IN racing, we seem to love pigeonholing. ‘That sire only gets good colts, that trainer only does well with fillies.’
The Goffs Premier Yearling Sale, which takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday this week (August 27th and 28th) at Doncaster, has carved a reputation as a source of precocious two-year-olds, which makes sense, given that its offerings must be in peak shape at the end of August, as opposed to those in October sales.
However, “Donny” yearlings have proven time and time again to be more than just talented juveniles.
Take Sole Power (I would choose him, wouldn’t I?); Eddie Lynam’s £32,000 buy landed five Group 1s from the ages of three to eight.
Then there’s dual Group 1-winning three-year-old Harry Angel, bought for £44,000 by Clive Cox, who paid £65,000 for top-flight two-year-old Golden Horde, who won his Group 1 at three.
Dermot Farrington gave £60,000 for Advertise, a Group 1 winner as a juvenile and twice again as a three-year-old, while Hugo Merry’s £20,000 bargain Peniaphobia’s finest hour came as a four-year-old in a vintage renewal of the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint.
Happy hunting ground
Peter and Ross Doyle’s £41,000 buy Limato is one of the best advertisements, having won his two Group 1s as a four-year-old and gained his 12th stakes success at eight years of age.
The Doyles have enjoyed tremendous success at the sale, with other buys including Canford Cliffs (£50,000), Tiggy Wiggy (£41,000), Barney Roy (£70,000), Toormore (£36,000) and Olympic Glory (£65,000), among others
The last few names are reminders that the sale doesn’t just produce sprinters either, with one of its best graduates being the top-class Laurens, bought by Salcey Forest Stud for £220,000.
It’s also where Sam Sangster bought Isaac Shelby for £92,000, a price repaid with wins in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes and Group 3 Greenham Stakes, along with a short-neck defeat in the French 2000 Guineas.
Kevin Prendergast parted with £42,000 for La Collina, who landed the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes as a juvenile and trained on to win the Group 1 Matron Stakes over a mile as a four-year-old.
The price is right
That’s just a taster of the talent sourced at the Premier Yearling Sale, but I think I’ve proven my point.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of these success stories is that only one cost a six-figure sum, and buyers should expect more of the same next week, given the 2023 average price of £45,854 and median of £35,000.
That said, 28 yearlings reached the £100,000 mark last year, including Clive Cox’s 93-rated dual winner Magic Mild (£100,000) and Queen Mary Stakes third Maw Lam (£100,000).
Other flagbearers of the 2023 renewal include Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes victor Arizona Blaze (£82,000) and Windsor Castle Stakes winner Ain’t Nobody (£30,000).
Upon revealing this year’s catalogue of 480 lots, Goffs noted their emphasis is on the individual, though it’s hard to ignore some quality pedigrees in the line-up.
Potential highlights
Lot 15: Kingman colt out a winning full-sister to Grade 1 performer Higher Truth (Galileo)
Lot 48: Showcasing full-brother to Temple Stakes third Lady In France and half-brother to top sprinter Stepper Point
Lot 195: Night Of Thunder filly out of Group 3 winner Aim To Please
Lot 205: Invincible Spirit full-brother to a Group performer, out of Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes winner Alsindi
Lot 222: Churchill colt out of Princess Margaret Stakes heroine Angel’s Hideaway, who finished fourth in the 1000 Guineas, a length and a half behind Hermosa
Lot 223: Ten Sovereigns half-brother to dual Group winner Yonkers. His full-sister Nancy J won on debut recently for Jessica Harrington
Lot 243: Blue Point half-brother to dual listed winner and Group 1 Falmouth Stakes third Jabaara
Lot 262: Wootton Bassett half-sister to two stakes horses, out of a winning own-sister to Beauty Parlour
Lot 343: New Bay half-brother to two blacktype horses, including Group 3 victor Sporting Chance
Lot 457: Cracksman colt out of Park Hill Stakes winner Meeznah, who finished fourth in both the Irish and Yorkshire Oaks
Blacktype updates
The catalogue has benefitted from some notable updates of late, including:
Lot 40: This Ardad colt is a half-brother to the dam of Simmering, who is now a dual Group winner
Lot 246: Invincible Army colt’s half-brother My Mate Alfie finished third in the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes
Lot 248: Soldier’s Call colt is a half-brother to recent listed winner Divina Grace
Lot 266: Kodi Bear colt is a half-brother to Queen Mary Stakes third Maw Lam, who placed at listed level last time out
Lot 334: His half-brother Cool Hoof Luke, a close fourth in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes, has since finished third in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes
Lot 357: Her half-sister No Half Measures, who was bought at this sale for £34,000, has now won five of her eight starts, most recently at listed level.
The new boys
Proven Group 1 sires are well-represented, as are exciting first crop sires.
St Mark’s Basilica, who made such a huge impression at Arqana, has two offerings, as does outstanding miler Palace Pier.
Victor Ludorum was responsible for a quartet of six-figure sales at Arqana, the same number of his total offering next week.
Seven yearlings bid to continue the popularity Lucky Vega’s first crop enjoyed at the foal sales, while his Irish National Stud mate Nando Parrado is represented by 10, including one from his pinhooker Ballyphilip Stud.
Another stallion son of Lope De Vega is the British National Stud’s Group 1 performer Lope Y Fernandez, who has 15 on offer, while Mickley Stud’s Mill Reef victor Ubettabelieveit is 12-strong.
Two more Mill Reef Stakes winners make their Donny debut; Alkumait, who stands at Capital Stud, has three catalogued, while Newsells Park Stud new boy A’Ali has 14 yearlings catalogued.
Tally-Ho Stud’s Group 1-winning sprinter Starman will have every chance of success, with 28 catalogued, with Group 1-winning “Donny rocket” Supremacy next by numbers at 17.
Kildangan Stud’s triple Group 1 winner Space Blues, by proven sire of sires Dubawi, has nine up.
The sale begins are 10am on August 27th and at 9.30am on August 28th. The catalogue is available to view online at www.goffs.com