By Daithi Harvey
The 10th edition of the Goresbridge breeze-up sale exploded into action on Friday, with the previous record top price smashed early in the day when lot 16 exited the ring. The daughter of Candy Ride (Arg) consigned by Brendan Holland's Grove Stud was knocked down to Italian bloodstock agent Alberto Panetta for €170,000, eclipsing the previous top price of €145,000 achieved at this sale. Bidding rose fast for the filly, who had impressed in her breeze the previous afternoon, with Tony Watkins and Gay Kelleway both making a determined effort to secure her. Panetta was not to be denied, however, and eventually won the battle. “I've bought her for Marco Botti in Newmarket,” said Panetta, before adding, “I like the sire a lot and she looks like a good early 2-year-old.” It was another fine return for Brendan Holland, who bought the filly, from the extended family of sires Sky Mesa, Bernstein and Wiseman's Ferry, at Keeneland last September for $40,000. The Cork-based consignor sold the top two lots at the Arqana breeze-up, and was continuing a fine season.
It didn't take long for the next six-figure lot to enter the ring, when lot 30 from Tally-Ho Stud sold to David Redvers for €125,000. The daughter of one of Tally-Ho Stud's resident stallionsKodiac (GB) was home bred by the farm's Roger O'Callaghan, who offered the largest draft of any consignor in the sale. Tally-Ho followed up shortly after with another good piece of business when selling a Lohnro (Aus) colt, lot 40, for €80,000. O'Callaghan bought the February-born colt outside the ring in Keeneland last September, and he represented a successful first buying trip to Goresbridge for the colt's new owners Phil and David Slater. The Slaters, who also have horses in training in Ireland with Tommy Stack, have launched a new ownership venture called 'Owners First,' and the colt will go into training with veteran UK trainer Ron Thompson, who is being tempted back into the training game at the tender age of 76.
The same team struck again when parting with €82,000 for a daughter of Peintre Celebre consigned by Meadowview Stables. The filly, lot 97, was bought by BBA Ireland for just €6,000 as a yearling in Tattersalls Ireland, so represented quite a profit margin for those involved.
Vibrant trade at Ireland's only breeze-up sale saw another early lot into the ring match the previous top price when selling for €145,000. Lot 41, a Birdstone colt, proved American bloodlines are in strong demand when selling to Saudi Arabian based agent Ibrahim Rachid. A regular at sales grounds around the world, Rachid commented, “I loved his pedigree, his breeze and his looks. He will stay in Ireland and will go into training with David Marnane. I have been coming to Ireland for many years, but this is my first time coming to this particular sale. I am very impressed with the standard of horses.”
The Birdstone colt was a $13,000 buy by Chad Schumer at Keeneland September, and is a half-brother to stakes winner Legacy (Sightseeing) from the family of Canadian champion Benburb.
Bloodstock agent Stephen Hillen has been prolific at this season's breeze-ups, and he wasn't long making an impact on Friday. His early purchase of a smart Big Bad Bob (Ire) colt (lot 23) for €60,000, destined for Lambourn trainer Joe Tuite, was soon eclipsed when he signed for lot 59, an Acclamation (GB) colt consigned by Mayfield Stables. It took a final bid of €150,000 to secure the easy moving son of the French stakes winner Peach Pearl (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and, according to Hillen, he will be sporting the silks of Pete Tingey and Angie Bailey, carried to top-level success by the Kevin Ryan-trained Astaire (Ire) (Intense Focus).
Kentucky-based Brendan Heeney of Equix also got his name onto the buyers sheet early on when purchasing lot 38, a Teofilo (Ire) filly from Jim McCartan's Gaybrook Lodge Stud. The filly's dam Rex Regina (Ire) (Kings Best) was a stakes winner in France and Heeney commented, “I loved the way she breezed, she's by Teofilo who is fine stallion and she is something different to bring back to the States. She should make a really nice 3-year-old.”
Heeney was back in the ring a short time later when signing for lot 47, a Dark Angel (Ire) colt for €70,000.
“Dark Angel is doing really well at the moment, he seems to sire tough racehorses that want to win and they improve with time, lets home this lad is lucky,” added Heeney.
Six-figure sums were the order of the day, and Dubai trainer Bhupat Seemar parted with €100,000 to secure lot 90, another Keeneland graduate and a son of freshman sire Drosselmeyer out of a half-sister to three stakes winners, including the Group 1-placed Stopshoppingmaria (More Than Ready). The colt was picked up privately by Roger O'Callaghan after failing to sell for $27,000 in the ring at Keeneland September. Seemar indicated that the
horse would either stay in Ireland or go to the UK in the short term, but would ultimately end up in Dubai.
Another lot to break the €100,000 barrier was lot 48, a Footstepsinthesand (GB) colt bought by David Ryan of Aran Bloodstock for €105,000. Ryan, who manages Kilfrush Stud in County Limerick, was acting for Qatari interests and commented, “We will take him back to Kilfrush for a short break before deciding on what trainer to send him to.”
Italian buyers have been very active at this sale over the years, and bloodstock agent Marco Bozzi struck for lot 96, a colt by promising freshman sire Lilbourne Lad (Ire). Hailing from the famed Mocklershill academy of Willie Brown, Bozzi had to go to €55,000 to secure the half-brother to Hymn Of Love (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}), a stakes winner both in Ireland and America. “I bought him for Gianluca Bietolini, an Italian trainer based in Maison Laffitte,” Bozzi said. “He trains some horses for Ken and Sarah Ramsey and I thought this was one of the nicest colts of the day.”
Sean Feld, who manages the stallion career of Frankel's half-brother Bullet Train(GB), ensured he made the trip over from America worthwhile when bagging a trio of juveniles. Feld bought a colt by Derby winner Pour Moi (Ire) and a Lope De Vega (Ire) filly for a combined total of €45,000. Of future plans for the pair, Feld commented, “The filly will go to the East coast and the colt will go to California. I haven't decided on trainers yet; I need to get them syndicated first. There is still a few more horses on my list so hopefully I can pick up another.” Feld was true to his word as soon after he added lot 179 to his haul when paying €55,000 for a colt by GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Vale Of York (Ire).
Even before the sale had concluded and before any statistics had been calculated, Goresbridge boss Martin Donohoe expressed his delight with proceedings, saying, “I'm absolutely thrilled with how the sale has gone. Not only have we achieved the highest price ever in the sale, but the number of horses that have made over €100,000 is more than I could have hoped for. I must sincerely thank all the vendors and customers who have contributed to such a successful day.”
Statistics were not available at the time of publication.
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