THE star turn of this year’s sale was unquestionably the No Nay Never own-sister to last weekend’s Middle Park Stakes hero Blackbeard who cost English agent Richard Knight €2.6 million.

Ever since making a winning debut at Dundalk in April, Blackbeard has done nothing but add to this filly’s value and back-to-back top-level wins in the Prix Morny and at Newmarket last weekend made her an offering of rare quality and appeal.

American Jacob West tried hard for the granddaughter of Scat Daddy, who was consigned by Glenvale Stud on behalf of Newstead Breeding, but he came up short against an unyielding Knight. The latter was acting for undisclosed client but did indicate that his purchase would go into training in England. Prior to Goffs Knight had spent close to €2 million at Arqana in August and last month his purchasing at Keeneland came in just short of $5 million. Glenvale ended the sale as leading vendor with the farm’s draft grossing just over €4.7 million.

Penultimate crops

The 2022 Orby Sale played host to 11 yearlings from the penultimate crop of Galileo and these included a €750,000 filly who will race for Newtown Anner Stud after being snapped up by P.J. Colville. This filly is the first produce of a top-class juvenile in Signora Cabello who won the Queen Mary Stakes and the Prix Robert Papin as well as filling the runner-up spot in the Prix Morny.

Galileo was also the source of a €430,000 filly out of the American Grade 1 winner Nickname who entered the ring a year after her own-sister, Starry Eyed, headed the 2021 Orby at €1.5 million. Just a few days on from Starry Eyed’s eye-catching debut at Dundalk, BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohoe secured this Baroda Stud-consigned filly on behalf of an Irish-based owner-breeder. BBA Ireland was the leading purchaser at the sale by some distance, signing for just short of €4.5 million worth of yearlings.

Fillies abound

Among the many quality fillies on offer was a daughter of Sea The Stars from Paddy Burns’ Loughtown Stud who cost Hugo Merry €460,000. A daughter of a stakes-placed runner in France, she was bought for a partnership of Andrew Rosen, Gainesway and LNJ Foxwoods.

M.V. Magnier’s spending for the week was headed by a €420,000 filly from the first crop of Godolphin’s top-class sprinter Blue Point. This Mountain View Stud homebred is out of a half-sister to another leading sprinter in Profitable.

Magnier also gave €360,000 for a daughter of No Nay Never from Barronstown Stud who is out of an own-sister to the Arc winner Rail Link.