AFTER a bidding battle that evoked memories of times past, a €1.2 million daughter of Galileo, who was bought by Godolphin, emerged as the star turn of the opening session of the 2017 Goffs Orby Sale earlier today.
At the conclusion of the first day of the Orby, the sale posted a set of returns that were very similar to those from the corresponding day 12 months ago. An aggregate of just over €21 million represented a two point increase, the median dropped from €70,000 to €67,000, while the average of €108,410 came up marginally short of the €109,877 recorded in 2016.
On a day where trade looked to improve steadily as the day wore on – ultimately producing a clearance rate of 85% – the first session produced some 65 six-figure transactions and, as was the case last year, the strength of the sale lay in the activity from €100,000 onwards.
Just over an hour into the sale the session-topper made her entrance into an expectant sales ring and the first produce of the high-class L’Amour de Ma Vie did not disappoint.
Offered by Ballylinch Stud, who bought the mare for €600,000 in December 2015, the filly further highlighted the major shift which has seen the Godolphin team back buying yearlings by Coolmore sires at auction.
From around €700,000 onwards, John Gosden and M.V. Magnier did battle for the filly and a lengthy duel ensued before Magnier conceded defeat when his final offer of €1.15 million was quickly countered.
“David (Loder), John (Gosden) and I liked her a lot and thought that she was a very athletic filly,” said Anthony Stroud. “She’s a daughter of a high-class racemare, she’s coming off a very good farm and she’s just the sort of filly who will add to what we already have at Godolphin.”
NOTABLE
Over the course of the day Godolphin made several other notable purchases and these included a €460,000 son of Showcasing from Lady O’Reilly Hollyhill Stud.
The most expensive yearling by his sire to sell at auction, this colt enjoyed a fine boost to his pedigree earlier this month when his juvenile half-sister Dark Rose Angel took second in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes.
Godolphin also spent €375,000 on a Dark Angel filly from Mountain View Stud. She is the first produce of a Sea The Stars half-sister to Nightime who was picked up for 57,000gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale.
As she has done on countless occasions in the past, Pat O’Kelly supplied one of the leading lights of the Orby Sale through her Kilcarn Stud when Cheveley Park Stud splashed out €580,000 for a daughter of Invincible Spirit.
Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum mounted a strong challenge for the daughter of the Athasi Stakes winner Prima Luce but he had to settle for the runner-up spot on this occasion.
“She’s a gorgeous filly with great bone, depth and balance. She’s one with a future and she comes from a happening, successful family while, from our point of view, there’s an angle with the pedigree that she has,” reported Cheveley Park’s Chris Richardson, who later went to €390,000 for a Dark Angel filly from Yeomanstown Stud.
PINHOOKING
Among the day’s pinhooking triumphs was a €380,000 daughter of Camelot from Eddie and Wendy O’Leary’s Lynn Lodge Stud.
The 115,000gns foal purchase had since enjoyed a notable update when her half-sister Diamond Fields won the Group 3 Gladness Stakes at Naas in April. The filly was bought by the combination of Peter Doyle, Mayfair Speculators and M.V. Magnier.
“She’s a superb walker and from the moment we first saw her at the weekend we were very keen on her. She’s got quality and she’s from a lovely, happening family,” remarked Doyle.
American-based agent Shawn Dugan tried hard to secure a number of the best yearlings on offer and she did not come away empty handed with her spending including a €380,000 son of Sea The Stars. She also snapped up a €270,000 Kodiac colt consigned by Camas Park Stud who was showing a good return on the 130,000gns he cost as a foal.
A career in Japan could beckon for a daughter of Lope De Vega from Pier House Stud after she was picked up by John McCormack for €350,000. The filly is a half-sister to the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) winner Elusive Wave who is the dam of one of the most expensive foals in Japanese racing history, a Deep Impact colt who made in excess of €4.4m earlier this year.
“She’s been bought for a Japanese client and obviously there’s a lot going in Japan with the family,” observed McCormack. “She’s a half-sister to a classic winner by an up and coming and proven sire whose emergence looks set to continue over the next few years.
"She’s a lovely filly from a pedigree that’s proven on both sides and she’s coming off a farm that recently bred a Grade 1 by Lope De Vega in Capla Temptress.”
The BBA Ireland’s Eamonn Reilly picked up a pair of Galileo fillies who were headed by a €380,000 own-sister to the Italian listed winner Leo Gali. Prior to this, Reilly forked out €320,000 for a Galileo filly out of the Group 3 winner and Grade 1-placed Moment In Time.
“She’s been bought for Frank Fahy’s Gerrardstown Stud in Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath,” stated Reilly, after his initial purchase. “He’s looking to buy some well-bred fillies as potential broodmares for the farm and this filly fitted the bill.
"She’s a good looking sort and you’re not going to get many chances to buy a Galileo filly out of a racemare of this quality.”
Day 1
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AV Med
2017 245 228 195 21,140,000 108,410 67,000
2016 245 222 187 20,547,000 109,877 70,000