'Half-million' Moshammer wins for McAuley

Moshammer was the latest castoff purchase to win for owner/trainer James McAuley today, as the 500,000 guineas yearling landed the DundalkStadium.com Maiden at the Co Louth venue.

The son of Shamardal was bought by Shadwell Estates for the eye-watering sum as a yearling, at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in October 2019, but was unraced when bought by trainer Denis Hogan for just 3,000 guineas at another Tattersalls Sale in July 2021.

Moshammer subsequently joined McAuley and today scored on his fourth attempt, when easily justifying 6/5 favourism under jockey Donagh O'Connor.

Moshammer is the latest successful castoff to score for allies Hogan and McAuley, with McAuley purchasing the Hogan-trained Sceptical for just £2,800 before finishing second in the 2020 July Cup, weeks before suffering a fatal injury.

Following Moshammer's win, owner/trainer McAuley said “I don’t think Shadwell gave him much of a chance as he didn’t know anything when he came to us. He was probably a bit of a boyo and we got him for three grand!

“He was a clean page when we got him and it’s worked out well.”

McAuley, who raced 41 of 42 horses in his own name in 2021, added “we were disappointed he got beat the last day but I’d say that filly (No Nay Alexander) is better than she showed on Wednesday and he was just in front too long the last day.

“He seems to handle the surface well and we’ll find something for him.”

Quotes from Alan Magee