Local teenager on right track after making almost €70k profit on horse sale

A local teenager got his fledgling career as a horse trader off to a flying start when a foal he bought for €7,000 went for more than €70,000 at a recent sale in England.

Ruairi Kilmartin (15), whose father Dermot also works in the industry, purchased the Dark Angel foal last November at the Goffs November Foal Sale. Less than a year later, Ruairi’s name was on everyone’s lips on the opening day of the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale in Newmarket when the filly sold for a whopping 70,000 guineas (€73,500).

Interviewed afterwards, Ruairi, who is a transition year student at Coláiste Mhuire, described the sale as “the stuff of dreams”.

“It is unbelievable. When I bought her as foal, I thought I might be able to double my money, I never thought she would make that today, I am over the moon,” he said.

Ruairi said that travelling to Tattersalls, he tried to keep his expectations realistic.

“Our expectations were high, but they were low at the same time – you never know in this game what is going to happen. To be honest, it was emotional watching her sell, and I am just so happy.

“I want to thank buyer Paul Corrigan and the underbidder Roger O’Callaghan – without Roger it wouldn’t have happened, we got lucky.”

Ruairi’s plans to be buy a few more foals with the money, but he is keeping his options open when it comes to his career plans. “My dad always says stick to the books. We’ll see how it goes. I don’t know how it will go after today. I am very happy.”