Gutaifan Filly Tops Tatts Ireland Sale

A Castledillon Stud-consigned daughter (lot 194) of first-crop sire Gutaifan (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was hammered down for €58,000 to top Friday's Tattersalls Ireland Flat Foal and Breeding Stock Sale. The April foal, a half-sister to SW Newsletter (Ire) (Sir Percy {GB}) and hailing from the extended female family of Danehill, was purchased by Gay O'Callaghan, whose Yeomanstown Stud stands both Gutaifan and Dark Angel.

“She is a lovely, racey type of a filly and looks a real runner. I am looking forward to seeing more of Gutaifan's first foals over the coming weeks,” said O'Callaghan of the highest-priced foal sold so far in the sale's two-year history.

Lot 194 is out of Payphone (GB) (Anabaa), a full-sister to G1SP Conference Call (GB) and the dam of a yearling Kodiac (GB) filly that fetched €105,000 at Goffs November last fall.

The day's trade concluded with a mares section and was topped by lot 242, the 3-year-old filly Star Catch (GB) (Cacique {Ire}). Offered as the property of Andrew Davis, the bay is a half-sister to the MSW Preferential (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and is out of a half-sister to G1SW Etoile Montante (Miswaki). This is also the female family of the talented turf mare Tates Creek (Rahy). She was purchased for €36,000 by Noel McDonnell.

“The first edition of the Flat Foal and Breeding Stock Sale in 2016 reaped rewards at the 2017 yearling sales with some very eye-catching pinhooks and, on the back of this, today's sale attracted a notable number of purchasers looking to acquire commercial foals,” Tattersalls Ireland Managing Director Roger Casey said. “We have witnessed reasonably solid trade throughout the day with predictably strong competition for the better stock and an improved clearance rate. It is satisfying to have surpassed last years' top price of €25,000, twice and to sell a foal for €58,000 proves that the sale can produce good prices when supported with better stock and we will endeavour to improve this sale even further in 2018.”