By Daithi Harvey
Goffs began its 2018 sale year with the February Sale on Tuesday, and the three-day auction kicked off with a mixture of 2-year-olds, older horses, horses in training and the first wave of over 300 catalogued yearlings. It was from this batch of just over 100 offered yearlings that the session topper emerged when legendary pinhooker, consignor and breeder Timmy Hyde fought off all challengers for a daughter of Kodiac (GB), eventually signing the docket at €130,000.
As one would expect for a sale of this nature, trade took a while to find its feet with the first 50 lots or so not contributing hugely to the day's aggregate. However, at the close of business, day one returns stacked up very favourably when compared to the corresponding day of 2017. From a smaller number offered the aggregate comfortably surpassed last year's corresponding figure of €898,000 when settling at €1,366,900. In total 119 of the 176 offered lots changed hands for a clearance rate of 67%. Last year's average of €7,546 increased to €11,487 while the median also rose from €4,000 to €6,000.
The aforementioned session topper was consigned by Jacqui Norris's Jockey Hall Stud as lot 145, and is out of the dual winning mare Sindjara (Include), who achieved a career high rating of 93 when trained by John Oxx for the Aga Khan. The mare was purchased from the Aga Khan's draft at the 2013 Goffs November Sale by Emerald Bloodstock for €61,000 and this was the second significant auction result for her following the sale of her Dark Angel (Ire) yearling son for €90,000 at Arqana last year.
After fending off a late bid from the Tally-Ho Stud team Hyde, the master of Camas Park Stud, commented, “She is a lovely filly, the dam was quite highly rated and she has been bought for resale as a yearling.”
Soon after the short yearlings began coming into the ring, the pinhookers came out of the woodwork and trade took a considerable step forward. Lot 87 from the Castlebridge Consignment was the first to capture the attention of some shrewd operators and it was Guy O'Callaghan of Grangemore Stud who eventually won the battle for the son of Fastnet Rock (Aus) when the hammer dropped at €62,000. The good-moving first foal of the winning Montjeu (Ire) mare On A Pedestal (Ire), from the family of MG1SW and sire Bigstone (Ire) (Last Tycoon {GB}), will no doubt make his presence felt at one of the premier yearling sales later in the autumn. That price of €62,000 was matched not long after when Marc Antoine Berghgracht purchased lot 102, a Kodiac (GB) filly offered by Tullamaine Castle Stud. The April-born filly is a half-sister to the stakes performer Signposted (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), and after signing for the bay Berghgracht said, “She is a lovely filly by an excellent stallion and the dam is a proven producer. She has been bought for resale either here or in the UK.”
The highest priced colt of the day was a son of Juddmonte stallion Bated Breath (GB), offered by Ridge Manor Stud as lot 164 and knocked down to Goodwill Bloodstock for €70,000. The first foal of the dual winner Starlight Symphony (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) will likely be aimed at Book 2 at Tattersalls in October according to co-purchaser Michael Fitzpatrick, who commented, “He is a lovely horse, one of the best individuals here today in my opinion and let's hope he's lucky.”
John Banahan's Ridge Manor Stud followed up soon after with another good sale when lot 177, a son of Gutaifan (Ire), was knocked down to Matt Houldsworth for €40,000.
Another yearling likely to be seen either back in Goffs at the Orby Sale or possibly Book 2 at Tattersalls is lot 97. The colt by Hallowed Crown (Aus), offered by Ballybin Stud went the way of Jamie Railton and the €55,000 purchase boasts a smart pedigree, being a half-brother to the very useful Archie Watson- trained filly Absolute Blast (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).
Australian multiple Group 1 winner Brazen Beau (Aus) will have his first runners this year and the first of his two yearlings catalogued (Lot 192) found favour when selling to Gaelic Bloodstock for €40,000. Offered by The Premier Consignment, the colt is a half-brother to the very accomplished Group 1 placed runner The Cheka (Ire) (Xaar {GB}).
The Aga Khan drafts can always be relied upon to provide popular sorts in the ring, and the stud provided one of the early pacesetters when Karakour (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) was knocked down to bloodstock agent Barry Lynch for €45,000. The 3-year-old was trained by Michael Halford to make a winning debut last month at Dundalk and according to Lynch, lot 67 will be plying his trade soon in Singapore. “He will be trained by Cliff Brown. He's a nice horse and looks the type to do well in Singapore,” Lynch said. “He overcame a bad draw to win at Dundalk and he came well recommended by his former trainer.”
Trade continues today with a full day of yearlings and the sale will commence at the earlier time of 10 a.m.
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