VICTORY for Felix Natalis in the Goffs Sportsman’s Challenge at Naas on Thursday brought joy on a number of fronts. He was a third winning juvenile on the day for his first-season sire Harry Angel (Dark Angel) who is piling on the winners, and has some 15 already. They include the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes runner-up Marshman.

It will have also been pleasing for the colt’s breeder, Ennistown Stud, after the disappointment they suffered when selling Felix Natalis as a foal for just €3,500 to Brian Dunning, but he realised a more acceptable €20,000 for the colt when he resold him last year. Bear in mind that Harry Angel stood his initial season at Dalham Hall at a fee of £20,000.

Ennistown Stud used the services of BBA Ireland when purchasing the dam of Felix Natalis, the unraced Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) mare Newtown Pippin for 55,000gns from Godolphin, carrying the colt.

They had little joy either when selling the mare’s second produce, a filly by Calyx (Kingman), for €12,000 last November, but Rockview Stables look set to benefit when she is reoffered in Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Newtown Pippin is a half-sister to four winners, and she is the third daughter of the stakes winner Vista Bella (Diktat) to breed a two-year-old winner this year. Vista Bella only raced five times and she was placed in the Group 1 1000 Guineas. She was the best of nine winners from Cox Orange (Trempolino), a hardy mare who won 10 times, including the Group 3 Prix Calvados at two and four Grade 3 races in the USA.