AS the penultimate session of the Goffs November Foal Sale came to a close there was a notable piece of Goffs history in the making when a daughter of Galileo from The Castlebridge Consignment made her way into the ring.

She will have the distinction of being the final foal by Galileo to be offered at Kildare Paddocks and her exit from the ring represented the end of an extraordinary era which began when Galileo’s first foals were offered all the way back in 2003. This particular filly cost the BBA Ireland €290,000 and she is a half-sister to the multiple listed-placed sprinter Gold Filigree.

Notable sales

Mark McStay’s Avenue Bloodstock spent €250,000 on a Sea The Stars own-brother to the brilliant Deutsches Derby winner Sea The Moon, and Joe Foley matched this price for another son of the sire.

Foley’s purchase is an own-brother to the brilliant Sea Of Class and such is the quality of this foal’s pedigree he was, remarkably, catalogued with just one dam on his page.

Among the sires to make an impact with their first crop was the brilliant Ghaiyyath, a former €1.1 million November Foal Sale top lot. He supplied Tuesday’s most expensive foal which came in the shape of a €185,000 colt from Ridge Manor Stud who was knocked down to Pier House Stud.

The first foals on offer by the Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass were headed by a €180,000 colt who was bought by Michael Fitzpatrick’s JC Bloodstock. The latter’s purchase is a half-brother to the Irish Champions Weekend winner I’m A Gambler who recently sold for 850,000gns to continue his career in America.

Sales ground quote

“It was very strong at the top end and you could see that in some of the big pinhookers really stepping up their spend in order to get the foals they wanted. The footfall was great and that translated into the sales ring. On Tuesday we sold all 16 of the foals we offered. It was somewhat selective lower down the market but, in all, this was a very good sale that attracted all the major players.” - David Cox - Baroda Stud.