A former top jump jockey has berated himself for breaking down in tears after selling one of his boss’s yearlings for a whopping price.
Robert ‘Choc’ Thornton rode more than 1,100 winners and his 16 victories at the included the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Stayers’ Hurdle.
He retired in 2020 to manage Paul Dunkley’s Appletree Stud in Gloucestershire and is also behind .
Appletree Stud has a small band of broodmares from which horses are bred mostly for the yearling market.
It realised the highest price ever for one of its lots when a Too Darn Hot filly out of a Galileo mare fetched 600,000gns to become the joint top lot on the second day of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
She was knocked down to agent Alex Elliott on behalf of Al Shaqab and Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing.
The surprise success of the sale moved Thornton so much that he was in tears when interviewed afterwards.
"This is more about the boss and girls," said Thornton, who kept breaking off to compose himself. "I thought she’d always make 150,000, maybe 200,000 if we were on a good day. That was shocking.
"This is huge, it makes it all worthwhile. It will give Paul confidence. He’s put an awful lot of money in and possibly not got so much back for what he’s put in.
He added: “This filly always moved well and looked the part, she has taken everything so well. It is brilliant. The mare had another filly by the sire this year, and she is arguably stronger at the same stage, she will be one we keep!"
Thornton, an unmistakable figure with his long curly blonde hair and thick beard, went on to apologise.
“I’m a mess, I’m sorry. I’ve never felt anything like that. I never cried on the back of a racehorse, put it that way. Sorry for being pathetic.”
After watching himself back on X, Thornton posted: “Pull yourself together you big hairy mess Thank you and and everyone who supported AppleTree’s filly for a day we will never forget.”
on new recruits at Tattersalls since the sales season began last week.
He said of the Appletree filly, "She has been split between Al Shaqab and Amo, a trainer yet to be decided, but we have a team of trainers who we are very happy with and she will go to one of those.
"Both sides gave her top marks, she is by Too Darn Hot, who is a global stallion now, and she is out of a Galileo mare. She was always going to cost a lot of money."
You may also like
CRPF to Take Over VIP Security as Govt Orders Withdrawal of NSG Commandos
Brits are obsessed with Italians - and want to live like them too
Misbehaviour with woman scribe case: Suresh Gopi moves bail plea in Kerala court
Meghan Markle's influence on Prince Harry laid bare after expert spots clue at outing
Attractive three bedroom home on auction for bargain price of £200K - but there's a huge problem
Sajid inspires Pakistan turnaround after Duckett hundred
Motorists slam 19-mile diverted traffic route - for just 550 yards of roadworks
Youth got opportunities due to PM Modi's initiatives: VP Dhankhar
Anjum Chopra Backs Harmanpreet As India's Best Long-term Captain Choice
'My Son Has Come Back': Actor Darshan Case Victim Renukaswamy's Father After Birth Of Grandson
Towns are revealed where home buyers can save up to £50,000 buying a property
Hot mess: Shraddha Kapoor paired opposite Ranbir Kapoor in Dhoom 4: Report
Rs 900 crore in Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2 account already: Reports
I'm an ex-Archbishop of Canterbury and this is why I changed my mind on assisted dying
Kyle Walker's web of lies that saw marriage crumble - love children and 'secret double life'
Mum shares simple 'porch rule' for naming babies to avoid future regrets
Congress Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala accuses Mahayuti govt of "misleading" people
Ted Cruz bets Texas re-election on transgeder issues
Bangladesh Drop Khaled Ahmed For First Test Against SA; Shakib To Play Final Test Series
Emmerdale Liam's new love interest on soap 'sealed' - and it's not Chas or Ella