Goffs November Off To A Flyer
GOFFS NOVEMBER OFF TO A FLYER
By Emma Berry
Plenty of first-season stallions featured amongst the leading lights on a buoyant opening day of Goffs’ November Foal Sale, but Darley’s Casamento (Ire) (Shamardal) was the name at the top of the list courtesy of lot 208, who was knocked down to Gay O’Callaghan of Yeomanstown Stud for €55,000.
Consigned by Foxford Stud, the colt is the first foal of the unraced Exceed And Excel (Aus) mare Mia Divina (GB), a half-sister to listed winner Mia Diletta (GB) (Selkirk).
“I’ve seen a good few of the Casamentos selling today and tomorrow and this was the one horse I wanted to buy today,” said O’Callaghan, who confirmed that the March-born weanling–one of three by his sire to feature in the top ten foals on day one–would be reoffered as a yearling, in common with many of those sold during the opening session.
A packed car park on arrival at Goffs was the first indication that the 2014 foal sale was likely to start in ebullient fashion, and thus it proved as trade got underway. The auction will build to a crescendo on Thursday when six Frankel weanlings take their turn in the ring, and Monday’s session brought good reason to be optimistic that we are in for a bumper renewal, with figures up across all sectors. The 177 weanlings to change hands on Monday for a clearance rate of 78% brought an aggregate of €2,118,900, a 73% rise on the equivalent session last year, with the average and median prices of €11,971 and €8,500 both representing increases of 31%.
Ballyhane Stud’s Elzaam (Aus), a son of former Australian champion sire, Redoute’s Choice, was another freshman to find favor yesterday. Lot 194 was the selection of the Oghill House Stud team at €51,000, and is was also a first foal, his dam, the 5-year-old Lost Highway (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), being a sister to G3 Gordon S. winner Rebel Soldier and from the family of Juddmonte’s champion miler Observatory.
Fast Company (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who was represented by his first 2-year-olds this season that included the G2 Norfolk S. winner Baitha Alga (Ire), broke the stranglehold of the young pretenders with his
son out of Lady’s Locket (Ire) (Fasliyev) (lot 182) reaching €48,000, while lot 86, a February-born son of three-time winner Betty Fontaine (Ire) (Mujadil {Ire}), sold for €45,000. Both colts were first foals and consigned by Rathasker Stud, which stands the stallion.
The dependable Dark Angel (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) was the sire of the top filly of the day, lot 121, who sold to pinhooker Jim McCartan for €47,000.
“She’s been bought by Paul and myself to come back for sale,” said McCartan, who enjoyed a terrific breeze-up sales season in 2104, including selling the top lot at Tattersalls’ Guineas Breeze-up Sale for 270,000gns through his Gaybrook Lodge Stud, while his brother Paul of Ballyphilip Stud bred leading 2-year-old filly Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) (Kodiac {Ire}).
Freshmen Sir Prancealot (Ire), Helmet (Aus) and Requinto (GB) are all well represented throughout the four-day foal, sale and each achieved a weanling in the top 15 during the opening session.
The combination of unproven stallions and young mares is clearly not a concern for some foal buyers. Lot 173, a Sir Prancealot colt out of the unraced Haafhd (GB) mare Khajool (Ire), was yet another first foal, this one selling for €38,000 from the Wardstown Stud draft to Peter and Ross Doyle. He is well related, his second and third dams Khulood (Storm Cat) and Elle Seule (Exclusive Native) both being group winners.
Helmet, a G1 Caulfield Guineas-winning son of Exceed And Excel (Aus) for Sheikh Mohammed, recorded a best price of €34,000 for Dr Tom Purcell’s filly out of a half-sister to listed winner Croisultan (Ire) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}) (lot 56), and the same breeder, selling through Milltown Park Stud, also received €32,000 for a son of Coolmore’s Requinto (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) out of a Tiger Hill half-sister to G1 Middle Park S. winner Primo Valentino (Ire) (Primo Dominie {GB}).
The sale continues today at 11 a.m. local time.