THERE was considerable excitement ahead of the 1994 Goffs November Sale where it was expected that the first crop of foals by Golden Fleece would be well received. So they were, with the top three prices being achieved by his progeny.

Two of his daughters shattered the previous European record price for a foal set by the Shergar colt a year before. Ray Bell paid 500,000gns for the filly out of Baccalaureate sold from Thomastown Castle Stud, while Barronstown Stud’s daughter of Spirit In The Sky was bought for 425,000gns by Robert Sangster.