Fast Company Colt Heads Goffs' Opener

Lot 154, a colt by Fast Company | Goffs

On a day when fewer than half the foals offered found a willing buyer, a son of Classic sire Fast Company (Ire) led the way at Goffs, selling for €42,000 to Francis Killen.

The November Foal Sale traditionally starts in a relatively gentle fashion and builds to a crescendo on Thursday, but an increase in just over 200 foals offered last year to 1203 catalogued, a number which has been upheld in 2016, has naturally allowed buyers to be more selective.

A clearance rate of 47% was recorded for 82 foals sold from the 174 offered during the first session. With 53 more foals sold on the corresponding day last year, the aggregate this year took a hit and fell by 41% to €625,950, but the average price of €7,634 was virtually on a par with last year while the median of €5,500 rose by 10%.

The first-day leader (lot 154) is the third foal of the Aga Khan-bred Dundalk maiden winner Zalanga (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) who was sold at Goffs' November sale of 2014 for €50,000 and whose first foal, the juvenile Zelaniya (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), recently won over a mile at Gowran Park for Dermot Weld. He was consigned by Maurice Burns' Rathasker Stud which stood Fast Company in his first five stud seasons, during which time the son of Danehill Dancer (Ire) sired this year's G1 Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Jet Setting (Ire), before he was relocated to Overbury Stud in the UK. Fast Company has returned to Ireland for the 2017 season and will stand at Darley's Kildangan Stud for €7,000. The buyer has struck lucky with Fast Company in the past, having bred his first-crop G2 Norfolk S. winner Baitha Alga (Ire).

A Dandy Man (Ire) colt (lot 132) out of the twice-raced Star Bonita (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) also proved popular, selling to Willie Browne of the Grangebarry Partnership from Hill Head's consignment for €38,000. Bred by Eithne Hamilton, the colt's third dam Dabilya (GB) (Vayrann {GB}) is an unraced half-sister to the illustrious duo of Darshaan (GB) and Darara (Ire).

Dandy Man also provided the top filly of the session, lot 191, the selection of the Tally-Ho Stud team for €31,000. Consigned by Darnstown Stud, the half-sister to the Listed-placed Classy Lassy (Ire) was bred by Denis McCarthy.

Among the many stallions with their first foals on offer, Mickley Stud's Heeraat (Ire) made the biggest impression on the first day with two of his weanlings featuring within the top seven sold. Lot 117, offered by Mickley, was bought by Paula Flannery for €17,000, while lot 54, consigned by Nicola Kent, sold for €16,500 to Rockview Stables.

The sale continues today at 10am.

Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.

Copy Article Link

X

Never miss another story from the TDN

Click Here to sign up for a free subscription.