A Justify yearling half-sister to Minnie Hauk sold for €1.4 million at Goffs on Monday afternoon.
Consigned by the Hyde family's Camas Park Stud on behalf of breeder Ben Sangster, the filly was expected to make headlines on day one of the Orby Sale, following the exploits of her older sibling (by Frankel) who topped this sale herself and won three Group 1 races last season before being beaten narrowly in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. She was Europe's champion three-year-old filly of 2025.
Shortly after 4.15pm on Monday, Minnie Hauk's half-sister entered the sales ring and auctioneer Henry Beeby asked for an opening bid of €2 million. The asking price was quickly halved twice more before an opening bid of €300,000 was landed.
The price rose rapidly to €800,000 before stalling momentarily. Then the bidding war really took off, jumping in €50,000 increments to €1 million and then increasing €100,000 at a time. In a matter of seconds, the price was at €1.4 million. "Look at the way she walks," Beeby said, scanning the arena for a fresh bidder before bringing down the gavel in favour of M.V. Magnier.
The successful buyer said: "In fairness to Ben and Lucy [Sangster] they’ve been great supporters of ours for God knows how long, and Ollie [Sangster] in fairness to him is doing great as a trainer. It’s a great result for them.
"Justify is having another very good year again. Haffner looks like he could be a very good horse; he’s very quick.
"If she is anywhere as good as her sister I think we will be doing alright. [Minnie Hauk] ran an absolute blinder last year [in the Arc] and Aidan is very happy with her again. She will not race again next year, and I would presume Michael [Tabor] and Derrick (Smith] may want to go to Justify with her. It looks like [the cross] works, so I’d say that might be the reason they might go to him with her."
A "delighted" Ben Sangster said: "She is going to the right hotel, Ballydoyle, which is obviously a key factor for the family – and I’m delighted with the price. Couldn’t be happier."
Sangster has not given up hope that Minnie Hauk could go one place better in the Arc next Sunday.
"She is a 20/1 shot, but it might happen – she might make this one look cheap! Multilingual is in foal to Frankel, we have no foal. She is due in February, touch wood.
"This is nerve-wracking. Watching any race or being involved in anything like that [the sale] is high expectation. She was a beauty from birth. I was reasonably relaxed because I knew that she was a collector’s item, and now she has gone to the best place possible."
By 5pm on Monday, 138 of the 156 yearlings offered had found buyers, giving a clearance rate of 88.5%. The average price was running at €142,714 and the median price at €97,500.
Last year the average and median for the two-day Book 1 sale were €133,569 and €95,000 respectively.
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