By Daithi Harvey
Goffs UK host their first breeze-up on Wednesday under their rebranded banner and they will be hoping to consolidate and grow the gains achieved at last year's edition. An impressive 90% clearance rate last year yielded an aggregate of just over £5m for an average price of £38,125. The top price achieved was for a colt by Footstepsinthesand (GB) colt who was bought by Stephen Hillen for £185,000. Subsequently named Alsvinder (GB), he is owned by Frank Gillespie of The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) fame and is entered to make his racecourse debut for trainer David O'Meara at Thirsk on Sunday.
Perhaps the highest achiever so far from last year's sale is Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). Consigned by Tom Whitehead's Powerstown Stud and bought by her trainer Karl Burke for what is now an inexpensive £44,000, the filly won her third stakes race in a row when scoring on her seasonal debut in the G3 Prix Sigy at Chantilly Apr 10, with an appearance in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot a possible future objective.
This week's catalogue is bound to contain future stars and one with a stallion's pedigree already is lot 79 from Jim McCartan's Gaybrook Lodge Stud. The colt is an Oasis Dream (GB) (Green Desert) half-brother to the ill-fated Classic winner and Group 1 producing stallion Aussie Rules (Danehill) out of the MGSW Last Second (Ire) (Alzao {GB}), herself the dam of nine other winners.
The March foal was bought for £75,000 at Tattersalls October Book 1 Sale and breezed professionally on Tuesday. McCartan also bought an Invincible Spirit (Ire) (Green Desert) colt at Tattersalls October 1 for £50,000 and he appears this week as lot 123. He is a half-brother to a promising Luca Cumani-trained horse called Four On Eight (GB) (Lawman {Fr}) and is another that seemed to know his job when asked to quicken up the Doncaster straight. The Irish National Stud's flagship stallion is also represented a few lots later by lot 126 a colt offered by Norman Williamson's Oak Tree Farm. The first foal out of the stakes winning Putyball (Silver Deputy) was bought by Mags O'Toole at Arqana last October for €70,000 and is also eligible for French premiums.
The progeny of Kodiac (GB) (Danehill) continue to be much sought-after at sales and Tally-Ho Stud, who stand the stallion among others at their stud in Westmeath, offer four by the sire from their draft of 16 horses. Perhaps the pick of the quartet on paper is lot 55 a colt out of Good Clodora (Ire) (Red Clubs {GB}) from the speedy family of Group 1-winning sprinter Maarek (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). Tally-Ho's Sir Prancealot (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB) is off to a quick start at stud and finds himself alongside Helmet (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) at the head of the first season sire table with three winners. Tally-Ho sold five-time Group 1 winner and promising sire Dream Ahead (Diktat) at this sale for £36,000 six years ago and they offer two by Sir Prancealot, including lot 20 a half-sister to Group 1 placed stakes winner Monsieur Chevalier (Ire) (Chevalier {Ire}).
Breezes of all lots are available to view on the Goffs UK website and selling will commence at 10am Wednesday morning.
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