THE foal section of the Goffs November Sale got back underway today, following two days of breeding stock, and even though the figures for the day couldn’t quite match last year’s the session returned a respectable level of trade.
From a smaller number of horses offered the aggregate dropped from €1.6 million to just under €1.3 million, while the average of €9,218 fell by 11% and the €6,500 median decreased by 10 points.
Interestingly though, the clearance rate picked up as it went from 61 to 68% and it was felt that trade held up quite well at this lesser level of the market.
FIRST CROP
The day’s top lot was a €39,000 colt from the well-received first crop of the Breeders Cup winner Outstrip. The Tally-Ho Stud team secured the relation to the Prix de Sandringham heroine Baqah who was sold by Galberstown Stud. This colt will return for sale next autumn.
Most of the day’s purchases will be back for next year’s round of yearling sales and that is the plan for a €38,000 son of Delegator who was knocked down to David Mayerscough.
This colt is out of a half-sister to the smart middle distance runner Battalion and his sale provided connections of the Rochestown Lodge Stud offering with a nice dividend on the €10,000 they paid for the dam at this sale 12 months ago.
“He’s a very nice colt. Unfortunately the sire isn’t around any more but he’s done well from his initial crops and this colt is a good-moving sort from a nice family,” remarked Myerscough.
“He’s a strong sort and we’ll look forward to bringing him back for sale next autumn, possibly at the Goffs Premier Yearling Sale in August.”
TIMELY BOOST
The €38,000 mark was also reached by the Castlehyde Stud team when they struck for a son of War Command, who will be represented by his first runners next year.
This Highpark-consigned colt enjoyed a timely boost to his pedigree last month when his juvenile half-sister Dianthus was placed in a Gowran maiden just three days before their elder half-sister Aunty Audrey won at Cork.
Much earlier in the day, Joe Foley spent €34,000 to see off Sam Hoskins for an Elzaam colt belonging to John Jeffers. This foal’s two-year-old own brother Alkhawaneej Boy was an impressive winner on his second start in September.
“He’s a very nice, quality colt and he’s a lot going for him,” stated Foley. “Obviously his own-brother looks very promising – he won his maiden by six lengths and Kevin Ryan rates him highly – so we can look forward to him working away for the pedigree next year.”
Bobby O’Ryan was acting for Suzy Barkley when forking out €30,000 for a son of Dandy Man offered by Ballinalard Stud. The agent confirmed that a return to the sales ring is the plan for the second produce of the useful Talitha Kum.
As the session drew to a close, there was no shortage of interest in a smart son of Zebedee from Ardreigh Stud who cost Timmy Hillman €30,000. The colt is a half-brother to three winners out of the capable Redback mare Red Feathers.
Part 2 - Day 1
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AV Med
2017 239 206 141 1,299,750 9,218 6,500
2016 283 251 154 1,599,700 10,388 7,250