Magnier Records a Double

Magnier Records a Double… 
When a Montjeu (Ire) colt is followed through the ring by a Galileo (Ire) colt it’s a pretty safe bet that any would-be purchasers will find themselves bidding against John Magnier, who is now the owner of lots 326 and 327 having been pushed to 675,000gns and 750,000gns, respectively. 
The former, a Newsells Park Stud-bred son of Montjeu out of Honorlina (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) represents the former Jean-Luc Lagardere family that includes Classic winner Vahorimix (Fr) and GI Bredeers’ Cup Mile winner Val Royal (Fr). 
“The second-last colt in the sale by Montjeu, the Derby sire,” was auctioneer Ollie Fowlston’s exhortation as the colt from the final crop of the late Coolmore stallion paraded in front of him. But, having raced two of Montjeu’s four Derby winners–Pour Moi (Ire) and Camelot (Ire)–Magnier needed no such reminder to bat away challenges from Jamie McCalmont, Alex Solis and, finally, Ibrahim Araci. 
Magnier and team, including his son M V, remained in their favored position at the top of the bidders’ cage as Camas Park Stud’s full-brother to smart juvenile Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) entered the ring. With the G2 Vintage S. winner having brought 460,000gns in the same ring last year, it was another good result for the hemisphere-crossing Danehill mare Hveger (Aus), a sister to multiple Group 1 winner Elvstroem (Aus), as her current yearling was finally knocked down at 750,000gns. Both John Warren and Jehan Malherbe, concealed on two different sets of back stairs, made spirited bids for the colt but Coolmore’s success with the outstanding Australian family, which includes stallions Haradasun (Aus) and Starspangledbanner (Aus), meant Magnier would not be denied. 
“We’ve had a lot of luck with the family,” admitted 
M V Magnier. “I was chatting with Aidan and Joseph [O’Brien] yesterday and they think Highland Reel is a machine.” 
Just half an hour later, Magnier struck again to buy lot 343, the first foal of Jacqueline Quest (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), who was first past the post in the G1 1000 Guineas of 2010 but subsequently disqualified in favor of Special Duty (GB) and placed second. The daughter of Galileo, who fetched 625,000gns, was consigned by New England Stud on behalf of breeders Bridget and Christopher Hanbury of Triermore Stud. 
Magnier later in the session went to 210,000gns to secure a first-crop son of Coolmore’s G1 Investec Derby-winning sire Pour Moi (lot 391), and that result provided a significant pinhooking result for young Irish agent Mick Flanagan, who bought the first foal out of G3 Park Express S. winner Marjalina (Ire) (Marju {Ire}) privately for 85,000gns at last year’s Tattersalls December foal sale. Four lots later, Flanagan found himself in the buyers seat for Magnier, signing for a 510,000gns Galileo colt on behalf of team Coolmore. 
“He’s a nice horse–he was always going to bring plenty,” said Flanagan, who operates as Townley Hall Bloodstock and is based in County Meath, Ireland. “He was rated very highly by the lads, so they just had to have him.” 
Of his Pour Moi colt, Flanagan added, “I think he was the best of the Pour Moi’s, to be honest. We went around and saw them all at the start of the week.” 
Flanagan, who has more pinhooks to send through the ring next week, said of the market, “It’s been ok. I haven’t been buying much–the first day was patchy, yesterday was strong and today is strong, so overall it’s a fairly good sale I’d say.”