THE Goffs February Sale concluded on Thursday evening and, after two days of trade at a clearance rate of 65%, turnover amounted to €3,082,400, a notable decrease (-29%) in aggregate on the 2023 sale.

The average of €12,898 and median of €8,000 also failed to match those of last year.

A few notable supplementary entries at the end of sale caught the eye and it was Princess Vega, a winning seven-year-old daughter of Quevega who topped both the session and the sale when selling to Gerry Hogan for €150,000.

Offered in foal to Walk In The Park - the same stallion as Princess Vega’s two illustrious siblings Facile Vega and Aurora Vega - the mare consigned by the Irish National Stud would be a fine addition to any broodmare band. After fending off competition from Catherine Magnier, Gerry Hogan said: “I’ve bought her for Liz Lucas of Swanbridge Bloodstock in England. She bought the mare’s Order Of St George two-year-old filly in December [for €48,000] and really likes her, so she decided to try and buy the mother. It’s a great family and I’m delighted she got her.”

Similar to Wednesday’s session when his yearlings were in strong demand, Whitsbury Manor Stud stallion Havana Grey continued that trend on Thursday when Willie Browne for €90,000 for one of the sire's fillies.

There was plenty of competition for the Castlebridge-consigned yearling out of Scots Fern and the half-sister to two winners, including the promising three-year-old Hebridean Nomad, eventually went the way of the Mocklershill maestro.

After signing the docket Browne said: “The sire needs no explaining and she is a very good-looking filly, I haven't seen one better than her here. She has great strength about her and a lovely walk too. We will bring her back for sale in the autumn, hopefully for the Orby Sale here."

Polo player

The filly was bred in England by Tommy Severn, whose equine focus lies mainly in the polo fields. He said via telephone: “I’ve loved her from day one. She was always a pretty classy filly and the dream was to keep her but, as a small operation, we have to keep trading. Billy Jackson-Stops felt she would stand out a bit here, so we targeted this sale as a result.

"It’s a credit to the team at Stoneyhill Stud in Gloucestershire, where she was born and bred. We then sent her to Triermore Stud in Meath, where Paul McDonnell and Terry Denning do a great job. The filly has thrived since she went there and, having seen the videos, she looked great on the complex, so Bill and his team at Castlebridge deserve a lot of praise also.

"It’s our second year in operation and a result like this is so important. Ed Harper deserves a lot of credit too, as he was very strong on Havana Grey and advised me to use him. We’ve got six mares at home so we’re a pretty small operation, though a result like this may help us to go out and improve the quality of stock on the farm. I’m a polo player by day, so I’m currently in Argentina. I’m actually gutted to not be there, but that’s the way it is,” he added.

Breeding stock

Among the popular offerings in the breeding stock section was Hay Chewed. Offered by Guy O’Callaghan’s Grangemore Stud in foal to Invincible Army, the 13-year-old stakes winner was bought by Rathasker Stud for €42,000.

Hay Chewed has bred two winners so far, including the three-time recent winner Beelzebub and she is a half-sister to Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes winner Winter Power.

The stakes-placed Singyoursong, offered by Baroda Stud in foal to Saxon Warrior, sold to Michelle Connolly and Jane Davis for €38,000. She is the dam of one winner so far and comes from the family of Group 1 winners Charming Thought and Ballingarry.

Another Baroda mare to prove popular was Neomeris who was bought by Ana Alice Byrne for €39,000. Placed on her only start in France the four-year-old filly by Anodin is a half-sister to both French Navy and Sea Lord, who amassed 25 wins between them including nine at stakes level.

Shortly afterwards Baroda offered Miss McLeod, a full-sister to Group 2 July Stakes winner Alhebayeb, and the six-year-old was knocked down to Richard Ryan for €43,000. The mare was sold in foal to Bayside Boy, who was also bought by Ryan as a yearling before carrying the Teme Valley silks to victory in the Group 1 QEII Stakes at Ascot on his final start before retiring to stud at Ballylinch Stud.

The Moyglare Stud draft always attracts attention at this sale and its sold a yearling colt by Australia for €36,000 to AK Thoroughbreds. Out of the three-time winner Sorrelle Delle Rose, who is a full–sister to Sovereign Debt, this colt is a half-brother to the 80-rated Livio Milo.