Lot 142 (c) Power ex Mala Mala

Vendor: Glenvale Stud

Purchaser: Mark Johnston

Price: €155,000

This colt enjoyed a tremendous boost in the days leading up to the sale courtesy of his half-brother The Last Lion’s surprise victory in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes. Given events at Newmarket last Saturday it was no surprise to see The Last Lion’s trainer Mark Johnston step in to secure this colt.

Also noteworthy is the produce record of the dam, Mala Mala, who was twice placed a Group 1 level for Tommy Stack as a two-year-old in 2000. Mala Mala has produced eight winners from as many runners and is already the dam of three individual stakes winners. The omens are good for this colt.

Lot 150 (f) Camelot ex Massada

Vendor: Lynn Lodge Stud

Purchaser: Kenji Ryotokuji

Price: €170,000

A career in the Far East could beckon for this filly after she was knocked down to Japanese owner Kenji Ryotokuji. A €38,000 purchase at Goffs last November, she was one of most notable pinhooks on day one as she showed a four fold appreciation on her initial cost. Another sought after member of Camelot’s first crop, this filly is a half-sister to a pair of blacktype winners including the Group 1-placed Les Fazzani.

Lot 191 (c) Dandy Man ex Nutshell

Vendor: Ballyhane

Purchaser: George Moore Bloodstock

Price: €220,000

This colt has the distinction of being the highest priced yearling by his sire to sell at auction and it was appropriate that he should hail from the farm where his sire resides. Dandy Man’s leading runners are headed by the top notch Hong Kong-based sprinter Peniaphobia and this horse was bought by George Moore, whose father John is among the leading trainers in that jurisdiction.

Interestingly this colt’s dam, Nutshell, was picked up for just 2,500gns by Ballyhane at the 2011 December Mares Sale and in the intervening period she has enjoyed plenty of good updates in her immediate family.

Lot 235 (c) Lope De Vega ex Rich Gift

Vendor: Manister House Stud

Purchaser: Joseph O’Brien

Price: €340,000

Fresh from sending out the first Group 1 winner of his training career Joseph O’Brien was busy acquiring fresh talent this week and he signed for six lots over the course of the Orby Sale. The highest priced among them was this chesnut whose dam has already produced a pair of Italian stakes winners.

The dam is the stakes-placed Rich Gift and she was already a 16-year-old when she came up for sale with a Lope De Vega covering at the 2014 November Sale. She sold for €32,000 on that occasion and the resulting offspring made that purchase a more than worthwhile one.

Lot 379 (c) Quality Road ex Arravale

Vendor: Grangemore Stud

Purchaser: Sackville Donald

Price: €260,000

This colt looked one of the most intriguing lots as he was the only one on offer by his sire who made quite an impression in Europe two seasons ago courtesy of his Royal Ascot-winning son and Prix Morny second Hootenanny. His dam, Arravale, was Horse of the Year in Canada. After failing to sell for $85,000 as a foal at Keeneland the grandson of Elusive Quality enjoyed vastly better fortune on his latest visit to the sales ring.