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IRISH consignors dominated Wednesday's inaugural Dubai Breeze-Up Sale in association with Goffs, which saw 69 two-years-old sold for over €8 million, or an average price of €157,000.
The sale was conducted in the winner’s enclosure at Meydan, just days before the Dubai World Cup meeting on Saturday. Sheikh Mohammed was among those in attendance.
It was fitting that a son of Dubai World Cup winner Curlin topped a vibrant first sale. Offered by Tom Whitehead’s Powerstown Stud in Co Kilkenny, the colt out of two-time winner Saucy Dame was purchased by Mohammed Al Subousi for €619,808 (AED 2,500,000).
Whitehead bought the colt for $150,000 at Keeneland last September.
Frankel’s half-brother to stakes winners and Group 1 placed Lily’s Angel and Zurigha was the next highest priced breezer and will head to Japan having been purchased by Hirokazu Okada of Big Red Farm for €520,638 (AED 2,100,000).
Bred by Nick and Alice Nugent, this colt was sold as a foal for €360,000 and was retained as a yearling for 300,000gns. He was consigned here by Roger Marley and John Cullinan's Church Farm and Horse Park Stud.
Among the draft from Aguiar Bloodstock was a son of Kingman out of Raskutani, whose seven winners from seven runners include group winner and classic placed Agent Murphy, as well as Global Heat who is multiple group-placed in the UAE.
The colt sold to Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock for €495,846 (AED 2,000,000).
Aguiar and Amo Racing bought the colt as a yearling for 110,000gns.
Another popular member of the sale-topping Powerstown Stud consignment was a Mo Town colt who was knocked down to Prince Fasil Khalid bin Abdulaziz for €495,846 (AED 2,000,000). The colt was a $110,000 Keeneland purchase last September.
The sale opened in style a Gun Runner colt out of multiple group winning dam Bank Audit, selling for €347,092 (AED 1,400,000) to Dr Jim and Fitri Hay who also went to €396,677 (AED 1,600,000) late in the evening for a filly by Into Mischief out of Group 2 winner Ageless. Both lots were offered by Micky Cleere’s MC Thoroughbreds. The Gun Runner had failed to sell in America as a yearling (bidding reached $70,000 and changed hands afterwards for less) and the Into Mischief filly fetched $45,000 as a yearling.
Goffs' CEO Henry Beeby said: “The first Dubai Breeze-Up Sale has laid the most solid foundations for future evolution following a vibrant evening in the winner’s enclosure at the iconic Meydan racecourse.
"Goffs would like to thank the Dubai Racing Club for the trust and confidence placed in our service and we salute the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed in adding the sale to this amazing weekend of racing.
"The Dubai World Cup is the focal point of the racing and bloodstock world this weekend and the global appeal of Dubai was clearly reflected in the international nature of the list of buyers who literally travelled from every corner of the world.
"We have learned a huge amount in our first year and look forward to growing the sale in future years with the Dubai Racing Club.
"It was some evening, some privilege, and some atmosphere”.
SALE STATISTICS
Offered: 69
Sold: 52 (74%)
Aggregate: AED 31,580,000 / €8,200,409
Average: AED 609,412 / €157,700
Median: AED 400,000 / €104,128
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