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A €140,000 son of Mehmas held sway as the Goffs November Foal Sale got off to a bright beginning on Monday with a session that comfortably outstripped the corresponding day last year in all areas.
In 2020 this sale began with a session that saw nine lots make €40,000 or more but that number increased to 14 this time around and that growth was reflected in the figures for the session.
An aggregate of just over €3.3 million represented a 55% improvement on last year, the average of €19,451 grew by 41 points while the median went from €10,000 to €16,000.
The clearance rate also came in at a respectable 77% at the conclusion of a session which bodes well for the coming days.
Tally-Ho
The top lot was the last horse through the ring on Monday evening and Tally-Ho Stud man Tony O’Callaghan would not be denied in his pursuit of a distinguished colt by his farm’s highly promising and already very success Mehmas.
A half-brother to a €95,000 yearling by Galileo Gold and out of a half-sister to the smart Gwan So, this colt kept quite a crowd at Kildare Paddocks as the curtain came down on day one but the battle for this Vinesgrove Stud offering came down to O’Callaghan and Willie Browne with the former prevailing before confirming his purchase would be back for resale next year.
Star filly
For much of the day it seemed as though centre stage would be occupied by a daughter of Starspangledbanner from Airlie Stud for whom leading pinhooker Ciaran Conroy went to €62,000.
This filly is a half-sister to a winner out of a mare who numbers the Group 1-winning juvenile Zafisio amongst her siblings.
“She will be back for resale next year. She’s a lovely filly by a very good sire who had another very good year on the track in 2021 and we’ll look forward to next autumn with her,” stated Conroy.
Make Believe colt
At this sale in 2012 Rathmoyle Exports signed for a Zebedee colt who made €65,000 before going on to realise 220,000gns as a yearling and when he reached the track that colt proved to be the top drawer juvenile Ivawood. Rathmoyle appeared back amongst the list of buyers today when going to €60,000 for a Make Believe colt from Ballylinch Stud whose dam is a half-sister to Astaire.
First crop
As ever huge focus this week will be on the various sires being represented by their first foals and several members of this cohort made an impact yesterday.
Among them was the dual Group 1-winning Ten Sovereigns and he was responsible for a colt from Arglo House Stud who cost FC Bloodstock €52,000. This colt is a grandson of the Group 3-winning Danehill Music.
Meanwhile the first foal on offer this week by the Arc de Triomphe victor Waldgeist will be returning to the home of her sire as Ballylinch Stud forked out €48,000 for this Knockainey Stud offering who is a half-sister to several winners including the stakes-placed Kodiac Gal.
“She’s a good-looking filly and coming from a very good breeder in Nelius Hayes. She’s the first one by the sire for sale this week and we’ll probably bring her back next year but we do have the option of keeping her to race too. We’re very encouraged by what we have seen of Waldgeist’s first this week,” remarked Ballylinch’s John O’Connor.
Caravaggio progeny
One sire whose runners have already hit the track is Caravaggio and a first crop which included fillies the calibre of Tenebrism and Agartha means that the progeny of the Scat Daddy horse are likely to be in some demand over the next fortnight. His representatives on day one included a filly out of the capable two-year-old Oh Grace and she was knocked down to Gaelic Bloodstock at €52,000.
Starspangledbanner had a number of popular sorts to represent him throughout the day and these also included a close relation of the dual American Grade 1 winner Obviously who cost pinhooker Philipp Stauffenberg €45,000.
Meanwhile RC Bloodstock gave €44,000 for a son of the Choisir horse before matching that price for a daughter of Twilight Son.
COMPARATIVE FIGURES FOR DAY ONE
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGGREGATE AVERAGE MEDIAN
2021 245 225 174 €3,384,500 €19,451 €16,000
2020 286 254 159 €2,188,200 €13,762 €10,000
2019 272 222 158 €2,871,100 €18,172 €14,000
2018 276 244 145 €2,685,000 €18,517 €15,000
2017 279 245 190 €4,051,550 €21,334 €17,000
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