Clearance Rate Rises As Kodiac Strikes Again

There was a sense of déjà vu on Wednesday as Kodiac (Ire) once again ruled the roost at Goffs, accounting for four of the top seven lots and the only two foals to bring six-figure sums in the session.

Heading the list was lot 907, Linacre House Stud's colt out of the juvenile winner Spinaminnie (Ire) (Moss Vale {Ire}), a half-sister to six black-type performers including the G3 Chartwell Fillies' S. winner San Sicharia (Ire) (Daggers Drawn). Ruairi O'Coileain of Ennistown Stud came out best of the interested parties, his €150,000 bid securing the first foal.

“He's as nice a horse as I've seen here all week,” he said. “Sometimes you have to give a bit extra. We'll see how smart we've been next year when we bring him back. Linacre House have done a great job with him but hopefully there's a bit more to come.

Franny and Niamh Woods didn't have to go quite so far to buy lot 887, but €110,000 was final sum as the hammer came down on the Kodiac colt, one of just two foals offered this week by John and Clodagh McStay's Oaklawn Stud. Out of a sister to the dual Group 3 winner and multiple Group 1-placed Norse Dancer (Ire) (Halling), the late April colt is a half-brother to three winners.

Commenting on his purchase, Franny Woods said, “I fell in love with him from the moment I saw him. He's by a top-class sire and he's a classy individual. He's a late foal so we'll take our time with him but he will be reoffered next year.”

The clearance rate has improved steadily throughout the week and reached 72% on Wednesday when 163 of the foals offered were marked as sold. It still hasn't been enough to lift the sale to the level of last year, with the session's turnover of €4,825,200 being down by 22%, while the average dropped 18% to €29,602. The median didn't dip quite so much, with the figure of €26,000 being a decline of 7%.

Adding to the Kodiac gold rush was another pair of colts, one of which, lot 972, is heading to Normandy after selling to Hubert Honoré of Haras d'Omméel for €85,000. Out of the Argentinean seven-time winner Bailonguera (Arg) (Southern Halo), whose posted her best performance when striking in the GII Clasico Marcos Levalle, the colt's pedigree was of major appeal to the buyer, especially his close relationship to Baghadur (Ire) (Zanzibari), a stakes winner in both France and Hong Kong.

Honoré commented, “He's been bought for a syndicate and will come back to my farm to be sold next year. Baghadur has been very well received in Hong Kong. The mare is a bit old but he's from a good family and I hope he can improve a bit – it's Mrs Fabre's family.”

Lot 941, Ballyreddin Stud's Kodiac half-brother to treble US winner Moon Over Cuzco (Malibu Moon), completed the leading quartet when sold to Mark Dwyer of Oaks Farm for €82,000. His unraced dam Wonderful Town (Bernstein) is herself a half-sister to G3 Prix Miesque winner Magic America (High Yield).

Of course the offspring of other stallions were also available and breaking the stranglehold of the Tally-Ho Stud resident was another name who remains hugely popular at a commercial level, Dark Angel (Ire). Jacqueline Norris of Jockey Hall Stud offered both his most expensive foal of the sale so far and the day's dearest filly in lot 898, who brought the hammer down at €90,000.

Underlining the international aspect of the bloodstock business, the second foal of the young dual winner Sindjara (Include) was bought by an Australian for a Chinese syndicate but will stay in Europe to race and will most likely eventually go into training in France with Mikel Delzangles.

Robert Roulston, the Chief Executive Officer of the China-based Rifa Mustang operation, said, “She was a really nice filly and we had to pay a decent price for her. Rifa Mustang has 50 horses and she will stay here in Europe. It's my first time here at Goffs and I'm pretty impressed with the whole set-up.”

A son of first-crop sire and G1 Investec Derby winner Ruler Of The World (Ire) caused a stir as the last lot through the ring (lot 1011) when selling to Glenvale Bloodstock for €96,000. The bay, offered by Middlelane Farm, is the third produce of the winning Crystal Morning (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), a half-sister to G3 Prix Messidor S. winner Graphic (Ire) (Excellent Art {GB}).

Showcasing (GB) has been the subject of rave reviews since retiring to stud, but his half-brother Camacho (GB) was well ahead of him as a proven sire and took his turn in the spotlight on Wednesday via his son out of the Hawk Wing (Ire) mare Sonning Rose (Ire), who won at two and chased home Zaidan (Street Cry {Ire}) when second in the Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot in 2010. Yeomanstown Stud stands Camacho and the O'Callaghan clan stepped in to buy this colt (lot 906) from the Stanley Lodge draft for €85,000.

The Yeomanstown Stud team also took a punt on a filly from the first crop of Haras de Bouquetot stallion Olympic Glory (Ire), who has had three foals sold at Goffs so far for an average price of €42,666. Top of these was lot 988, the filly consigned by Barnane Stud for the Broadway Partnership, who sold for €80,000. She is the first foal of the Listed-placed winner Broadway Duchess (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) who was covered this year by another first-season sire, Night Of Thunder (Ire).

Among a sizeable number of freshman sires represented at Goffs this week, Charm Spirit (Ire)'s first foal to take to the ring was bought for €68,000 by Abbey Farm. Lot 855, offered by Baroda & Colbinstown Studs, is out of the 79-rated Nickels And Dimes (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), a half-sister to prolific winner Kalahari Gold (Ire) (Trans Island {GB}) and to the dam of dual Listed winner Easton Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

Cheveley Park Stud's Garswood (GB) also has first foals on offer and the four to sell through the first four days are led by lot 933, the first foal of 2-year-old winner Valen (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who was offered by breeder Cloneymore Farm and sold for €58,000 to Ger Morrin of Pier House Stud.

The final day of the November Foal Sale kicks off today at 11am and much of the excitement will be reserved until late in the session when 17 foals from the Wildenstein Stables Dispersal take to the ring. The final foal to be offered will be lot 1201, a Dansili (GB) filly out Beauty Parlour (JPN) (Deep Impact {JPN}). Her Classic-winning dam will be sold tomorrow as lot 1431 during the first session of the Breeding Stock Sale.