By Emma Berry
KILDARE, Ireland–The Zayat family, who raced Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof The Nile), has entered into partnership with the Coolmore team to have their first horse in training in Ireland after buying the top lot at Goffs' Orby Sale, a €1.6-million son of Frankel (GB).
Justin Casse, who has been working the sale with Justin Zayat, was sent in to do the bidding on the family's behalf and had plenty of opposition in the early exchanges from Jeremy Brummitt and Kerri Radcliffe before Anthony Stroud joined the fray for Godolphin. This time around Sheikh Mohammed's team played underbidder to Casse, who confirmed that the colt will be trained by Aidan O'Brien.
“As we said [on Tuesday] we are looking for colts with stallion potential and this horse's pedigree speaks for itself. This mare has been a good producer and Frankel is tremendous–I think I've bought four by him now, including in South Africa,” said Casse. “Aidan will train him. He liked the colt and so did the Zayats. Between the parties involved there are plenty of people who know what stallions should look like.” (Click here for more.)
The colt (lot 330) was bred by Eddie Irwin of Marlhill House Stud and in joining Ballydoyle, he will be following his half-brother Assign (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), who raced in Ireland under the name of Adjusted before being exported to Australia where he won the G2 Herbert Power S. and G3 Neville Selwood S. for Lloyd Williams and Robert Hickmott. Their dam Belesta (GB) (Xaar {GB}), a 280,000gns purchase in 2010, has also produced Giuseppe Piazzi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a dual Group 3 winner in Scandinavia.
Marlhill House Stud's delighted manager Brian McConnon said, “I knew from the day he was born that he was something special but it's nice when it all works out. It's a relief really. If all horses were as straightforward as he is my job would be easy. He was the type of horse who you could have brought here almost straight from the field, he was just such a good physical specimen.”
Based in New Inn near Cashel, the 150-acre Marlhill House Stud is home to 15 mares.
“Topping the sale is a big deal for us as we're only a small farm. It's great for the mare that this colt is going to such a good trainer. She has a Starspangledbanner (Aus) colt foal, but was empty this year. It makes sense to go back to Frankel next year,” added McConnon.
Figures Hold Up Well…
Turnover was up slightly overall at €40,702,500 but Goffs group chief executive Henry Beeby pointed to the fact that while figures across the sectors remained largely on par with last year's results, this year's Orby did not benefit from the inclusion of some desirable Wildenstein-bred youngsters, as was the case in 2016.
He said, “Of course last year the sale was boosted by a group of yearlings that formed part of the once in a generation Wildenstein Stables Ltd Dispersal and it is gratifying that we have bettered the sale when you take out those one-offs whilst an improved clearance rate of 86% is very much a positive.”
That 86% came from the sale of 373 of the 433 yearlings brought forward to the ring and was up from 84% last year. The overall average remained static at €109,122, while the median fell by 2% to €65,000.
On day two, €19,557,500 was added to the final tally, at a 7.5% rise in median to €64,500 and an average of €109,874. The second session clearance was a tick higher than the sale as a whole at 87%.
Beeby continued, “Two millionaires, by Galileo and Frankel, were the clear highlights of another strong renewal of our flagship Orby Sale which has been well supported by a huge international cast of buyers who flocked to Co Kildare to buy some beautifully-bred world-class yearlings that had been sent to us by leading breeders.”
“With the likes of Ribchester to promote our wares–and you can't do much better than have the world's best horse sold at a European auction–we were hopeful of a big attendance and I think it was revealing that the only complaint we received on Saturday was that a vendor was 'too busy,' he said. “That demonstrated a real desire for Orby yearlings and led to a sustained demand for the very best over the two days with two millionaires versus one and more lots realising over €250,000.”
As is always the case, not all vendors went home happy, with a distinct lack of middle market being a common complaint.
“Indeed, Orby is all about the best selling very well and it was perhaps the case that those few that did not live up to that billing were less popular,” Beeby conceded. “The fact is that Orby is very much a premier European sale and that is what our huge cast of buyers require at this sale, so they will overlook any that do not fulfill that strict criteria. There is certainly some food for thought when autumn turns to winter but it is very clear that Orby competes with any sale at the top of the market as we saw on so many occasions with titanic six-figure bidding battles very much the norm on both days.”
Well Related Dubawi To America…
Justin Casse's name also appeared on the buyers' sheet next to the Dubawi (Ire) half-sister to Zoffany (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), who was initially knocked down to BBA Ireland for €380,000. The filly (lot 251) was later listed as a private sale to Casse at €400,000.
“I don't know who her owner will be yet, but she's not for Zayat Stables,” he said. “With a pedigree like that, she doesn't even have to do too much on the racetrack to retain her value. It's rare to be able to get your hands on a Dubawi, not least one who has a Group 2 winner for a half-brother this year. I'll get her back to America and I'm sure one of my clients will be keen to take a share.”
The agent didn't have to wait for long as before the day was out the filly had been bought by Gatewood Bell for Everett Dobson's Cheyenne Stables.
Denis Brosnan's Croom House Stud acquired her dam, the Machiavellian mare Tyranny, from Philippa Cooper of Normandie Stud for 230,000gns back in 2007 when carrying the subsequent G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. winner and successful sire Zoffany. Among Tyranny's other offspring are the G3 Anglesey S. winner Wilshire Boulevard (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and this season's G2 Futurity S. winner Rostropovich (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).
Another regally-bred filly, Airlie Stud's Galileo half-sister to Intense Focus (Giant's Causeway) (lot 390) will race in the famous colours of the Niarchos family, who bought the daughter of Daneleta (Ire) (Danehill) for €420,000 under their Flaxman Stables banner.
Mayfair's Galileo Love-In Continues…
The Mayfair Speculators, in partnership with Coolmore, spent €2.6 million on Galileo yearlings at Arqana in August and, making their first visit to Goffs, the team of investors also gave €625,000 for Barronstown Stud's half-sister to G3 Minstrel S. winner Air Chief Marshal (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) (lot 455).
Her 21-year-old dam, the Aga Khan-bred Hawala (Ire) (Warning {GB}), has been a hugely reliable producer, with 11 winners to her name including the listed winners Slip Dance (Ire) (Celtic Swing) and Misu Bond (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
Buying in various partnerships across the last two days, including with fellow South African outfit Form Bloodstock, the Mayfair Speculators made their trip to Ireland worthwhile by getting involved in nine yearlings bought for a total of €2,355,000.
Murray-Hayden's Dabirism Delight…
Most pinhookers look to spread the risk by buying a range of foals in partnerships but the coup of the sale was pulled off by Edie Murray-Hayden of Gormanstown Stud, whose sole foal purchase of 2016, a €56,000 son of Dabirsim, made almost 10 times his weanling price when selling to Alastair Donald for €500,000.
Lot 364, a son of the German listed winner Chica Loca (Fr) (American Post {GB}), will be trained by Andrew Balding and is one of a number of purchases at the Orby Sale for Thai businessman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the owner and chairman of Leicester City Football Club, who also spent more than £2 million at the Goffs London Sale in June.
“He was my absolute top pick of the foal sale last year and the only one I wanted,” said Murray-Hayden, an event rider based in Kilcullen. “When you have a horse like this it makes the job an absolute pleasure. He was so straightforward. Now, I can reinvest in some more young eventers. I tend to produce them to two-star level and sell them on. I only buy one or two Thoroughbred foals a year as I do them myself, I have no staff.”
The all-round horsewoman clearly has an eye for a racehorse, as her other pinhooking successes include G2 Flying Childers S. winner Sir Prancealot (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), whom she bought for €52,000 and sold on for €140,000, and the dual Group 2 winner Approve (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}). She also sold the Willie Mullins-trained G1 JLT Novices' Chase winner Black Hercules (Ire) (Heron Island {Ire}).
Through Alastair Donald, Srivaddhanaprabha also went to €325,000 to buy lot 333, Roundhill Stud's brother to Bow Creek (Ire) (Shamardal), who will also be trained by Balding, along with a Dark Angel (Ire) colt bought on Tuesday for €310,000 (lot 130).
The same owner, who races under the name of King Power Racing Co Ltd, can look forward to the Balding-trained Beat The Bank (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) running in this Friday's G2 Shadwell Joel S. at Newmarket.
Alastair Donald was also one of several agents in action for Dubai-based businessman Dr. Jim Hay, who with his wife Fitri will race lot 322, Lodge Park Stud's Le Havre (Ire) colt out of Baby Houseman (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a direct descendant of the Meon Valley Stud foundation mare Reprocolor (GB). One of just three yearlings by the French-based stallion in the sale, the half-brother to Listed Prix de la Californie winner Baby Foot (Ire) (Footsepsinthesand {GB}) was sold for €310,000.
Hay also bought an Australia (GB) half-brother to dual Group 2 winner Universal (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (lot 272) for €270,000 through Hugo Merry.
Pinhookers In Clover…
Another decent pinhooking result came for Norman Williamson, whose Kodiac (GB), colt picked up for €82,000 at Goffs in November, returned to fetch a staggering €500,000 as a yearling. Lot 276, a half-brother to the four-time winner Moon Over Cuzco (Malibu Moon), was the subject of a tug of war between Shawn Dugan and Shadwell, with Sheikh Hamdan's team eventually having the final say. His unraced dam Wonderful Town (Bernstein) is a half-sister to the G3 Prix Miesque winner Magic America (High Yield).
Wonderful Town was not sold at $55,000 when offered at the 2012 Keeneland January Sale, but Moon Over Cuzco made $200,000 at Keeneland September the following year and the mare has subsequently found her way to Ireland's Ballyreddin Stud, which bred the Kodiac colt.
Another lucrative pinhooking result was recorded by Tally-Ho Stud, which raided last year's Wildenstein Stables Dispersal for a Pivotal (GB) colt out of the listed-winning Bering mare Adventure Seeker (Fr) for €68,000. Named American Graffiti (Fr), the great grandson of All Along (Fr) (Tagowice) is now the property of Godolphin, who bid €320,000 for lot 288. Adventure Seeker, who was also among the dispersal and sold in foal to Siyouni (Fr) for €125,000 to Brendan Bashford, has been covered this year by Zoffany (Ire).
Juddmonte's Belief in Invincible Spirit…
As a successful owner-breeder operation, Juddmonte Farms is a rare name on buyers' lists at yearling sales, but Prince Khalid's team picked up two new recruits at Goffs on Wednesday, headed by lot 440, a filly by Invincible Spirit (Ire), for €450,000. Bred and consigned by the Irish National Stud, the May foal is a daughter of juvenile winner Gift From Heaven (Ire) (Excellent Art {Ire}), a half-sister to G3 Bengough S. winner Lightning Moon (Ire) (Shamardal) who is now at stud in Spain at Yeguada Torreduero.
“She looked a very classy filly who should have a bit of speed and we've had some luck with Invincible Spirit,” said Lord Grimthorpe.
No sooner had the racing manager mentioned Juddmonte's luck with the Irish National Stud stalwart than a colt by his outstanding son Kingman (GB) reignited the interest in the ring when bought for €650,000 by Roger Varian on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid.
A 180,000gns pinhook by the trio of Mick Flanagan, David Cox and David Myerscough, the Baroda & Colbinstown-consigned colt (lot 444) is out of a winning sister to the outstanding miler Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) from the former Kilfrush Stud family which includes Last Tycoon (GB) and French Classic winner Valentine Waltz (Ire).
“I thought he was a fantastic specimen,” said Varian. “We had to dig a little deeper than we thought we'd have to but he had so much quality and is a terrific advert for his sire.”
Mick Flanagan, who signed for the Knocktoran Stud-bred colt as a foal, added, “We took a position on him last year and thought that we'd try for him if he sold for less than 200,000gns. He has a proper pedigree and it's rare when you get a horse in a premier sale whose physical qualities match such a pedigree. We wish Roger and [his wife] Hanako the very best of luck with him.”
Dark Angel Is Perfect Romeo…
The Yeomanstown Stud mare Capulet Monteque (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) has no need to look too far for her Romeo as he's right at home and has served her pretty well to date. The 10-year-old has been mated exclusively with the O'Callaghan family's Dark Angel (Ire) and all four of the duo's offspring have brought six-figure sums as yearlings.
Moyglare Stud, Shadwell and Cheveley Park Stud have been buyers so far and on Wednesday, South Africa's Form Bloodstock joined the list when buying lot 354 for €350,000. The grey colt is a half-brother to the listed-placed Juliet Fair (Ire), who raced in the Moyglare colours, and to Cheveley Park's recent G3 Sweet Solera S. runner-up Juliet Capulet (Ire), who is declared for Friday's G2 Shadwell Rockfel S.
Capulet Monteque is a half-sister to G2 King's Stand S. runner-up Flanders (Ire) (Common Grounds {GB}), who has founded her own successful branch of the family as the dam of champion sprinter G Force (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) among her four black-type performers. Dark Angel has also worked well with another of the mare's half-sisters, Land Army (Ire) (Desert Style {Ire}), who is the dam of the top speedster, Lethal Force (Ire).
Yulong Owner Invests Again…
Chinese owner Zhang Yuesheng is a regular visitor to Goffs and has increased his string of horses in training in Ireland with several significant purchases this week.
Assisted by Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland, Zhang ensured that lot 340, a brave €100,000 pinhook by Guy O'Callaghan of Grangemore Stud, returned a tidy profit on that investment when signing for the son of Invincible Spirit (Ire) at €300,000. His half-sister Katla (Ire) (Majestic Missile {Ire}) has already won three listed races and his dam Bratislava (GB) (Dr Fong) is herself a half-sister to the former champion juvenile and young Haras d'Etreham sire Wootton Bassett (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}).
Zhang, the owner of China's Yulong racecourse who also has horses in training in Australia, has his Irish-based representatives predominantly with Michael Halford, though no trainer has yet been selected for the colt. Zhang will also race a Dubawi half-sister to the classy Banimpire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) (lot 87), who was bought from the Kilcarn Stud draft on Tuesday for €150,000.
Bahen All Smiles…
Justin Bahen, buying on behalf of Hong Kong-based Orbis Bloodstock, opted for a half-brother to Intern (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), who has already proved to be a decent performer for the same owner, finishing second in the G3 Classic Trial at Sandown earlier this season. The son of Mastercraftsman (Ire) (lot 252), who is also a half-brother to another group performer in Festival Princess (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}), was consigned by Whitehall Stud and brought the hammer down at €310,000. The colt's dam Uliana is a Darshaan half-sister to German Group 1 winner Ransom O'War (Red Ransom) from a family which traces back to the multiple winner and high-class multiple black-type producer Somfas (What A Pleasure).
Bahen also went to €200,000 for lot 283, an Intello (Ger) half-sister to the consistent stakes performer Battalion (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}), who was offered by her breeders Peter and Antoinette Kavanagh of Kildaragh Stud. The filly's dam Zigarra (GB) (Halling) is an unraced daughter of the Wertheimers' Group 3 winner Danzigaway (Danehill), a half-sister to the top-class miler and retired stallion Gold Away (Ire) (Goldneyev) and an accomplished producer herself as the dam of stakes winner Silent Name (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) and Haras de Colleville stallion Galiway (GB) (Gaileo {Ire}).
Australia Day…
This season we've seen Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) come of age with two Group 1 victories and juvenile Magic Lily (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) make an explosive debut to win by eight lengths and earn favourable quotes for next season's Classics. The Oaks winners Light Shift and Dancing Rain (Ire) have provided these two classy individuals, while Ouija Board (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) already has a Classic winner to her name in Australia (GB), who, like his mother and father, also triumphed at Epsom and The Curragh.
It's far too early even to speculate on how successful his stud career will be, but his first yearlings on sale this year have so far been given a warm reception at Goffs. A colt and a filly offered in the second session of the Orby sale each passed the €200,000 mark, with lot 272, a half-brother to the dual Group 2 winner and young sire Universal (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) selling for €270,000 to Dr. Jim Hay through Hugo Merry. Bred by the Wicklow-based Grangecon Stud, the April-born colt was offered by the Castlebridge Consignment.
The Mayfair Speculators continued their spending and teamed up with Jehan Malherbe of Form Bloodstock to buy Barronstown Stud's Australia filly (lot 265) out of Weekend Fling (Forest Wildcat), a half-sister to GI Arkansas Derby winner Archarcharch (Arch), for €220,000. In total, 14 Australia yearlings were sold from 16 offered for an average of €101,143.
His Coolmore studmate No Nay Never has also made a splash thanks to support from the Mayfair Speculators and MV Magnier, who have purchased two of his highest-priced colts at Goffs for €350,000 (lot 239) and €300,000 (lot 39) apiece. Meanwhile Alastair Donald signed for Lynn Lodge Stud's colt (lot 426) out of the unraced Fancy (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Bought for €46,000 as a foal by Mags O'Toole, the grandson of G3 Park Express S. winner Danehill Music (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) leapt in price to €325,000. From 21 offered, 19 No Nay Never yearlings sold for an average of €125,000.
The action continues at Goffs Thursday with the one-day Sportsman's Sale from 9:30 a.m. local time.
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