Adam Driver ‘clicks’ for two Dark Angels

THE star of the sale was a Shadwell-owned son of Dark Angel and he fell to Newmarket-based agent Adam Driver whose online bid of €180,000 proved sufficient to secure this grandson of Kevin Prendergast’s Moyglare Stud Stakes runner-up Shimah. Driver also went to €155,000 for a Dark Angel filly from Shadwell and whose dam is the Queen Mary Stakes winner Maqaasid. Both horses were bought on behalf of an existing client of Driver’s who will put their purchases into training in England.

John Kilbride finds himself a €170,000 broodmare prospect

IN a sign of what was to come over the course of the sale, the seventh lot into the ring on Tuesday morning was a Shadwell-owned daughter of Shamardal who cost John Kilbride €170,000. The agent was acting for a client who is looking to establish a broodmare band and this filly, who hails from the family of Nathaniel, is another who will begin her career across the Irish Sea.

Unsurprisingly, the sale’s other six-figure transaction was also offered by Derrinstown and the lot in question was a Teofilo colt out of Rawaaq who landed the Group 3 Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial Stakes for Dermot Weld and Sheikh Hamdan back in 2013. The grandson of Galileo was knocked down to Bert Kerr at €140,000 and he will be staying in Ireland.

Ballybin seeing stars

ON Wednesday agent Kevin Ross went to €80,000 for a daughter of Starspangledbanner from Ballybin Stud. She is an own-sister to the two-year-old Rhea Moon who was placed twice in as many starts for Ken Condon before being sold to America.

The same sire was also responsible for a filly boasting a significant and extremely recent update as Kilcarn Park offered a half-sister to last week’s Bosra Sham Stakes winner Symphony Perfect. She was snapped up by Frederico Barberini for €68,000. Two lots later, Willie Browne forked out €65,000 for another daughter of the stallion.

Eastern European strong influence

AGENT Bobby O’Ryan also warrants a notable mention. He was acting for a myriad of Eastern European clients when picking up 40 yearlings over the course of the sale. The agent’s most expensive purchase was a €45,000 son of Free Eagle, although this colt will be staying closer to home as he was bought to join Keith Dalgleish.

Shadwell dispersal draws them in

OTHER popular members of the Shadwell draft included an Invincible Spirit filly related to the Group 1 National Stakes winner Kingsfort who cost Marco Bozzi €90,000. Joe Foley spent €78,000 on a daughter of Awtaad who will carry the colours of Clipper Logistics, while Willie Browne gave €68,000 for a Lope De Vega colt related to Makfi who will be offered at next year’s round of breeze-up sales.