Derby Sale Graduates Dominate Four-Year-Old Maidens

For the second weekend in succession, it was a case of Derby Sale domination in four-year-old maidens, with graduates from Ireland’s Premier Store Sale claiming the majority share of winners.

Denis Murphy’s saddled his first four-year-old winner this year with NEWGROVE showing a sharp turn out of foot and coming home 13 lengths clear of his rivals at Tyrella.

The son of Doyen was purchased from Michael Hickey’s Sunnyhill Stud last June, and is out of a half-sister to the Grade 1 winner Kalashnikov, while his page also includes the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kicking King.

GOLD STEEL made a winning debut at Belclare in the colours of Ronnie Bartlett. He was one of 38 six figure lots at the 2025 Derby Sale, and it was Ian Ferguson that secured him from Fenloe House on behalf of his owner.

It was three years ago that Turners’ Novices’ Chase contender Romeo Coolio won the four-year-old maiden at Belclare, and this year’s renewal saw Gold Steel delivered to lead after the jumping the final obstacle and had two lengths to spare at the line.

The four-year-old mares maiden at Lingstown saw Cormac Doyle’s PALINCA produce a performance of the highest calibre, with the daughter of Goliath Du Berlais travelling with ease throughout and extending away for a ten length success.

She was one of 27 horses bought by leading Derby Sale purchaser Monbeg Stables last June, when sold by Johnny Collins’ Brown Island Stables.

Her trainer Cormac Doyle said afterwards: “She is a smart mare by a good sire and has a strong pedigree. We’ve thought the world of her all year, and everything seems to come so easy to her.”

Her half-brother is named Shokdor, and he impressed many onlookers last spring when winning a Listed four-year-old chase at Auteuil for trainer Gabriel Leenders.

Cormac Doyle doubled his Lingstown tally with another four-year-old by Goliath Du Berlais named MONSTER TRUCK.

He was a €90,000 purchase from Timmy Hillman’s Castledillon Stud, and after racing prominently throughout, he was sent about his business on the approach to the final fence.

Trainer Doyle added: “Monster Truck has loads of size and scope, and has a big engine. He is every bit as good as Mighty Park who we also purchased at the Derby Sale.”

He is a half-brother to a dual winner over hurdles named Le Yacht, while his dam is out a mare named Shining Sea who was a stakes performer in France, and placed twice at Listed level.

Elsewhere at the weekend, trainer Garrett Murphy saddled his second four-year-old winner this season as TRUE TO MY WORD, by Poet’s Word and a half-sister to Grade 2 placed Tiktok Casey won at Castlelands. She was sold by Paul Giles’ Moyfinn Stud to Cudgley Stables in July 2025.

Murphy also purchased Mares’ Chase contender Only By Night under his Cudgley Stables banner in July 2021, and he’ll be hoping True To My Word can scale similar heights to the dual Grade 1 runner-up.

Entries for the 2026 Derby Sale are currently being taken. Ireland’s Premier Store Sale year after year attracts National Hunt racing’s leading owners, trainers and agents, and consistently produces Grade 1 winners season after season.