THE opening day’s trade of 2018 at Goffs ensured that the year at Kildare Paddocks got off to a bright start as first session of the February Sale comfortably outperformed the corresponding day from 12 months ago.
From a slightly smaller catalogue, the session was able to make gains in all key areas with the turnover of just under €1.4 million and the €11,482 average both showing gains of 52%. The €6,000 median finished ahead by some 50 points, while the clearance rate for the day rose from 58 to 68%.
A diverse selection of stock meant that two-year-olds, horses in training and yearlings were all on offer and, as expected, it was the latter category that supplied the day’s highlights.
As ever, the pinhooking fraternity turned out in force to add to their purchases from last November and December and many of them had their eyes on the session-topping €130,000 daughter of Kodiac. However, it was Camas Park Stud’s Timmy Hyde who had the final say for the daughter of the useful dual winner Sindjara when he outlasted Tally-Ho Stud.
The filly was sold by Jockey Hall Stud and her price eclipsed the €86,000 mark which was achieved by the top-priced yearling at this sale in 2017.
“She’s a nice filly and a good model out of a mare who had a high rating. The plan is for her to come back for sale in the autumn,” said Hyde, whose previous purchases at this auction include the subsequent Irish Derby winner Frozen Fire.
TREMENDOUS APPEAL
Also set to return to the sales ring later this year is a son of Beckford’s sire, Bated Breath, after he was knocked down to Goodwill Bloodstock for €70,000. The Ridge Manor Stud offering is out of a winning half-sister to the Group 3-placed Naseem Alyasmeen.
Kodiac, whose tremendous appeal was only heightened when he broke the world record for two-year-old winners in a year just a couple of months ago, was earlier responsible for a €62,000 filly from Tullamaine Castle Stud.
French agent Marc Antoine Berghgracht signed for the half-sister to the listed-placed middle-distance runner Signposted.
“She’s quite a nice filly, from a very nice family and she will be back for sale either here or in the UK in the autumn,” commented the agent.
The €62,000 mark was also reached by the only Fastnet Rock colt in the sale. Grangemore Stud’s Guy O’Callaghan signed for the first produce of a Montjeu half-sister to the Aidan O’Brien-trained Group 3 scorer Empowering.
O’Callaghan confirmed that the colt was bought to resell in the autumn.
Jamie Railton, who was underbidder to Timmy Hyde for Frozen Fire all those years ago, forked out €55,000 for a colt from the first crop of the high-class Australian runner Hallowed Crown. The colt is a half-brother to the stakes winner and Group 1-placed Absolute Blast.
“He’s a sweet colt from a nice family and he’s been bought on behalf of a syndicate. A decision will be made in due course as to whether he comes back here for the Orby Sale or heads to Book 2 of the October Sale,” commented Railton.
FIRST CROP
The popularity of Gutaifan’s first crop was further emphasised when Matt Houldsworth went to €40,000 for a son of the Dark Angel horse and this price was matched by Gaelic Bloodstock for a Brazen Beau colt.
A champion three-year-old in Australia, Brazen Beau is another sire being represented by his first crop and this colt is a half-brother to the July Cup second The Cheka.
Meanwhile, the pick of the horses in training was the Michael Halford-trained and Aga Khan-owned Karakour who made a winning debut in a mile maiden at Dundalk last month. The three-year-old son of Dalakhani will now continue his career in the Far East after costing agent Barry Lynch €45,000.
“He’s been bought to head to Singapore. He’s a straightforward, promising horse with a good profile and he did very well to win first time out from a wide draw at Dundalk which isn’t easy,” stated Lynch.
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Figures
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AV Med
2018 200 176 119 1,366,900 11,482 6,000
2017 254 201 119 898,000 7,546 4,000