KILDARE, Ireland–The second and final day of the February Sale at Goffs saw a selection of 2-year-olds, horses in training, breeding stock and a pair of stallion prospects come under the hammer and after a tough morning for vendors trade picked up in the early afternoon when a number of attractive broodmare prospects were offered for sale.
The Aga Khan Studs can always be relied upon to offer a draft that contains some star quality, and it was one of their select offerings, Sheranda (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) (lot 513), that proved the most sought after when selling to Eamonn Reilly of BBA Ireland for €220,000. This top price comfortably eclipsed the highest achieved last year and contributed to a total sale aggregate of €4,078,700, a small increase on last year, admittedly from a slightly bigger catalogue. The clearance rate of 65% dropped a couple of points on last year's 68% while the average of €13,965 and median of €6,500 also just failed to match the corresponding 2019 figures.
Speaking after the sale, Goffs Chief Executive Officer Henry Beeby said, “Goffs February is the preferred option for so many breeders at this time of year as it combines the largest selection of [yearlings] with an eclectic mix of mares and fillies with breeding potential. In the main it reacts to the previous autumn's trade both in terms of entries and trade. As such it follows a superb edition of the Goffs November Sale which returned a stunning trade for the cream of the foal crop and exceeded expectations for the breeding stock catalogued. Tuesday's [yearlings] enjoyed a vibrant trade for the most part with keen competition for those that a large group of buyers, mostly made up of pinhookers, felt would hold most appeal at the first choice 2020 yearling sales. Of course the knock-on effect is a trade that can be unforgiving for those less obvious picks although it was gratifying to see the clearance rate improve by three points; that said 65% is not a statistic that leads to much celebration but is a stark illustration of the unforgiving nature of the market.”
He continued, “Wednesday's breeding stock and mixed session has performed well with the top two prices of €220,000 and €200,000 both more than double last year's high. We have been delighted to welcome a truly international group of buyers from across Europe and the Gulf Region, whilst the home team has also been very active although, once again, selectivity has been the key word reflecting the market everywhere at present. For now we extend our thanks to each vendor and every purchaser for their support as we are nothing without them.”
BBA agents accounted for the top three lots of the whole sale and after signing for the sale topper Eamonn Reilly said, “I've bought her for an Irish breeder who would prefer to remain anonymous. I don't know what stallion she will go to but there will be plenty of options. She comes from a typically deep Aga Khan family and there was a lot to like about her.”
Reilly certainly wasn't talking her up as Sheranda is a half-sister to two graded stakes winners in the G2 Blandford S. winner Shamreen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Canadian Grade III winner Shahroze (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Reilly had earlier breathed some much-needed life into the sale when buying another of the Aga Khan draft in Hazakiyra (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) (lot 430). Acting for the same unnamed Irish client, Reilly saw off a determined series of bids from Paul Monaghan to land the Tramore maiden winner for €150,000. Like his earlier purchase, Hazakiyra hails from a family replete with bold print, being a half-sister to the multiple group winner Hazapour (Ire) (Shamardal), from the family of dual Derby winner Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
Before signing for the sale topper Eamonn Reilly had earlier been usurped by his colleague Mick Donohoe as buyer of the top lot when Donohoe landed Hergame (GB) (Motivator {GB}) (lot 450), a winner and stakes-placed in France and offered by Grange Hill Stud. Like Reilly, Donohoe was also acting on behalf of an existing Irish client. “She is a lovely physical, with a very nice page and she showed plenty of ability on the track,” Donohoe said. “She will go to stud straight away but I'm not sure what stallion she will go to.”
Four mares brought six figures on Wednesday and the fourth to do so was Vrai (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) (lot 521), who was making her second successive appearance in this sale. Offered last year barren, she was signed for by Mick Flanagan at €75,000 but she returned this year again from Baroda Stud complete with a Le Havre (Ire) cover and it was John Walsh who landed the half-sister to Lilbourne Lad (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) for €130,000. “She is for a new client in Ireland and she is from a family I know well going back a few generations,” Walsh said.
Paul Monaghan of The Cottage Stud got involved in the bidding with another one of the best-bred mares in the catalogue but again had to give best ultimately when Dawn Of A New Era (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) was knocked down to Martin Wanless for €72,000. The Redmonstown Stud offered full-sister to both Dawn Approach (Ire) and Herald The Dawn (Ire) was offered in foal to Make Believe (GB), and all Wanless could reveal about lot 438 was that she was bought to remain in Ireland.
Having originally been bought back by her vendor, Araajmh (Street Cry {Ire}) (lot 500) then changed hands back in the barns when selling to Summerhill Bloodstock for €62,500. The 10-year-old ticked a lot of boxes for a broodmare being a half-sister to Invincible Army (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) who has already produced a stakes horse in All Star Cast (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and who is carrying a foal by US Navy Flag.
The first of the mares to make a bit of a splash in the ring was Maiden Voyage (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) (lot 383). The former French and British trained 5-year-old won twice and showed some smart form without getting black-type and this was enough to see the good-looking mare command a price of €55,000 from the bid of Blue Diamond Stud's Imad Al Sagar and Tony Nerses. A mating with Irish National Stud stallion Decorated Knight (GB) is next on the agenda with Al Sagar already making good on his intention to support the stallion as much as he can, as evidenced by his purchase of a number of foals by the stallion last year.
Of his purchase on Wednesday Al Sagar said, “She is a lovely, well-balanced mare with good conformation and she should suit Decorated Knight well. I think her pedigree will also work well with Decorated Knight and it continues our policy of supporting the stallion strongly to give him every possible chance of success.”
The Blue Diamond team stuck round for the afternoon and added a Galileo (Ire) mare to their broodmare band when acquiring Stereo Viewing (Ire) (lot 478) for €80,000. The Castlebridge-consigned 5-year-old was a winner and placed six times in seven starts in America and is out of a full-sister to GII San Francisco Mile winner Chinese Dragon (Stravinsky).
The session opened with a section of 2-year-olds, the majority of which failed to find new homes, but breeze-up supremo Willie Browne spotted an opportunity with the only offering by 2019's champion first-season sire Night Of Thunder (Ire). Lot 311, an attractive chestnut filly offered by Oghill House Stud, went Browne's way for €30,000 and it will be no surprise to see the half-sister to the useful dual winner Romantic Vision (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) grace a sales catalogue again in the coming months.
Others to find favour were Crossed My Mind (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) (lot 371), a three-time winner and rated 83 at her peak for trainer Ralph Beckett that was bought by John Banahan's Ridge Manor Stud for €32,000, while the smart sprinter Bailly (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) (lot 406), a half-sister to stakes winner Mabait (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), was knocked down to ES Bloodstock for €40,000. Group 1 winner Verbal Dexterity (Ire) was offered as a stallion prospect towards the end of the sale but failed to find a buyer when the bidding stopped at €85,000.
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