Irish Oaks winner Chicquita has set a record for a horse sold at auction in Ireland, fetching E6 million ($A8.84 million) at a dispersal sale of Australian Paul Makin’s bloodstock.
The Hong Kong-based Makin, who first experienced European racing when his horse Starcraft won Group One races in England and France in 2005, put 25 lots up at the unreserved mixed sale.
Bidding on the filly started at E3 million and was soon knocked down for the record price to agent Peter Doyle for an undisclosed client.
However, Doyle and his son Ross, have been buying bloodstock this year for Qatar’s Sheikh Joann al Thani.
Doyle has had a long association with trainer Richard Hannon who will hand over the reins to his son Richard jnr in the new year.
By Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Montjeu, Chicquita cost Makin E600,000 at France’s premier yearling sale in August 2011.