LET the records show that Alice Nugent is listed as the purchaser, for €22,000, of the Docksider (Diesis) filly Noyelles at the 2007 Arqana December Sale. It was an inspired purchase, and one that keeps on giving.

I am reminded of the mare and her success following the inaugural Goffs Dubai Breeze Up Sale, one at which Alice’s husband and Goffs director Nick was wielding a gavel. The second best price at the sale was achieved by Noyelles’ Frankel (Galileo) son, continuing a fine record for offspring of the mare in the sales ring.

The reason for the sale ring interest among buyers is simple, because Noyelles has delivered as a broodmare. In fact, her first two foals have been her best, both stakes-winning fillies and both Group 1 performers. They are Lily’s Angel (Dark angel) and Zurigha (Cape Cross).

Lily’s Angel sold as a yearling for just £8,000 and went on to win 10 races at up to Group 3 level. On her penultimate start – she raced 26 times – she was denied a Group 1 victory by half a length, finishing that distance behind La Collina in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. Zurigha was fourth in the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches-French 1000 Guineas, and she was also placed a few times in Group 2 races. Both are now broodmares at stud.

Last November Nick and Alice sold another Frankel son of Noyelles to their great friends Eddie and Wendy O’Leary of Lynn Lodge Stud, and they too will now be watching with added interest to see how his full-brother fares with his future racing career in Japan.

The O’Leary’s paid €210,000 for the colt in Goffs, and this was the fourth foal in a row to bring that amount or more. This week’s breezer sold to Oneliner then for €360,000.

When Alice bought Noyelles the pedigree was a good one, but it has since enjoyed an explosion of success. In 2007 Noyelles had three stakes-winning half-sisters, all either in the early stages of their second careers or about to head to the breeding shed. Now her siblings are responsible for at least five Group 1 winners, either themselves or through their offspring.

In Clover

Noyelles’ half-sister In Clover (Inchinor) was a Group 3 winner and now she has five stakes winners, including no fewer than three who won at Group 1 level – Call The Wind (Frankel), With You and We Are, the latter pair being daughters of Dansili (Danehill).

Stakes winner Bellona (Bering) is another of Noyelles’ siblings and she is the grandam of Group 1 Hong Kong Vase winner Dominant (Cacique). Finally, Belesta (Xaar), a winner at three, is dam of a couple of group winners and her descendants include the 2018 Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches-French 1000 Guineas heroine Teppal (Camacho).

With foresight such as this, I know who I will be asking to advise me when it comes to purchasing a broodmare in the future.