Willie Mullins restocks with €765,000 splurge at French sale

Willie Mullins was adding to his stock of thoroughbreds this week at the Arqana Summer sale in France.

Mullins paid €765,000 for just three horses as he tried to find the next star ahead of the new national hunt season.

The Closutton maestro has enjoyed huge success with his French purchases over the years, including two-time Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs and reigning Champion hurdler State Man.

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And the 67-year-old was back on French soil this week to try to find the next equine superstar.

Mullins’ biggest purchase was €315,000 for Charlus, a three-year-old by Churchill who has won three of his four races on the flat for Jean-Claude Rouget.

Pierre Boulard, the man who Mullins trusts to source much of his French talent, said: “You’ve got Sholokhov in there for the jumping side [under the third dam] and hopefully he can be a dual-purpose horse for Willie, starting over hurdles,” Boulard said.

“The Churchills do jump, while he could go back on the Flat for those big staying prizes. He wasn’t cheap but you have to fight for them.”

Mullins and his bloodstock agent Harold Kirk went to €250,000 for Karma D’Airy, who finished second at Auteuil last week.

“We absolutely love her,” said Boulard. “Willie has had a lot of success with Authorized, especially fillies, and she’s really good looking.

“She’s brand new, has run only twice and was second at Auteuil, showing she could go chasing in time. We expected she would make that.”

Mullins completed his trio of purchases with Sonny Bill, a €200,000 purchase, who was second in a listed race at Auteuil last month.

Although the Carlow handler flashed the clash at the Arqana sale, many of his purchases happen privately and away from the public eye.

Next season, he looks set to try to repeat his remarkable feat of winning both the Irish and the British trainers’ championships.

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