‘Honeysuckle silks to be auctioned at Punchestown’ – Hope for substantial earnings from the sale.

Honeysuckle’s owner Kenny Alexander has offered the silks worn by Rachael Blackmore in each of Honeysuckle’s 13 Grade 1 victories, including the 2021 and 2022 Punchestown Champion Hurdles. The money raised from the sale of these silks will go towards the operating costs of the centre. Peter Molony, who purchased Honeysuckle for €110,000 from Jerry Cosgrave and Mark O’Hare and is Alexander’s bloodstock adviser, explained the significance of the silks.

He revealed that they were initially unknown until a video of Henry’s travelling head girl, Zoe Smalley, showcased how she had safeguarded them after Honeysuckle’s first Grade 1 win. These silks were then brought out only for subsequent Grade 1 races, making them incredibly special. The fundraiser was initiated by a visit made by Jones, who has owned horses trained by De Bromhead, to the ChildVision campus in 2023.

This visit led to the Jack de Bromhead Equine Centre concept being established due to the therapeutic impact equines can have on children with complex needs. The response to the call for donations was overwhelmingly kind and generous, leading to the realization of the equine center at ChildVision in Jack’s name. The donations showcased the high regard in which the De Bromheads are held.

The Honeysuckle silks were featured in the Goffs Punchestown Sale, with the record price for a point-to-pointer sold at auction in Ireland being broken at the 2023 sale. Mags O’Toole, representing the Acheson family’s Robcour, outbid Molony for Walter Connors’ Qualimita for a price of €500,000.