Marcel's Dam Heads Goffs' February Sale

Goffs kicks off its 150th year in business with a two-day mixed sale on Feb. 10 and 11 which is headlined by the dam of last season's G1 Racing Post Trophy winner Marcel (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}). She will be sold carrying a full-sibling to the Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained colt.

Now 12, Mauresmo (Ire) (Marju {Ire}–Asbaar, by Alleged) is consigned as lot 496 and offered by Marcel's breeder Oghill House Stud with a Mar. 30 covering, but she is not the only mare in the catalogue with a link to one of this season's Classic hopefuls. Oak Leaf Stud consigns a 6-year-old half-sister to G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. winner Foundation (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), the once-raced Xaloc (Ire) (Shirocco {Ger}–Roystonea {GB}, by Polish Precedent) (lot 444), who was covered by Zoffany on May 19.

Following the recent merger of Darley and Godolphin, horses from Sheikh Mohammed's operation will be now be consigned under the Godolphin banner, which offers a 10-strong draft including Umniyah (Ire) (Shamardal), a 3-year-old sister to dual Group 3 winner Dubai Prince (Ire) (lot 319).

Also of interest is the Castlebridge-consigned River Street (GB) (Machiavellian), a sister to the late Street Cry (Ire), who is to be sold carrying to Teofilo (Ire) as lot 355. Another of the 14-year-old mare's full-siblings, Helsinki (GB), has gained fame as the dam of Shamardal.

The Thursday session of mares and horses in training will follow a weanling session on the opening day which features a mix of both Flat- and National Hunt-bred youngsters. One anomalous entry is the stallion Light Heavy (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who is being consigned by his trainer/breeder Jim Bolger as lot 311 through his Glebe House Stables. Now seven, the chestnut brother to Group 1 winner Parish Hall (Ire) won the G2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial before being placed in the 2012 G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

Commenting on the curtain-raiser to Goffs' 2016 sales season, Chief Executive Henry Beeby said, “The February Sale opens Goffs 150th anniversary in style with the strongest catalogue buyers can expect to find anywhere in Europe at this time of year. Peniaphobia (Ire) and Make Believe (GB) are just two recent Group 1 winners whose dams were bought at the February Sale and we couldn't be happier with the high-class mares and covering sires that feature in this year's catalogue.”

He added, “Vendors have supported the sale with a quality commercial bunch of Flat and National Hunt weanlings sure to be of great interest to pinhookers and end-users alike, while the most commercial stallions in the game can be found throughout.”