Following the resounding success of the five days of foals at Goffs November,
the momentum was maintained as the action switched to broodmares and fillies on
Saturday. Twelve months ago, 1 million was paid for one of His Highness the Aga Khan’s
finest broodmares, Dalara (Doyoun), and it was that same breeder’s draft that
generated the session’s highest price when Anthony Stroud paid 430,000 for ALASANA (Darshaan), consigned as Hip 1363.
Now 15 years old, Alasana had produced 2002
English One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) third and E. P. Taylor S. (Can-G1)
runner-up Alasha (Ire) (Barathea [Ire]). From the family of Desert Story and
this year’s Mooresbidge S. (Ire-G3) winner Alayan (Sri Pekan), she is carrying a
foal by Sinndar.
“She is from a wonderful family,” Stroud said. “She has been bought for an
established client in Ireland and will stay here.”
Earlier, Hubie de Burgh paid 400,000 for a daughter of Giant’s Causeway from
the draft of Billy Iceton’s Tara Stud. Named PRETTY AS CAN BE, Hip 1318 is a
half-sister to the top-class distaffer My Emma (Marju), who was sold for 1.3
million guineas at last year’s Tattersalls December Sale, and the champion
stayer Classic Cliche. The four-year-old, from Lord Matthews’ excellent family
which also includes the 2001 Royal Lodge S. (Eng-G2) winner Mutinyonthebounty
(GB), was sold in foal to Dubai Destination.
“She’ll be going to England,” de Burgh explained. “It’s both an excellent and
active family, several members of which are in good hands.”
John Colleran bred highweight Scorpion (Ire) (Montjeu [Ire]) at his
Grangemore Stud, and it was his County Kildare establishment which secured a
highlight from Darley’s draft. Hip 1387 is the six-year-old Storm Cat mare
NELLIE NOLAN, who was listed-placed at two and is out of a sister to the
top-class Caline. Carrying a foal by Fantastic Light, she was secured for
280,000.
Dennis O’Flynn’s Old Carhue Stud had been responsible for the purchase of
some of the session’s highlights, including two high-profile mares by Spectrum. The first was Abbeville & Meadowcourt Studs’ five-year-old SIDECAR, a
half to last year’s Garden City Breeders’ Cup S. (G1) victress and Irish One
Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) third Luas Line (Ire) (Danehill), consigned as Hip
1302. She is in foal to Danehill Dancer and was knocked down to the Coachford-based operation for 275,000.
Shortly after, Hip 1314, the seven-year-old CORRINE, who is out of a sister
to the sire Bellypha (Ire), reached 225,000. Consigned by Seskin Stud as agents,
the listed winner had been responsible for a Galileo (Ire) foal sold to Camas
Park Stud for 255,000 just 24 hours earlier. She was carrying a full sibling
after a return visit to the Coolmore breeding shed.
Toward the end of the day’s trading, Adali Humkar paid 180,000 for Hip 1392,
the five-year-old STARLINE in foal to Montjeu (Ire). The daughter of Trempolino
is a half to two German listed winners as well as the dam of the smart stakes
sprinter Shinko’s Best. As usual, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum’s
Derrinstown Stud draft proved popular and it was Hip 1280, the Nashwan mare
MUBKERA, who attracted the most attention. Carrying a Marju foal, the
stakes-placed seven-year-old from the outstanding family of Rainbow Quest and
the gilt-edged broodmare Slightly Dangerous was knocked down to BBA Ireland’s
John Tyrrell for 175,000.
Yeomanstown Stud picked up the six-year-old ELARA (Spinning World), a half to
Beyrouth and Flame Valley whose immediate family includes Common Grounds.
Consigned by Mountain View Stud as Hip 1310, she is the sole mare on offer in
foal to Dansili (GB) and was secured by Gay O’Callaghan’s stud for 155,000.
As a measure of the phenomenal success of this auction, the session average
of 51,132 represented an increase of more than 19 percent on last year’s
equivalent, which had risen by a massive 93 percent on 2004 and included a
1-million mare. The median, which was up by 85 percent last year, rose again by
37.5 percent on Saturday.
Selling continues Sunday morning., the final day of the marathon November
sale. Full results can be found on www.goffs.com.