By Daithi Harvey
The second session of the Goffs February Sale was devoted to short yearlings and the current polarised nature of the European bloodstock market was evident at times during the day when trade was quite tough for many lots that were not deemed to possess obvious commercial appeal. Despite these challenging facets of the market, the right types were still changing hands for good money and it was a son of the all-conquering Dark Angel (Ire) who topped proceedings when selling to Daniel Creighton for €140,000. This top price, which smashed last year's equivalent of €86,000, helped push the majority of the KPI's in the right direction. A total of 110 of the 182 offered yearlings found new homes for a slightly reduced clearance rate of 60% which highlights the selective nature of the market. However, the strength at the top end resulted in a 15% increase in the aggregate to €1,624,600 which in turn lead to a 23% rise in average to €14,769 and a 45% increase in the median to €8,000.
Offered by The Premier Consignment as lot 397, the sale topper has a lot going for him on pedigree, being a son of the stakes winning mare Mary Boleyn (Ire) (King's Best) who has already produced a stakes performer in the shape of her daughter Clotilde (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). A return to the sales ring later this year is not a given for the colt, with Daniel Creighton commenting, “He is for an existing client and we will keep our options open with him. He could be resold or he could be kept to race.”
“It's a lot of money but he's a proper, handsome horse with a proper commercial pedigree,” said Jamie Railton after he signed the docket for the next most expensive yearling, lot 372. This speedily bred son of Ballylinch Stud stallion Make Believe (GB) was consigned by Collegelands Stud.
Having successfully bid €115,000, Railton added, “We'll take him home and syndicate him and hopefully he'll be back somewhere later in the year. I have a lot of faith in the sire and this yearling is a good advert for him. I think it's a strong market for the right types and you have to a give the money for nice horses.”
The May born colt is a half-brother to Hamza (Ire) (Amadeus Wolf {GB}) who was a very smart group winning sprinter for Kevin Ryan a few years back and further speed in the pedigree is represented by the likes of Dandy Man (Ire) (Mozart {Ire}) and Anthem Alexander (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}).
Railton made another splash in the closing stages of the sale when adding lot 409 to his team for syndication. The son of Bated Breath (GB) was the third yearling of the day to make six figures when knocked down for €105,000 and was offered by Norelands Stud on behalf of the Niarchos Family.
The same breeder/vendor combination had earlier enjoyed a successful sale with a daughter of the ever popular Kodiac (GB), when lot 291 sold to Yeomanstown Stud for €60,000. The filly is out of Dolphina, who is by the great broodmare sire Kingmambo and who has a perfect breeding record to date, with both of her offspring to reach the track doing so successfully. Bought for resale in the autumn, the filly could well enjoy a pedigree update before then, as her half-brother Al Jellaby (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) was an impressive winner of a Salisbury maiden on his third start for Clive Cox last September and could prove a smart 3-year-old this year.
Norelands Stud manager Matt Gilsenan wasn't surprised the filly sold well and commented, “We're delighted with the price. She is a good walking filly and we are glad she has gone to a good home in Yeomanstown Stud who I believe will re-offer her for sale. She was a pleasure to prep and I wish the O'Callaghans the best of luck with her.”
Yeomanstown struck again later in the day when adding a Showcasing (GB) filly (lot 358) to their haul for €44,000. The filly, offered by Ballincurrig House Stud is the first produce of Just Silca (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) who was purchased carrying the filly for 60,000gns.
David Myerscough of Baroda & Colbinstown was active as both a vendor and purchaser throughout the day and he acquired lot 299 from Ballylinch Stud. The colt, by the farm's Make Believe (GB), is a half-brother to the Group 1 placed and G2 Richmond S. winner Always Hopeful (GB) (Mind Games {GB}) and he came with a price-tag of €42,000.
“I am a fan of the sire and have tried hard to buy one. He is a nice colt out of a proven mare and it is quite a current family,” Myerscough said.
That price was matched soon after when Glencoole Stud's Paul McCarthy purchased lot 306 from Moyglare Stud. The chestnut colt is by Mastercraftsman (Ire) out of the stakes performing and stakes producing mare Firey Red (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). It would be no surprise to see the good walking colt back in the Orby Sale at Goffs in September and it was that walk that made McCarthy determined to bring him home.
“He's a great mover and for a May foal he has plenty of size,” McCarthy said. “He comes from a great farm and I really like Pivotal as a broodmare sire so let's hope he's lucky.”
The success of the progeny of Dabirsim (Fr) both on the racetrack and in the sale ring has been well documented the last six months and with only one yearling representing the Haras de Grandcamp stallion in the sale, lot 387 was always going to attract attention. It was Cork-based trainer John Joseph Murphy who purchased the Ballintry Stud offered colt for €43,000 with a view to reselling later this year.
Noel Hayes has enjoyed some good results on the track in recent years with the likes of stakes winners Letters Of Note (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) and Now Or Never (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}) (since renamed Now Or Later and a Group 2 winner in Australia last year) and he is hoping his luck and acumen extends to the sales ring as he purchased lot 249 for resale later this year. The grey son of Guitafan (Ire), offered by Baroda & Colbinstown, cost Hayes €38,000.
The BetBright executive commented, “He is a great physical with a big, loose walk. The sire is quite popular and he is out of a winning Galileo (Ire) mare who is a proven producer, so he ticks a lot of boxes. I'm not sure what sale he will be aimed at, I will make that decision in May. I have three other yearlings to juggle and decide where they go so I will wait and see. I'd rather be a big fish in a small pond so I won't be over facing any of them wherever they may go.”
Hayes is hopeful of having another black-type race filly on his hands this year in the Patrick Prendergast trained Sunday Smart (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}). The 3-year-old broke her maiden on soft ground at Limerick last October and Hayes is looking forward to seeing her race on a sounder surface later this year.
“Patrick really likes her and thinks she's a stakes filly,” he said. “She has only run so far on testing ground and despite winning on it we think she will be better on top of the ground.”
Towards the end of play, a chance to buy a half-brother to a recent Classic winner presented itself when lot 399 entered the ring and this sibling to G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Jet Setting (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}), by Cappella Sansevero (GB), went the way of Federico Barberini for €45,000.
The third and final session on Thursday will see just under 200 fillies and mares come under the hammer with the action again commencing at 10 a.m local time. For the complete results, go to www.goffs.com.
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