Naples Bay to Coolmore

Naples Bay (Giant’s Causeway) charged up the Keeneland sales pavilion when selling to Coolmore’s M. V. Magnier for $3.6 million during Tuesday’s first session of the November sale. The 6-year-old was consigned by Claiborne Farm on behalf of Edward Cox and she sold in foal to War Front. 

“She’s a very nice mare and over today and yesterday those type are making a good few dollars, so she deserved to make that price,” Magnier explained. 

A half-sister to Medaglia d’Oro (El Prado {Ire}), Naples Bay won the 2012 GIII Noble Damsel S., as well as the GIII Marshua’s River S. this past January. 

“She comes from a great family,” Magnier continued. “She’s by Giant’s Causeway. She’s in foal to War Front and we’ll be looking forward to seeing that foal.” 

During last month’s September sale, Magnier purchased two seven-figure yearlings by War Front. Among the juveniles by War Front who have represented Coolmore this year are “TDN Rising Star” The Great War, recently fourth in the 
GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile; as well as multiple group-placed War Envoy. 

“I’m not sure what we’ll do with her, but she could easily go back to Galileo,” Magnier said of Naples Bay. “We’ll decide over the next couple days.” 

Edward Cox purchased Naples Bay for $350,000 as a weanling at the 2008 Keeneland November sale. Racing in his colors, the dark bay mare earned $338,700 on the track. 

“We’d like to thank Mr. Cox for letting us sell her,” Claiborne’s Walker Hancock said after watching the mare bring $3.6 million Tuesday. “She is a great mare. We’re very happy for him. She obviously has every quality to be a great broodmare and I’m happy for Coolmore to have her.” 

“We honestly didn’t know where she was going to end up,” Hancock said of the mare’s final price. “We had some kind of idea from last night what the mares in foal to War Front were bringing, but we’re very pleased with the sale.” 
Of Cox’s decision to sell, Hancock added, “She was obviously a great racemare with a great pedigree and in foal to War Front. How can you turn down $3.6 million? I can’t say I blame him too much.”