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A COLT foal by Saint Des Saints became the joint highest priced National Hunt foal to be offered at Goffs when topping Tuesday's first session of the company’s December National Hunt Sale at €90,000.
On a solid day’s trade which kicked off a three-day run for the last thoroughbred auction of the year in Ireland, 60% of the 226 lots offered were sold.
The session-topper made considerable appeal on all fronts. He was the only foal on offer this week by his highly successful French-based sire while he is also an own-brother to Willie Mullins’s Irish Grand National hero Burrows Saint who started out on the path to another Aintree Grand National assault at Clonmel last week.
It was generally felt that the colt, who was consigned by Rathmore Stud on behalf of Yeo Barton Bloodstock, would be among the leading lights of the week and he did not disappoint when making his way into the ring. Various parties tried hard to secure this French-bred but, at €90,000, none could match Pat Connell.
“I’ve bought him for a client and the plan is that he will be kept to race,” reported Connell. “He’ll stay here in Ireland and be reared until he is a three-year-old and we’ll just see what plans are made after that.
"Obviously he’s by a top sire and he’s an own-brother to a very good horse so it all added up. As well as that he was a standout physical and I thought he was gorgeous. Ones like him don’t come up for sale too often.”
Crystal Ocean
As the first session entered its closing stages a colt from the notably popular first crop of the top-class middle-distance runner Crystal Ocean cost Gerry Aherne €80,000. The fourth produce of a mare whose first two foals fetched €75,000 and €92,000, this colt was sold by The Beeches Stud and he comes from the immediate family of the Grade 2 performers Diamond Sal, Ring The Boss and Theatre Girl.
“He's been bought for Flash Conroy who is in France and couldn't make it today. He asked us to try and find him the best Crystal Ocean and we felt that this colt was a standout,” reported Aherne. “The sire's first crop have been very well-received and we tried hard on some of them a few weeks ago but we're delighted to get this one.”
Another leading French sire supplied the pace setter through the first half of the day as a daughter of the very popular Doctor Dino sold to Stephen Kemble, acting on behalf of Old Rectory Stud, for €65,000.
This filly was sold by John Dwan’s Ballyreddin Stud and she is already named Lime On Gin which fits well with her pedigree as her dam is a half-sister to another quality filly by Doctor Dino in Henry de Bromhead’s Gin On Lime.
The latter has already enjoyed a fine time of things over fences this season winning five of her eight starts which include a Grade 3 success at Tipperary a couple of months ago.
"She's been bought for Carol and Chris Harris, who is the main man behind Kildare Village, and she has been bought with a view to resale,” said Kemble.
“Obviously she's by a very good sire in Doctor Dino who is a very good sire of fillies and she's a three-parts sister to a promising and very current filly in Gin On Lime.”
Maxios colt
Another quality foal who will be back for sale at a later day is a son of Maxios from Ashwood Stud who fetched €58,000. Adrian Costello signed for this colt who is a half-brother to the dual Grade 2 winner Impact Factor.
“He’s just a very good foal. He’s a good individual and has the walk to go with it. The mare was decent and has already produced a very smart horse in Impact Factor, so it all added up and we’ll look forward to bringing him back as a three-year-old,” stated Costello.
Paul Cashman made his presence felt when going to €45,000 for a son of Sholokhov from Clonmult Farm. This colt is out of an own-sister to the Drinmore Novice Chase victor Coney Island.
This price was closely matched by Ian Ferguson when he gave €42,000 for the first foal out of the Grade 3-winning mare Lackaneen Leader. This colt is yet another foal from the first crop of Crystal Ocean to make a notable impact at auction.
DAY ONE FINAL FIGURES
YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGGREGATE AVERAGE MEDIAN
2021 261 226 135 €1,928,000 €14,281 €10,000
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