A colt from the same female line as Sandown Stud’s successful sire Pathfork made history at Friday’s session of the 2025 Tattersalls Ireland Breeze Up Sale.
Records tumbled at Fairyhouse when Yeomanstown Stud’s Night Of Thunder colt became the most expensive breeze-up horse ever sold in Ireland at €580,000.
Anthony Stroud was pushed all the way by Hubie de Burgh and his client who proved persistent adversaries, with a new bidder joining the fray at €400,000 but Stroud’s doggedness defeated De Burgh and his man, despite auctioneer Alistair Pim’s best efforts to cajole one more bid out of them at the side of the ring when Stroud’s offer of €580,000 proved the final straw.

Stroud said: “That was difficult I have to say, and was far more money than I anticipated. He is a very good individual, of course he is by Night Of Thunder, and in time he will be a nice horse. He comes from a farm that produces lots of good horses, and he has a very good way about him. There is no trainer in mind yet.”

The sales topper is out of the stakes winning Kingmambo mare Mambo Light, whose six winners include dual G3 Chairman’s Handicap winner Le Juge and Listed Prix La Sorellina winner Frankel Light.

Mambo Light’s second dam is G1 Phoenix Stakes winner Aviance, the third dam of Irish champion Pathfork.

The son of Distorted Humor has enjoyed another good season in 2024-2025, with Pathfork’s current flagbearers including champion Royal Victory, recent G2 TAB Hawaii Stakes winner Main Defender and G2 TAB Igugu Stakes/G3 Allied Steelrode Yellowwood Handicap winner Olivia’s Way.

Pathfork has three lots on offer at the KZN Yearling Sale.