A Pivotal Acquisition

A Pivotal Acquisition… 
Luke Lillingston made headlines at this sale last year when selling Immortal Verse (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) for a record-breaking 4.7 million guineas through his Mount Coote Stud, and Lillingston was to the fore as a buyer late yesterday afternoon when signing for another Pivotal mare, Map Of Heaven (GB) (lot 1528), on behalf of the partnership of Chris Kilroy and Lord Derby for 240,000gns. A daughter of champion 2-year-old filly and G2 Flying Childers S. and G3 Norfolk S. winner Superstar Leo (Ire) (College Chapel {GB}), the 6-year-old Map Of Heaven is a full-sister to dual Group 3 winner Enticing (Ire) and a half to stakes winner Sentrail (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Classic winner and sire Footstepsinthesand (GB) (Giant’s Causeway) and his G1 Phoenix S.-winning half-brother Pedro the Great (Henrythenavigator), as well as G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Power (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), fall under the third dam. Map Of Heaven is in foal to Acclamation (GB). 

Lillingston noted that Kilroy and Lord Derby purchased their first horse together last year. 

“We’re delighted to get her,” Lillingston added. “She’s for the long term and from a huge family. To buy one by Pivotal, who is the leading living broodmare sire, out of a champion sprint race mare–it’s good value. It’s a stallion’s family, too.” 

Map Of Heaven raced as a homebred for Lael Stables and was trained by William Haggas. She broke her maiden by 16 lengths at Chepstow in her ninth and final career start, and has produced a yearling filly by Acclamation (GB) and a foal by Dutch Art (GB), both of which have been retained by Lael.