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A return to its traditional home at Kildare Paddocks sparked a major revival in fortunes for the Goffs Orby Sale which began on Tuesday with a bright opening session which was headed by a €1.5 million daughter of Galileo.
After an enforced switch in location to Doncaster last year and a very trying edition of the company’s flagship sale, normal order was restored over the course of day one as the Orby rebounded in style.
A millionaire lot was the obvious highlight but strong demand throughout the day, which was fuelled by a diverse international buying base, enabled all key indicators to readily surpass those from 2020.
At the close of Tuesday's session the turnover came in at €19.575 million which was a 53% increase on last year’s figure. The average of €104,120 was up by 37%, the median of €75,000 grew by 35% and most impressive was a clearance rate of 92%.
The centrepiece of the day was the €1.5 million daughter of Galileo who was bought by M.V. Magnier and was sold by David and Tamso Cox’s Baroda Stud.
American agent Jacob West made a strong play for this filly but at €1.5 million he was forced to give best to Magnier whose purchase is the first produce of the American Grade 1 heroine Nickname.
“She’s been at Coolmore all her life and Roger O’Dwyer and all the lads who looked after have really liked her. She’s a lovely filly by Galileo, who speaks for himself, and Scat Daddy looks as though he could be a very good broodmare sire. She’s a beautiful filly,” said Magnier.
SPECTACULAR PINHOOK
Much later in the day the boldest of pinhooks yielded a spectacular result as a Footstepsinthesand colt, who fetched a colossal €300,000 as a foal, more than doubled in value on his return to the ring when fetching €630,000.
This half-brother to the top juvenile and classic-placed Lucky Vega was consigned by Anna Sundstrom’s Coulonces Sales and he was the subject of a captivating battle between the BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohoe and Michael Kinane, representing the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
The pair exchanged bids in considered fashion before Kinane was forced to concede defeat and, like Lucky Vega, this colt will race for Zhang Yuesheng who campaigned Lucky Vega with Jessica Harrington prior to his retirement to stud in Australia during the summer.
“He’s been bought for Yulong Investments, Mr Zhang, and he will be trained by Jessie,” reported Donohoe before outlining this colt’s appeal.
“Take away the Lucky Vega connection and I think he may be the best yearling I’ve ever seen. He’s a phenomenal physical and he has the most amazing temperament too which is something that Lucky Vega had too. We had to push the boat out for him but he’s a half-brother to proper Group 1 horse,” added Donohoe.
MURTAGH SWOOPS
Just over an hour into the sale last year’s top price of £450,000 was surpassed when Johnny Murtagh splashed out €500,000 for a daughter of Kingman and the brilliant dual Guineas winner Finsceal Beo whose offspring have found great favour in the Goffs sales ring in the past.
“She’s been bought for a syndicate and we were looking for one for the Million so hopefully this is her. It would be great if she turned out as good as her mother,” reflected the recent classic-winning trainer.
This sale was preceded by Ross Doyle forking out €340,000 for an outstanding Kodiac homebred belonging to Alice Fitzgerald. This filly is a half-sister to the Wokingham winner Hey Jonesy.
“Richard (Hannon) has obviously had a lot of luck with Kodiac, with the likes of Tiggy Wiggy and Fox Champion. This filly is a half-sister to a quick horse, Hey Jonesy, who was also a good two-year-old and she is a beautiful filly from a very good nursery - we bought Ginger Nut off Alice as well. Hopefully she is one for the Million,” commented Doyle.
AMERICAN PURCHASE
As well as supplying the day’s top lot Galileo was also responsible for a colt out of the dual listed-placed Pocketfullofdreams from Manister House Stud who was snapped up by American trainer Kenny McPeek, fresh from a lengthy stint at Keeneland, for €440,000.
“My wife and I worked our way through all the yearlings and this is a beautiful horse. I'm very lucky to have a very good group of clientele and I reached out to people and was able to put together a partnership,” reported McPeek. “We've got a lot of grass racing in the US but who knows, perhaps this colt could take to the dirt too. It will be an interesting journey. I thought the price was very reasonable.”
COMPARATIVE FIGURES FOR DAY 1
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGGREGATE AVERAGE MEDIAN
2021 230 205 188 €19,575,400 €104,120 €75,000
2020 245 203 168 €11,614,000 €69,131 €50,000
2019 236 219 187 €23,119,500 €123,634 €75,000
2018 211 190 167 €24,085,000 €144,222 €85,000
2017 245 228 195 €21,140,000 €108,410 €67,000
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