Working in partnership with Pierre Boulard, Kirk's purchases reflected the increasing focus of the Mullins operation on chasing the big staying prizes on the Flat, with several purchases designed to fit the brief of dual-purpose horses.
The leading example was the 95-rated Chelkar, previously trained by Jean-Claude Rouget for the Aga Khan and by Azamour out of a full sister to Arc runner-up Cherry Mix.
"We think he can progress next year on the Flat," said Kirk, who went to €160,000 for Chelkar, who won twice in four starts for Rouget. "We have been lucky with Aga Khans and he is out of a Linamix mare so he ought to jump. But he can make a good stayer on the Flat first. He has a good rating and he is a big, scopey horse. He can do two jobs but he has been bought as a potential Melbourne Cup horse one day."
Kirk's faith in Linamix as a sire of broodmares for future jumping prospects was also in evidence when he gave €115,000 for Makitorix, a winning Makfi colt from trainer Yan Durepaire.
Kirk said: "Both Dubawi [sire of Makfi] and Linamix get jumping horses. I have bought him as a dual purpose horse to go over jumps and as a stayer on the Flat. It's a fantastic pedigree and hopefully he will improve. I bought a horse off the trainer before called Alonso who was very good though unlucky."
Two further purchases had more of a jumping stamp to them, both offered by trainer Laurent Viel.
Kirk paid €130,000 for Didero Vallis, a three-year-old son of Poliglote who has been placed in all four starts including one of the best AQPS Bumpers in France, the Group 3 Prix de l'Avenir at Nantes.
"We have been very lucky with Laurent Viel and he will hopefully make a lovely staying jumper in time," said Kirk of Didero Vallis, who is closely related to last year's €355,000 sale-topper, Chirico Vallis.
The same price secured Antey, a winning three-year-old son of Lord Of England, who will go jumping next season with Mullins.
