with husband Charlie to buy a Passing Glance three-year-old gelding for £16,000, while Shropshire trainer Phil Rowley bought a three-year-old gelding by Telescope for £10,000.