Brother To Luxembourg Tops Final Orby Session

KILDARE, Ireland–A hugely impressive Group 2 winner with Classic pretensions is just the kind of update every breeder dreams of within days of a major yearling sale, and that is exactly what Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) delivered in the Beresford S. at the Curragh on Saturday on only his second start. He had himself been sold by breeder Ben Sangster for 150,000gns but his brother, offered as lot 366 through the Castlebridge Consignment, caused the same buyer MV Magnier to dig deeper into his pockets for the colt to become the second seven-figure yearling this week at €1.2 million.

“I'm delighted for Ben, Lucy and all the Sangsters,” Magnier said. “This is a great result for them and they have supported our stallions for years. Luxembourg looks like something out of the ordinary. We couldn't believe how good he was on Saturday.”

Luxembourg is not the first good horse produced by his dam Attire (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), an eight-race maiden who was bred and raced by the Sangsters from the family of Breeders' Cup Classic winner Arcangues (Fr). Her second foal Leo De Fury (Ire) (Australia {GB}) won the G2 Mooresbridge S. for Yuesheng Zhang, while Sense Of Style (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) has been Group 3-placed this year. The  12-year-old mare also has a Camelot filly foal this year.

With each day's top lot added to the portfolio, Magnier was the top buyer at the sale, signing for six yearlings at an outlay just shy of €4 million.

A further €20,931,000 was added to the sale's aggregate from Wednesday's trade, when 182 of the 204 yearlings offered found a buyer at an average price of €115,005, with the median at €80,000.

Across the two days, 409 yearlings were offered and 372 of those were sold at a clearance rate of 91% for an overall tally of €40,581,500 (+74%). The average was €109,090 (+46%) and median was €75,000 (+44%). These figures represented a dramatic improvement on the disappointing results of the relocated 2020 Orby Sale, and were well on their way to recovering to the pre-pandemic returns of 2019, when €42,927,000 was spent on 364 horses. The average then was €117,933 and the median slightly lower than this year at €65,000.

Such a revival in trade unsurprisingly delighted Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby, who said at the sale's end, “It's good to be back. Very good indeed. The Irish National Yearling Sale obviously belongs in Ireland at Kildare Paddocks and it is simply wonderful to have returned with a sale of such depth and consistency over the two days after last year's hiatus. Indeed, Orby has reclaimed its rightful place at the top table of yearling sales with seven-figure top prices, a six-figure average and a staggering 91% clearance rate that points to a vibrant two days of bidding for the superb catalogue that was assembled.”

He continued, “We are indebted to many people and several entities. Firstly our vendors who placed their trust in the Goffs service at a time when several factors may have worked against making that decision as memories of last year's disappointment combined with Covid-induced uncertainty in the summer made the choice of sale more complicated than ever. That so many took that leap of faith is very gratifying and we are just delighted that we have been able to repay their trust with a really good sale whilst laying such solid foundations for the future.”

Beeby pointed to a boost in trade from the reinstated Goffs Million, adding, “Our buyers have embraced the sale with enthusiasm and a hunger for quality. Many have been driven on by the lure of Europe's richest two-year-old race, the Goffs Million next year, and we can't wait to see how the picture develops as next season progresses. Suffice to say that the concept has been a powerful tool in reinvigorating Orby and we will look to develop the model as the years progress with enhancements and additions for Orby 22 and beyond.

“As we reflect on two good days our mantra of 'we can't do it without you” is as relevant as ever as the focus of Orby must always be the horse because all the spin in the world is worthless without a catalogue of quality. Our vendors backed us and we threw everything at it with new agents, the Million, a variety of incentives and more as we recognised this was going to be a pivotal year for the sale. That said there is still so much to do to make Orby the clear first choice for more of the best yearlings in Ireland and we will not rest in our endeavours as we strive to improve and evolve. However I would venture to suggest that Orby 21 has made the point once again that we will deliver when we have the horses; in fact, not just deliver but exceed expectations and Irish breeders need look no further for a global market for the best.”

McPeek's Power Play

Frankel's sensational year could get even better on Sunday, with his two Derby-winning colts Adayar (Ire) and Hurricane Lane (Ire) in the top three in the betting for the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Owners from both sides of the pond were investing in his young stock on Wednesday, with Kenny McPeek extending his shopping spree significantly when signing up Marlhill House Stud's colt out of Belesta (GB) (Xaar {GB}) for €900,000.

The trainer, who was acting on behalf of Swiss Skydiver's owner Peter Callahan and Paul Fireman of Fern Circle Stables, said, “I spoke to both of them this morning and they were happy to play. We may get a couple of others involved. This is the kind of colt you could play at a high level and if he does it then he's a stallion prospect.”

It's no empty claim as lot 377 is already a half-brother to three black-type horses, including the G2 Herbert Power S. winner Adjusted (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). His dam, bought by breeder Eddie Irwin for 280,000gns from George Strawbridge, is a daughter of the Group 3 winner Bellarida (Fr) (Bellypha {Fr}) and thus a half-sister to In Clover (GB) (Inchinor {GB}), the dam of three Group 1 winners in With You (GB), We Are (Ire) and Call The Wind (GB), the latter also being a son of Frankel.

McPeek, one of a sizeable group of American buyers at Goffs this week, was the second-leading buyer at the Orby with four yearlings bought for €1.61 million.

He added of the Frankel colt, “My wife and I walked through the group and he was a 'wow' horse. He looks to have a great mind, too.”

Happy Days For Hayes  

There was a very special start to the day for breeder John Hayes when the hammer came down at €650,000 for his filly by Frankel (GB) out of Sophie Germain (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}).

Hayes has owned the mare for almost all of her 14 years, having bought the daughter of the Oaks d'Italia winner Nydrion (Critique) at Goffs as a foal for €25,000. She never made it to the racecourse but has been a success in her secondary career, with her first foal, the Andrew Slattery-trained Creggs Pipes (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), having won seven of her 23 starts, including the G2 Lanwades Stud S.

“This has exceeded my expectations, I'm absolutely thrilled with that result,” said Hayes after lot 254, consigned by Pa Doyle of Galbertstown Stables, was bought by Kieran Lalor to add to the half-sisters to the Classic winners Poetic Flare (Ire) and Mother Earth (Ire) bought on Tuesday for Al Shira'aa Farm.

He added, “Thanks to Pa who has brought her here in wonderful condition and to my long-suffering wife Una.

“It's a big responsibility having a mare of that quality. I was very lucky, I had no clue when I bought her mum here all those years ago, but her mother was a Group 1 winner and Roberto was on the bottom line of the page, whom I love. I'm really a student of pedigrees, that's my thing, and [the filly] is the product of all that study.”

A resident of Tipperary, Hayes has retained Creggs Pipes along with her half-sisters, the listed-placed Silver Spear (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}) and In My Business (Ire) (Roderic O'Connor {Ire}). Their dam has a filly foal by Invincible Spirit (Ire) on the ground but did not get back in foal when returning to him this year.

Late in the session, Hayes sold a Sea The Stars (Ire) filly out of Creggs Pipes (lot 418) for €180,000 to Sunderland Holdings.

Lalor has been kept busy on behalf of Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's Al Shira'aa Farm, which now also owns Meadow Court Stud in Kildare. 

He said of his trio of purchases, “The two yesterday are from hardy, sound families and that's what we are looking for. The back end of their careers are what's important for our operation. We also have a half-sister to St Mark's Basilica (Fr). 

“Then the Frankel filly today was the dream of this whole sale. I think I only slept a few hours last night praying and hoping that she would fall within my range, and the stars aligned and we have her. They all come from lovely farms and I think it's great business–€450,000 for two half-sisters to Guineas winners.”

Star Turn For No Nay Never

“He's the star of the show,” Timmy Hyde Jr told TDN in the days leading up to the Orby Sale of lot 276, outlining the No Nay Never colt's similarity to Group 1 winner Ten Sovereigns.

Bred by Camas Park Stud, Lynch Bages and Summerhill, Ten Sovereigns won the G1 Middle Park S. and G1 July Cup for Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore partners, and the colt out of the listed winner Sweet Charity (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) will follow the same path to Ballydoyle after being bought by MV Magnier for €620,000.

Three lots earlier (273), a No Nay Never filly went the way of Alex Elliott and Ben McElroy, buying together for Amo Racing. Bought at €300,000, the Diamond Creek Stud-bred is a grand-daughter of the G3 Ballyogan S. winner Lesson In Humility (Ire) (Mujadil {Ire}), her dam Surprisingly (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) being a sister to Irish Derby and Melbourne Cup runner-up Tiger Moth (Ire).

Hot Cross For Newtown Anner Stud

A Galileo (Ire) filly out of a Scat Daddy mare topped the first day of trade at €1.5 million and the second bred on that pattern to be offered at Goffs by breeder Phoenix Thoroughbreds brought the more modest price of €360,000. Bids were exchanged for a time between Michael Donohoe and PJ Colville, with the latter finally succeeding in signing up lot 280.

“She's been bought for Maurice Regan of Newtown Anner Stud,” said Colville. “It's the same cross as the filly who made all the money yesterday. We liked both of them so we're very happy to get her.”

A first foal, the filly is out of Take Me With You, bought for $800,000 at the Fasig-Tipton breeze-up by Kerri Radcliffe and later a winner and placed in the G3 Albany S. for Jeremy Noseda and Phoenix Thoroughbreds. 

Flag Flying High

U S Navy Flag started his stud career at Coolmore at €25,000, a fee which was halved for the 2021 breeding season. His first yearlings on offer at Goffs have been well received with all 13 sold for an average of €98,692.

They included the half-sister to the outstanding 3-year-old miler Poetic Flare (Ire), who sold on Tuesday for €220,000, and top of the list on Wednesday was a half-sister to another top-level winner, the G1 Del Mar Oaks victrix Going Global (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}).

Sold as lot 317, the filly bred by Nicky Hartery had also received updates from two other half-siblings after the catalogue was printed, with Finans Bay (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) having placed in the G3 Royal Whip S., while 2-year-old winner Mitbaahy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) has twice been listed-placed.

Dwayne Woods ended up as the successful bidder at €290,000 and confirmed that the filly will be trained in Newmarket by his brother Sean.

Beeby Looks To West

American interest continued to be strong during the second session of the Orby Sale, with Niall Brennan, Anthony Dutrow, Kim Valerio and DJ Stable, Ben McElroy and Jacob West all contributing to a strong middle to upper market.

Acting through Demi O'Byrne, Peter Brant's White Birch Farm picked up lot 382, an Acclamation (GB) half-brother to German Group 3 winner K Club (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). The colt out of Big Boned (Street Sense) had been pinhooked as a foal by Michael Fitzpatrick of Kilminfoyle House Stud for €195,000.

Lot 331 was bought by Deuce Greathouse and Pura Vida for €150,000 and represented a good result for the Irish National Stud's Mare Syndicate. The daughter of Night Of Thunder (Ire) was in utero when the Irish National Stud bought her dam Adhwaa (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) from Shadwell for €110,000 at Goffs two years ago. Since the catalogue was published her first foal, Mejthaam (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) has won for the second time and is now rated 84.

Acknowledging the American participation in the Irish yearling market, Henry Beeby said, “Orby has always been a magnet for global interest but we focused extra attention on the USA and we salute our new US Agent, Jacob West, who attracted unprecedented numbers from across the Atlantic. Happily they liked what they saw and really engaged with the promise of even more in future years as they were so enthused by the quality of the catalogue, the workability of the complex and the warm welcome and helpfulness of the Goffs Purchaser Attraction Team and our colleagues at Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, the latter of which have proved absolutely invaluable in making a trip to Ireland truly memorable for every visitor.”