By Emma Berry
G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Jet Setting (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) (lot 43) had every right to be considered the headline act ahead of the Goffs London Sale and she didn't disappoint when equalling the record set at the inaugural Kensington Palace sale in 2014, selling for £1.3 million.
Her new owners are members of the China Horse Club and their representative Michael Wallace, who had flown in from New York for the sale, said of their acquisition, “She's a Classic winner and there are very few of them around. She's a very sound, game and athletic filly. Fillies of that quality are very sought after. Down the line it's a wonderful breeding opportunity, but there are also plenty of upsides to her as a racehorse in the immediate future.”
“It's great to be part of Ascot, for sure,” Wallace continued. “[China Horse Club principal] Teo Ah Khing arrives tomorrow and some of our members are also here this week. But looking ahead she's sure to have some nice entries this year and she's part of a nice portfolio of horses that we have now in Europe.”
The story of Jet Setting is one of the great fairytales that keeps all participants in the game hoping that they can chance on such a good-luck story. Bought initially at Goffs as a foal for €7,000 by Julie Wood, who has been fortunate to race such good horses as Zebedee (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Olympic Glory (Ire) (Choisir {Ire}), Jet Setting was a rare one who “got away” when being sold as a non-winner from Richard Hannon's stable last October to young bloodstock agent John Kilbride for 12,000gns on behalf of the Equinegrowthpartners Syndicate. The rest, as they say, is history. A black-type placing led to a maiden victory, Classic trial win, and then a hard-fought victory in the Tattersalls 1,000 Guineas over dual Classic victrix Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Jet Setting's trainer through the second phase of her career to date has been the young Irish rising star, Adrian Keatley, who will continue to train the filly for China Horse Club.
“We're delighted to be here,” Keatley commented. “It's been such a wonderful experience for myself and for John Kilbride, our bloodstock agent. She has to have a serious chance on Friday. She loves her job. She came back from the Irish Guineas, had a roll and ate all her food. I was anxious about losing her–a filly like this to be racing at this level is exciting for anyone, but I'm lucky enough to be training her. I'm really looking forward to Friday.”
Horses in training ruled the roost at the sale which cleared £5,593,000 in just under two hours in central London when 28 of the 41 horses offered changed hands at an average of £199,750 and median of £135,000.
The top-priced colt of the session was the listed Dee S. winner Viren's Army (Ire) (Twirling Candy) (lot 38), who will switch from the pale blue of Middleham Park Racing to the royal blue of Godolphin after being knocked down to Jono Mills for £700,000. John McCormack signed the ticket, but Mills commented, “He will race for Godolphin eventually, but the plans are still fluid at the moment.”
Underlining the international aspect of the sale, Fastnet Rock (Aus) 2-year-old Lundy (GB) (lot 26), runner-up in the listed Rochestown S. on May 29 after winning his maiden at Leopardstown by three lengths three weeks earlier, was bought by Danish owner/trainer Fleming Velin through Ger Hourigan for £400,000.
“He's been bought to go to Denmark eventually,” said Hourigan. “He looks a very smart horse and his form stacks up well. He's an exciting 2-year-old with a future and not so many of them come on the market.”
The anomaly of the sale was Lady Penko (Fr) (Archipenko), (lot 25), the 5-year-old listed-winning and Group 1-placed mare, who was sold in foal to last year's G1 Derby and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Golden Horn (GB) for £360,000. Ballylinch Stud Manager John O'Connor was the successful buyer, outbidding Mark Player.
“There are many things I like about her,” O'Connor commented. “She won her stakes race really well and she was injured when she was placed in the Prix Saint-Alary. I like the idea of Archipenko as a broodmare sire–he's such a well-bred horse–plus she's out of a Danehill mare which will work well with our stallions, especially Lope De Vega. I also think Golden Horn is a good match for her physically.”
Top of the breeze-up section was lot 10, a Siyouni (Fr) half-brother to Italian listed winner Ottawa (Fr) (Celtic Swing {GB}), who sold for £200,000 to Irish trainer Michael O'Callaghan.
Reflecting on the third edition of the Goffs London Sale, Chief Executive Henry Beeby said, “The first thing I'd like to say is that it's always special to sell a Classic winner and to offer one on the eve of Royal Ascot is extra special. It's amazing to have exceeded her owners' expectations–we're delighted. Trade for the form horses was strong and there was a great atmosphere despite the English weather. It's fair to say that in three years the sale has become established as a complete one-off. It's an aspirational sale and it's gratifying that it is being supported so well. We always take a good hard look at each sale and we'll have a look at the breeze-up section of this sale.”
He added, “The BHA gets an awful knocking but I have to say that they have been tremendously helpful in making this happen.”
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