By Daithi Harvey
KILDARE, Ireland—the two day Goffs Sportsman's Sale followed on from the Orby Sale on Thursday and expectations were naturally lowered after some eye-watering transactions the previous two days. Last year's sale was held in one session but a marked increase in entries lead to a second day added this time around and as a result the number offered on Wednesday was significantly lower than last year. This in turn had an adverse effect on the day's turnover which came in at €2,921,500. However the average and median of €18,034 (-4.9%) and €14,000 (-6.7%) held up reasonably on last year. Of slightly more concern was the drop in clearance rate from last year's 85% to 79% after 162 of the 205 offered yearlings changed hands.
At last year's Sportsman the top price achieved was €90,000 but on this occasion that price was eclipsed when lot 625, a good moving daughter of Camelot (GB) offered by Pine Tree Stud exited the ring having been knocked down to Stroud Coleman for €100,000. The agency's Matt Coleman was bidding alongside George Murphy, son of Cork trainer John Joseph.
After getting the better of Willie McCreery, who trains the filly's 85-rated half-sister Tammy Wynette (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), Coleman said, “I've bought her for George and John Joseph Murphy. It's a good pedigree featuring a champion 2-year-old in Toormore (Ire) (Arakan) and the family got a significant update recently.”
That update came courtesy of the filly's other half-sister Orlaith (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) who won a listed race at Newbury in August and finished a close fourth in the G3 Firth Of Clyde S. at Ayr two weeks ago.
“I actually bought Camelot's first 2-year-old winner Fighting Irish (Ire) and this filly isn't unlike him physically,” Coleman added.
The same Coleman/Murphy combination added another yearling later in the afternoon when buying lot 646, a son of Sea The Stars (Ire) for €38,000.
Qatar Bloodstock Snap Up Kodiac Colt
Tally-Ho Stud's homebred son of Kodiac (GB) (lot 529) was another to benefit from a significant update since the catalogue was printed when his half-brother Ranch Hand (GB) (Dunaden {Fr}) won a heritage handicap at Haydock last month. That performance saw his rating rise to 99 and the victory was not lost on Qatar Racing representative Peter Molony who eventually signed the docket at €65,000. The smart moving colt is out of the three time winning stakes performer Victoria Montoya (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Molony commented, “I think he is a lovely colt and the standout horse here today. Ranch Hand looks a very promising horse and Kodiac is a sire we've had plenty of luck with also. I'm not sure who will train him yet.”
Tally-Ho had some fine results in the Orby and this was another example of the team's bloodstock nous. Victoria Montoya was bought by Tally-Ho for 14,000gns at Tattersalls three years ago. They sold the Sir Percy (GB) colt she was carrying last year for €22,000 and the mare, now well and truly paid for, has been covered this year by Kodiac's barnmate Galileo Gold (GB).
Brendan Holland has been active as both vendor and purchaser this week and he donned his buyer's hat to acquire lot 642 for €70,000 in the name of Roger Marley's Church Farm Stables. The No Nay Never filly is the first produce of the juvenile winner Dancing On Air (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) from the family of champion sprinters Royal Applause (GB) and Lyric Fantasy (Ire).
“She has been bought to go breezing and she comes from a good quick family,” Holland said of the filly, offered by The Castlebridge Consignment. “She is a good sort herself too, very strong and a lovely mover.”
Bill Dwan's consignment team was responsible for another €70,000 yearling soon after when Gerry Hogan bought lot 652, a son of Fastnet Rock (Aus) out of the Galileo (Ire) mare Desire Moi (Ire) from the family of Lush Lashes (GB) (Galileo {Ire}).
Morgan Hoping For Another Dance
Having selected the likes of Sir Dancealot (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) and Mums Tipple (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), among others in recent years, it was no surprise to see Joanna Morgan's services being enlisted to find more future racecourse stars and she struck for one of the session's top priced yearlings. Lot 558, an Ivawood (Ire) colt from Eddie O'Leary's Lynn Lodge Stud cost Morgan €56,000 and she was delighted to get him.
“He's a lovely big strong horse and I've bought him for the owners of Sir Dancealot so he will probably go to David Elsworth,” she said.
Ivawood has been represented by some smart types this year from his first crop of runners including 'TDN Rising Star' Hurricane Ivor (Ire) and last week's French stakes winner Chares (Ger) and Morgan is a fan of his progeny.
“They seem to have good minds and they tend to be fine, big good-looking horses just like the sire himself. Hopefully Sir Dancealot will win the [G1 Prix de] Foret on Sunday and pay for this lad,” she added.
Burke Adds To His Team
Karl Burke along with his daughter Kelly was busy adding to his high class string and among the lots that will be on their way to Spigot Lodge in Yorkshire is lot 585.
After successfully bidding €62,000 for the Footstepsinthesand (GB) colt Burke said, “He is a lovely, athletic, strong colt and I've bought him on spec. The mare was rated 100 and she's been bred to some staying stallions in the past so hopefully Footstepsinthesand will inject a bit of speed.”
The colt out of the stakes-placed Artistica (Ire) (Spectrum {Ire}) was offered by Joe Hernon's Castletown Stud and among those observing the sale with interest was Hernon's brother Michael, Director of Sales at Gainesway Farm and back in the homeland on a busman's holiday.
“I'm back in Ireland mainly to attend the wedding of my nephew Paul and to spend a bit of time with my mother in Wicklow but it's always good to mix a bit of business with pleasure,” Hernon said. “This is the home of the horse after all and it's great to catch up with so many people. I've been keeping busy, I've had some enquiries about our stallions and I went to see a Galileo (Ire) mare we board in Coolmore along with her War Front foal and next week I'm going over to Newmarket to catch up with another brother who is yearling manager in Cheveley Park Stud.”
Hernon continued, “This is such an international business now. You see it with one of our own stallions Karakontie (Jpn). He is emerging nicely and obviously making an impression in Europe too which isn't surprising given his profile. Wesley Ward has a nice filly by him called Karak, she runs in a Grade III in Belmont on Saturday so hopefully she can win,” he said. “I wish I could stay over a bit longer, but we've got over 150 horses selling in the next five weeks so it's leading into another busy time.”
Hernon couldn't escape a horse sale empty handed and he later revealed to the TDN that he was involved in the purchase of lot 629, a filly by Bungle Inthejungle (GB) that sold for €35,000.
There was another transaction with an American connection earlier in the session when US-based Irish agent Ben McElroy went to €40,000 to secure lot 547, a son of Ballyhane stallion Prince of Lir (Ire) offered by Ballygowan Stud. Bought as a foal by Ballyhane Stud for €7,000, the colt obviously matured well in the meantime and McElroy revealed be would be shipping to America to be trained by Wesley Ward.
Polish Racing On The Up
The racing industry in Poland seems to be ticking over quite nicely and a large contingent of Polish owners and trainers, spearheaded by Goffs Central Eastern European agent Kishore Mirpuri, arrived in Kildare Paddocks earlier in the week with intentions of boosting the equine racing population back home. They made good on their intentions, and, aided by Bobby O'Ryan they accounted for several notable purchases during the session. Heading them was lot 494, a filly by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) from Ballintry Stud that cost €35,000.
“Between Poland and Czech Republic we have about 30 buyers here this week,” confirmed Kishore Mirpuri. “Racing in Poland is definitely on the up, there is talk of a 30% prizemoney increase next year and there is also potential of getting some races upgraded in the European pattern. We have seen the popularity of the sport among the general public increase as well with well-known, influential people getting involved. As a result the Polish buyers are now operating at a much higher level in the market compared to a few years ago and it's not unusual now for them to give between €50,000 or €60,000 for a horse.”
Mirpuri also believes there is significant growth potential in the region and expects to be back in Ireland next month for the Autumn Yearling Sale.
“Goffs are really getting behind the region and next month I will be back with buyers from Hungary, Bulgaria and Serbia as well as some regulars from Poland and Czech Republic. The Polish buyers that have been coming for a few years are beginning to recognize and understand the pedigrees now so that helps too. But the most important thing is the Irish horses, they win the good races in Poland and that is what keeps the buyers coming back for more.”
The final session of the Sportsman's Sale continues from 10a.m. on Friday morning.
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