Top Lots
AT €350,000, the distinction of being this year’s top lot fell to a daughter of Kingman who was bought by Francisco Bernal of Outsider Bloodstock. Bernal reported that he was acting for a Spanish client who is a major figure in the sport horse industry in Spain and is now turning her attentions to racing.
The indications were that this half-sister to the Group 3-winning juvenile Aktabantay would ultimately join French trainer Carlos-Laffon Parias. Jockey Hall Stud sold this filly on behalf of her breeder Paddy Burns who picked up the dam, Splashdown, for 145,000gns last December. For his part, Kingman enjoyed a terrific year with his first crop of runners which has yielded at least two legitimate classic prospects in Calyx and Persian King.
Shadwell stock up
THE concluding session of Part I of the foal sale saw Stephen Collins pick up a number of choice foals and these were headed by a €320,000 son of the brilliant sprinter Muhaarar whose eagerly awaited first crop of runners will hit the track in 2019. This Airlie Stud offering is a half-brother to the July Cup third Eastern Impact and the stakes-winning Miss Katie Mae.
Shadwell also spent €190,000 on Stanley Lodge’s Lope De Vega filly who is the first produce of the two-year-old listed winner Accipiter. Lope De Vega’s unchecked rise up the stallion means that he will command a career-high fee of €80,000 in 2019.
Shadwell also struck for the highest-priced Awtaad when giving €170,000 for a son of the Cape Cross horse from Swordlestown Little. This colt is a half-brother to the former Navan maiden winner and now high-class Hong Kong-based runner Dinozzo.
Popular angels
THE tone for Wednesday’s session was set by a Dark Angel filly from Neilstown Stud who cost John McCormack €300,000. The agent indicated that his purchase was likely to stay in Ireland and that she would be kept to race.
This filly is an own-sister to the former Group 1 Matron Stakes second Lily’s Angel who was the first produce of the dam, Noyelles, and cost Richard Fahey a mere £8,000 at the Premier Yearling Sale at Doncaster in 2010.
In the intervening period Noyelles has established herself as a producer of renown and this price bettered the €220,000 which was paid for her Oasis Dream foal at this sale in 2016.
A Dark Angel half-brother to the Irish Oaks runner-up Jack Naylor offered from Ross Moorhead’s Glacken View is heading to Japan after being bought by Harry Sweeney for €250,000. Meanwhile, a return to the sales ring is on the cards for a son of elite sire whom Jamie Railton secured for €220,000. This colt is out of the Group 2-placed two-year-old Magical Fire.
Galileo fillies
PERHAPS the most eye catching lot in the entire catalogue was this Galileo filly from The Castlebridge Consignment who could boast of Derby and Irish Derby winner Harzand among her siblings.
She was sold for €300,000 and bought by agent Hugo Merry, Jane Allison and another friend of theirs. Merry reported that he was availing of a rare chance to buy into such a distinguished family.
Another well-bred Galileo filly cost Jim Bolger €160,000. She is the first produce of an unraced daughter of the brilliant Banks Hill, who is among many top-class runners produced by one of the great Juddmonte families.
Stars everywhere
SEA The Stars supplied four of the top 10 lots on Wednesday and these included Jockey Hall Stud’s half-brother to the Norfolk Stakes second Mind Of Madness who cost Timmy Hyde €290,000.
Yeomanstown Stud spent €260,000 on a colt by the sire out of the French Group 2 winner Pollyanna and later gave €195,000 for Highfort Stud’s son of the Cape Cross horse out of a listed-placed mare.
Another fine colt by the sire was supplied by Oaklawn Stud and Brendan Holland had to go to €240,000 to secure the son of a winning Invincible Spirit half-sister to the Irish Oaks winner Covert Love.
Jamie Railton, who spent just short of €1 million on eight foals, also struck for a Sea The Stars when going to €220,000 for a filly out of a Distorted Humor own-sister to Group 3 winners in France and America.
Kodiac filly
A STYLISH daughter of Kodiac from Milltown House Stud certainly captured the imagination before her sale to the Stroud Coleman agency for €250,000.
She is out of Street Cry mare who cost €41,000 at the 2017 Goffs February Sale and the mare’s first runner was recently placed on his juvenile debut for Andre Fabre. The grandam of this filly is the Prix Vermeille winner Mezzo Soprano.