Pinhookers Emboldened At Goffs Foal Sale

Even before he had runners there was a sales-ring buzz about Zoffany (Ire), and those early hopes proved justified with the young son of Dansili (GB) holding an unassailable lead at the head of the European first-crop sires’ table with 30 winners to his name. Two of his sons held top-five places at Goffs Thursday, including the session’s leading foal (lot 824), the first produce of the High Chaparral (Ire) mare Far Away Eyes (Ire), offered by Seskin Stud.

Jamie Railton saw off allcomers at €150,000 for a pinhooking syndicate that will reoffer the February foal next autumn. He said, “It’s a German family that I know very well and there’s plenty going on in the family with Lucky Speed (Ger) and Magic Hurricane (Ire).” click here for an audio interview with Railton about his purchase and his views on the market.

The international appeal of the pedigree is highlighted by Magic Hurricane’s win in the G1 Metropolitan H. in Australia since the catalogue was published, while G1 Deutsches Derby winner Lucky Speed recently finished fourth in the GI Northern Dancer Turf S. after winning the GIII American St Leger S.

A further €6,187,000 was added to the coffers from the fourth and penultimate session of foals at Goffs. The 172 foals sold represented a clearance rate of 80% for an average price of €35,971 and median of €27,500.

The day’s two most expensive fillies were both daughters of Kodiac (Ire). Taking top honors among the females at €140,000, just two lots from the close of play, was lot 988, the Killourney Mor Farm-consigned half-sister to treble winner Fonepferesh (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) out of Vee Gita (Ire) (Vettori {Ire}), herself a half-sister to GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Vale Of York (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). The filly was bought by a pinhooking conglomerate that includes Michael Carty, whose wife Ciara did the bidding.

Earlier in the day the hammer had fallen at €137,000 for lot 904, another daughter of Kodiac, in favor of Ross Doyle. The agent was acting on behalf of Colm McEvoy, who will reoffer the second foal of Na Zdorovie (GB) (Cockney Rebel {GB}) through his Osberstown Stud as a yearling.

“She’s a very nice filly–probably the best filly physically in the sale,” said Doyle. “She’s coming from a good home and is going to a good home, and hopefully she’ll be a Book 1 horse next year.”

Juvenile winner Na Zdorovie is a half-sister to Phil Cunningham’s GII John Henry Turf Championship S. winner Slim Shadey (GB), who is by Cockney Rebel’s sire Val Royal {Fr}), their dam Vino Veritas (Chief’s Crown) having produced nine winners from her 10 runners.

Only five lots after the day’s top price had been set, another son of Zoffany (lot 829) passed through the ring, this one being knocked down at €120,000 to Bobby O’Ryan. A son of the dual-winning Warning mare Flamenco Red (GB) with the Juddmonte matriarch Bahamian (GB) (Mill Reef) as his third dam, the colt is yet another pinhook purchase, but O’Ryan was unable to divulge the identity of his client.

A rare purchase on the day by a racing outfit, rather than pinhookers, was made by Shadwell, who plumped for Altenbach Bloodstock’s Harbour Watch colt (lot 794). Stephen Collins signed the docket at €120,000 for the strong first foal of Cape Joy (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), a half-sister to the Ben Dunne Memorial Solonaway S. winner Hymn Of Love (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}).

The Ballymacoll Stud family, which has been responsible for the champion full-siblings Islington (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) and Greek Dance (Ire), as well as 2013 G1 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}), was again to the fore via one of its youngest members when lot 933, a Raven’s Pass colt out of a Spinning World half-sister to Fiorente, brought a bid of €110,000 from Brendan Holland of Grove Stud.

“He’s just a really good sort by a good proven sire,” said Holland of the son of juvenile winner Roshanak, whose three foals to race are all winners.

Tally-Ho Stud’s Society Rock (Ire) topped the freshman ranks on Thursday with lot 900, a colt out of Morinda (GB) from the family of Monsun (Ger) sold by Jockey Hall Stud to Yeomanstown Stud for €95,000. Youngest brother Robert O’Callaghan signed for the February-born colt in company with siblings David and Peter as well as his parents Gay and Annette and said, “This is the best foal we’ve seen by the sire. He’s a good model by a speed sire and hopefully he’ll be back next year.”

Paddy Twomey was pushed to €90,000 for lot 873, Tullogher House Stud’s Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) half-brother to Group 2-placed juvenile Layali Al Andalus (GB) (Halling), while Peter Doyle signed for the third-most expensive filly of the day in lot 879, a daughter of Acclamation who cost €85,000. Her dam, Littlepromisedland (Ire) (Titus Livius {Ire}), is a half-sister to top sprinter Lethal Force (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and from the further family of another speedy Group 1 winner, G Force (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), as well as G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches winner Flotilla (Fr) (Mizzen Mast).

Tweenhills Stud’s freshman sire Havana Gold (Ire) has enjoyed a good introduction to the sales market. Mags O’Toole, bidding on behalf of Lynn Lodge Stud’s Eddie O’Leary, went to €80,000 for lot 798, a half-brother to the highly regarded Wajeez (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who won on debut at Nottingham on Nov. 4 for John Gosden and Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.

Ten lots later it was the turn of Paul and Dale Chapman of Silverdale Farm to add a Havana Gold colt to their list of purchases for the day when bidding €77,000 for lot 808 through advisor Jedd O’Keeffe. The Chapmans have horses in training with O’Keeffe close to their home in Yorkshire but have also become involved in the pinhooking market in recent years, consigning their yearlings through Mark Dwyer’s Oaks Farm Stables, with recent successes including G3 Hackwood S. winner Strath Burn (GB) (Equiano {Fr}). The top of their four purchases of the day was the Havana Gold colt bred in partnership by Mount Coote Stud and consignor Knocktoran Stud. He is the first foal of Deux Saisons (GB) (Chineur {Ire}), a half-sister to G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains winner and young sire Tin Horse (Ire) (Sakhee).

The final session of the Goffs November Foal Sale swings into action at 11 a.m. local time Friday.