Avenue Bloodstock

"A victory for small breeders!" That was the emphatic verdict from an emotional Muriel Knox after her family had topped Tuesday's opening session of the Goffs UK Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale with their homebred Havana Grey (GB) filly for £240,000. Mark McStay's Avenue Bloodstock struck the winning bid on behalf of Skara Glen Stables. Lot 157 might have been consigned by Sarah Fanning Sales, but it's fair to say that this was a Knox filly through and through with Miss Mercy (Ire) (Law Society) as her fourth dam, a mare...

The recent Kevin Coleman-trained Leopardstown maiden winner Latin Fever (Ire) (Equiano {Fr}) has been purchased to continue her career in the United States in a deal brokered by Avenue Bloodstock's Mark McStay and Philip Shelton of Medallion Racing. The juvenile filly, who was bred by Donal Boylan and bought as a yearling by Adam Potts and Danny Donovan for €27,000, won on debut at odds of 80/1. Commenting on the purchase, McStay said, "Latin Fever couldn't have been more visually impressive on debut and I'm delighted that we've secured her...

NEWMARKET, UK--While Godolphin hogged the headlines on the opening day, it was the turn of a couple of members of the Juddmonte draft to share the limelight during Wednesday's session of the Tattersalls July Sale.  Sold consecutively as lots 558 and 559, the three-year-old fillies Anacapa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Calabria (GB) (Kingman {GB}) each brought the hammer down at 300,000gns.  The former, an unraced sister to G3 Prix de Lieurey winner Fount (GB), was bought by Grant Pritchard-Gordon of Badgers Bloodstock for a "long-standing European client". She is a...

Group 3 winner Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road) has been purchased by Refai Alghuraban, a leading owner in Kuwait. The deal was brokered by Avenue Bloodstock's Mark McStay. Successful in the G3 Killavullan S. in 2022 for the Coolmore partners and trainer Aidan O'Brien, the bay was second in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas to Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) last May. He kick-started his 4-year-old campaign in his 10th lifetime start with a close runner-up effort in the $500,000 Listed Irish Marketing Cup in Doha, Qatar, in February. The son of...

Cloudbreaker (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Deveron, by Cozzene) realised a final bid of 220,000 guineas from Avenue Bloodstock's Mark McStay during Thursday's Tattersalls Online December Sale. The 3-year-old, who earned black-type in August when finishing second in the Listed Aphrodite S. at Newmarket, was also fourth in the King George V S. at Royal Ascot earlier in June. Out of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac placed Deveron, the Charlie Fellowes-trained filly is a half-sister to listed winners Lamar (Ire) and Haddaf (Ire). "She's a lovely filly and has been extremely...

KILDARE, Ireland--The opening day of the rescheduled Goffs November Sale got off to a lukewarm start on Friday, with present circumstances understandably impacting trade. Last year's opening day was highlighted by a €100,000 session topper with seven foals selling for €50,000 or more, while 69.5% of the offered foals changed hands at an average of €17,957 and a median of €13,750. It was a slightly different story on Friday when only four foals reached or surpassed the €50,000 mark headed by a €75,000 session-topping Mehmas (Ire) colt. In total, 159...

NEWMARKET, UK—There may have been one significant Prince Of Lir (Ire) colt missing from those originally consigned for the Tattersalls Ascot Breeze-up but the Ballyhane Stud resident still made his presence felt as the sire of three of the top eight lots of the sale. The G2 Norfolk S. winner The Lir Jet (Ire) was withdrawn by Robson Aguiar and sold privately ahead of the delayed auction but that hold up has worked in other people's favour. Heading the list of those who found themselves in the ring on Thursday...

Mare owners who breed a filly foal by Aclaim (Ire) in 2021 will have their contracted price discounted by 25% under new terms for the stallion for the forthcoming breeding season. Mark McStay of Avenue Bloodstock, who is managing the son of Acclamation, said, "We well understand the pressures on the commercial breeder. Last year, we moved to Live Foal terms and this season, even though Aclaim has had filly foals sell very well, we are offering anyone who breeds a filly a 25% discount on their contracted price. I...