Caldwell Potter became the most expensive National Hunt horse ever sold at public auction on Monday after fetching €740,000 at Andy and Gemma Brown's Tattersalls Ireland dispersal at Fairyhouse.
The couple, who ran their horses under the Caldwell Construction banner, shocked the racing world late last month when announcing they were to sell their entire string.
Caldwell Potter was the star attraction among 29 lots to go under the hammer, having already shown top-level form over obstacles for Gordon Elliott to go with his excellent pedigree.
The six-year-old son of Martaline is not only a full-brother to Mighty Potter, who won four Grade Ones for Elliott and the Browns before suffering a fatal injury last year, but his dam Matnie has also produced three other high-class performers in French Dynamite, Indiana Jones and Brighterdaysahead.
Caldwell Potter has so far lived up to his breeding, winning three times from seven starts in all and two of his first three outings over hurdles, including a Grade One success on his most recent appearance in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting.
Following a slow start the bidding eventually got under way at €100,000 before ultimately ending up in a tense straight shootout between two parties.
The packed sales ring fell silent after the auctioneer confirmed a €700,000 bid, and while a counter offer of €720,000 was made, the hammer eventually went down at €740,000, with Highflyer bloodstock agent Anthony Bromley immediately announced as the successful bidder.
Caldwell Potter (6-1) thrives in the testing conditions in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown, landing the Grade One contest for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy. pic.twitter.com/FSGEWYv6GR
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 27, 2023
Caldwell Potter will go into training with Paul Nicholls for a partnership featuring Ged Mason, John Hales, Peter Done and Alex Ferguson.
Caldwell Potter's fee eclipses the previous record for a jumps horse sold at auction in Interconnected, who was bought by Darren Yates at Doncaster in 2019 for £620,000. A point-to point winner, Interconnected failed to win any of his five starts on the racecourse.
In total the 29 lots sold for a total of €5,290,000, with the Browns' primary trainer Elliott managing to keep hold of the second-, third- and fourth-highest lots.
Mags O’Toole brought the hammer down at €620,000 on behalf of Robcour for one-time Triumph Hurdle runner-up Fil Dor, while dual-purpose performer Pied Piper was snapped up for €570,000 by Windgates Stud.
The final horse to command over half a million was impressive Down Royal winner Staffordshire Knot who returns to Cullentra House after Eddie O’Leary went to €510,000 for the six-year-old.
Elliott said: "I was disappointed to lose the big horse, but that’s the way it is – hopefully he will be lucky for the new owners. Pied Piper is coming back and we have got all the ones we wanted apart from Caldwell Potter.
"Staffordshire Knot is an exciting six-year-old and we are delighted he is coming back to us. The horses all looked great – we only had a week’s notice for this sale and it is a credit to the staff.
"We can get back to concentrating on the day job now."
