A TOP price of €130,000, which came in the shape of a Lope De Vega colt, and an improved set of final figures for the Goffs Sportsman’s Sale ensured that the week at Kildare Paddocks ended on a bright note on Thursday evening.

Last year the Sportsman’s Sale spanned two days and was unable to match the heights of previous years so there is no doubt that the auction benefited from a reduction in size this time around. The figures for the day showed gains on last year’s totals although they still lay some way off the returns of an excellent 2015 edition of the auction.

An aggregate of just over €4.8 million was a five point progression on last year while the average of €20,838 finished ahead by 7%. The median improved from €15,000 to €16,000 while the clearance rate increased by four points to 85%.

The sale-topping son of Lope De Vega was consigned by Croom House Stud and made notable appeal on pedigree. As well as being a fine representative of a leading sire, he is the second produce of a Grade 3-placed runner whose first foal, Special Purpose, has won twice this season and was recently placed at Group 3 level. Stephen Hillen made a strong play for the colt but he had to give best to John Cullinan when the price hit €130,000.

“He’s just a good, solid horse and let’s hope that he can gallop when he goes to the breeze-up sales,” said Cullinan. “He’s by a proven sire and he’s out of a smart mare who is off to a flyer with her first runner. It all added up and he looked a standout lot today. I’ve bought him with Roger Marley.”

Also bound for the breeze-up sales is a most elegant Pivotal filly who came to John Hassett for €75,000 after he outlasted Eddie Lynam. This granddaughter of the Nell Gwyn Stakes winner Misterah was sold by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Lumville Farm.

"She’s been bought for a syndicate to go breezing. She’s a lovely filly with a very nice page and if she breezes well she should have a good resale value. She’s just a classy filly with a lot going for her,” stated Hassett.

The BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohoe was busy securing stock for Chinese owner Zhang Yuesheng's Yulong Investments and their purchases featured an €85,000 daughter of Dream Ahead from Mount Eaton Stud. This filly is a half-sister to a Del Mar Oaks winner and comes from a family littered with high quality performers.

Earlier in the day Donohoe spent €62,000 on the only Australia filly in the catalogue. The Camas Park Stud offering is a half-sister to several very smart American performers.

"She’s just a good looking filly with a nice page and she’ll have plenty of residual value,” commented Donohoe after purchasing the Australia filly. “A number of Irish companies including Coolmore, Goffs, Red Mills and ITM sponsored races in China this year and Mr Zhang is keen to reciprocate their support and he will have a good number of horses in training here next year.”

Bobby O’Ryan picked up a couple of in demand yearlings to join Keith Dalgleish and these were a €60,000 colt from the first crop of the high class Gregorian and a €55,000 son of Camacho.

Meanwhile Stephen Hillen was acting for Richard Hughes when he forked out €55,000 for a son of Kyllachy hailing from Torard House Stud. The descendant of the brilliant Lochsong was showing a good return on the 15,500gns he cost at the Tattersalls February Sale.

“He was well bought earlier in the year - he’s a nice type with a strong backend from a fast family and he looked the part,” reflected Hillen.

COMPARATIVE FIGURES FOR THE SPORTSMAN'S SALE

YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGG AV Med

2017 286 274 236 4,834,500 20,838 16,000

2016 310 293 236 4,618,000 19,568 15,000

2015 244 225 203 4,892,700 24,102 18,000

MUCH MORE GOFFS SALE COVERAGE & COMMENT IN THE IRISH FIELD THIS WEEKEND