GALILEO may be gone – never to be forgotten – but the Coolmore team firmly believe in his champion son Frankel, and yesterday afternoon M.V. Magnier further endorsed that belief when he spent 675,000gns on a February-foaled son of the Juddmonte sire.

The sale represented a high for David and Trish Brown’s Furnace Mill Stud, the best result for the farm with a foal and a figure that reduced breeder Trish Brown to tears.

BBA Ireland and Gay O’Callaghan were amongst the early bidders, but the bidding developed into a fight-out between M.V. Magnier and Juddmonte Farms.

The Irishman, standing in the doorway, entering the bidding at 400,000gns.

The Juddmonte team of Simon Mockridge and Barry Mahon were seated throughout and responded rapidly, but in the end had to settle for the runner-up spot.

“He’s a very nice horse who’s very good-looking and a brother to a good horse as well. David and Trish Brown are very good breeders and we’ve known them a very long time; so I’m delighted to be able to buy this horse from them. Sadly, David couldn’t be here today but hopefully he’ll be happy with that result,” said Magnier.

Sleepless nights

“It is fantastic; worth all the sleepless nights,” smiled Trish Brown, who watched the sale by the acorn at the ringside. “He has been brilliant all the way through, a lovely horse. It was lovely to see him making that money.

“We bought the mare here as a three-year-old. She was 25,000gns from New England Stud and she has been a star.

“We bred Juan Elcano by Frankel, and it was obvious to go back to him again. We felt the mare deserved a chance with him. We have her two-year-filly by Oasis Dream, and she is in foal to Sea The Moon. We have had three by Frankel, they have all had the most wonderful temperaments, wonderful horses to deal with.”

Home viewing

David Brown, a former cricketer who played 26 Test matches for England before establishing Furnace Mill in 1976, was not at the sale. His wife explained: “He has not been good on his legs of late, and finds it difficult up here. He is holding the fort at home. I am sure he was watching; he can just about manage to operate the Tattersalls site!”

The couple’s granddaughter Emily was in charge of leading up duties.

The foal’s dam Whatami has produced the Group 3 winner Nkosikazi and the aforementioned Juan Elcano, a listed winner and three-time Group 2 placed.

She is a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Whazzis, grandam of James Garfield, winner of the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes. This is the stallion family of Invincible Spirit and Kodiac.