A €78,000 filly from the first crop of the The Last Lion, who sold to Rabbah Bloodstock, was the star turn at the opening session of the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale which returned a very respectable level of trade that was able to comfortably better the returns from the corresponding day 12 months ago.
Overall trade was of a low key variety but it was encouraging to see that the clearance rate for the day – 75% - was some 17 points higher than last year. In addition the day’s top price was the highest achieved at this sale in four years. The day’s average of €5,918 was over 4% ahead of last year while the median climbed by 27% to €3,800.
The session topping filly, who was consigned by James Sheehan’s Clonmult Farm, represented the sort of pinhooking fairytale that most can only dream of. Eleven months ago this filly was picked up for just €1,000 at Part 2 of the November Foal Sale but a dramatic appreciation in her price was in the offing as all the stars aligned for this filly.
Not only was she from the well received first crop of the Middle Park Stakes winner but she also hailed from a terrific and successful dynasty that has produced the likes of the Irish 2000 Guineas hero Indian Haven. In addition the filly benefitted from a useful update with her three-year-old half-brother Top Rank achieving a rating of 91. All this made her the most popular lot of the day by far and she was eventually knocked down to Godolphin’s Jimmy Hyland at €78,000.
“She’s been bought for Rabbah Bloodstock. Obviously we have the sire and she is very like him. She’s a lovely, athletic, racy filly from a very good family too. We’re delighted to have gotten her and a trainer for her will be decided in due course,” commented Hyland.
NORMAN WILLIAMSON PURCHASES
Just a couple of minutes previously Norman Williamson outlasted the BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohoe for a €36,000 son of Champs Elysees out of a Galileo mare who comes from a pedigree that has produced the County Hurdle winner Desert Quest.
“You never know where you will find a nice horse and he was a standout today. He’s just a very good looking colt by a sire that has gotten a lot of very smart horses,” reflected Williamson who has a different career in mind for this colt than many of the yearlings that were sold today.
“I’ve actually bought him to store and we’ll strongly consider bringing him back here for the Land Rover Sale,” added the noted producer who has sold two Goffs Land Rover Bumper winners in recent years.
Among the many overseas participants in action was the Italian outfit Razza Latina and their Cristina Brivio picked up a couple of popular fillies. These included a €21,000 filly from the first crop of the Dewhurst Stakes second Kodi Bear and a €20,000 daughter of Iffraaj whose family goes back to the 1000 Guineas winner Shadayid.
“We bought some colts at the Sportsman’s Sale and we like coming to Goffs so we came back looking for some more two-year-olds for next year and these are two nice fillies,” stated Cristina Brivio.
Meanwhile a trip to the breeze-up sales could be next for a son of Power who was knocked down to Katie Walsh’s Greenhills Farm for €20,000. This colt comes from the family of Zoffany.
COMPARATIVE FIGURES FOR DAY 1
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGGREGATE AVERAGE MEDIAN
2019 290 254 191 €1,130,400 €5,918 €3,800
2018 290 255 149 €862,150 €5,786 €3,200
2017 277 245 176 €1,288,750 €7,324 €5,000
READ RYAN McELLIGOTT'S MARKET COMMENT IN THE IRISH FIELD NEXT WEEKEND