The yard of Chantilly trainer Nicolas Clément has been an extremely happy hunting ground for Willie Mullins and his team, with no less than four Group horses having been sourced from there in recent years. It started with the filly LIMINI, a €100,000 purchase at the 2014 Arc Sale who became a top class hurdler, and continued with the likes of MERI DEVIE, MELON and LAW GIRL, all fruitful buys for the master of Closutton.

The three-year-old gelding STAKING will be hoping to follow in their hoofsteps after falling to Harold Kirk for €140,000. The son of Stormy River has only had four starts to date, culminating with a victory over a mile at ParisLongchamp on June 28, which prompted his addition to the Summer Sale catalogue as a Wild Card entry.

We have had a very successful association with Nicolas, smiled Harold Kirk, and he recommanded this horse warmly. Although he has only run over a mile to ten furlongs, his dam stayed a mile and a half and he was always finishing strongly in his races so there is every chance that he will stay the trip.

©ZuzannaLupa