Diverse Offerings At Goffs February

[Wandering Eyes]

KILDARE, Ireland–The Irish flat sales season gets underway on Tuesday with the two-day Goffs February Sale, which features something for everyone; with yearlings, 2-year-olds, horses in training, breeding stock and a smattering of National Hunt-bred horses thrown into the mix.

While a slimmer catalogue of 158 fewer horses means the sale will struggle to match last year’s €4.8-million aggregate, the reduced numbers should hopefully help maintain a healthier clearance rate than the 65% attained in 2018. Last year’s sale posted an average of €14,392 and a median of €6,650, while the top lot was the Jim Bolger-offered Glamorous Approach (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) who was purchased by Ballylinch Stud for €280,000. The 6-year-old subsequently added more black type to her CV when second in two listed races in the Ballylinch silks last year and Bolger offers another highly rated 6-year-old on Wednesday that should interest buyers. Stellar Mass (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a 105-rated entire, is offered by Glebe House Stables as lot 333. The multiple stakes winner posted some smart efforts last summer including when second to Eziyra (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G3 Ballyroan S. and he was also runner-up to Yucatan (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G3 International S. at The Curragh.

Day one provides an opportunity for pinhookers to get stuck in and with potentially just a seven-month turnaround to the autumn yearling sales, there ought to be plenty of traders keen to avail of that short window. An early yearling of interest could be lot 10 from Moyglare Stud. The colt by Teofilo (Ire) is out of the prolific stakes winner She’s Our Mark (GB) (Ishiguru), who has bred two winners from three runners. Her third runner Titanium Sky (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) finished an eye-catching fifth on debut in a 2-year-old maiden at Gowran last September and with an entry in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas, the Dermot Weld-trained filly could provide a significant pedigree update throughout this season.

Dark Angel (Ire) has been a friend to many pinhookers and breeders over the last number of years and an opportunity to acquire a full-brother to the speedy Easton Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) presents itself with lot 22 from Drumachon Stud. The April born bay is also the only yearling by the Morristown Lattin stallion in the sale. Another whose pedigree could improve is lot 32, a filly by Estidhkaar (Ire) from Milltown House Stud. She has a 200,000 gns 2-year-old half-brother by Society Rock (Ire) to run for her in the Shadwell colours this year while Very Excellent (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}), a half-brother to the dam Sunny Days (Ire) (Areion {Ger}), looks a winner waiting to happen judged on his debut at Dundalk last week.

The first foals of Derrinstown Stud stallion Awtaad (Ire) were very well received last year and lot 82 from Deer Forest Stud has plenty going for him on pedigree. The colt is out of G1 Premio Lydia Tesio winner Aoife Alainn (Ire) (Dr Fong), who has a perfect breeding record to date with three winners from three runners including Dr Richard Kimble (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), a three-time winner last year in England.

With one withdrawn, last year’s leading first season stallion No Nay Never is left with just one yearling on offer and lot 93 is a filly from Grenane House Stud out of the stakes performer Barzah (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), who has produced two stakes performers among five winners in total. Another interesting yearling from Moyglare Stud is lot 110, a colt by Australia (GB) out of a Dream Ahead half-sister to 10-time MSW Tha’ir (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}).

Darley stallion Night Of Thunder (Ire) has his first runners this year and his yearlings made up to 260,000gns at the sales last autumn. Lot 143 is the pick on pedigree of his pair of yearlings offered on Tuesday and is a half-brother to the stakes winner Champagne Or Water (Ire) (Captain Rio {GB}), from the family of Irish Classic-placed and Australian group winner Endless Drama (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). The Richard Fahey trained 10-year-old Gabrial (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) came from his sire’s first crop and has amassed over a million Euros in prize-money in his eight seasons of racing. His half-brother by Mehmas (Ire) is offered by Meadowlands Stud as lot 153.

Coolmore stallion Starspangledbanner (Aus) has three yearlings catalogued with two of those coming from Airlie Stud. They include lot 195, a colt out of the French stakes winner Lungwa (Ire) (One Cool Cat).

Wednesday will see 2-year-olds, horses in training and breeding stock enter the ring and the interesting maiden mares that could prove popular include lot 318, Vrai (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), offered by Baroda & Colbinstown. The 3-year-old was placed as a juvenile in France and as well as being a half-sister to G2 Railway S. winner Lilbourne Lad (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) her now 2-year-old half-sister by Gleneagles (Ire) sold for 300,000gns to Alex Elliott last October. Lot 343, Shareva (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) from the Aga Khan Studs, is another young mare with sound credentials. Her dam Shareen (Ire) (Bahri) was a Group 3 winner and has bred two high-class fillies in dual G2 Blandford S. winner Shamreen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and G3 Singspiel S. winner Shahroze (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).

Six lots later Grenane House Stud offer It’s A Wish (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) as lot 349. The 4-year-old was placed twice on the track but is a full-sister to G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest winner Signs Of Blessing (Ire). A few mares to be offered with attractive coverings include lot 373 from Godolphin, the stakes placed winner Elshabakiya (Ire) (Diktat) who is due to Dark Angel, while Baroda & Colbinstown offer lot 380, Myopic (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}). The 6-year-old produced a colt foal by Kodiac (GB) last year and is due to the same stallion in the middle of March.

Towards the end of the sale Daddy’s Gal (lot 457) should pique some interest being an unraced daughter of Scat Daddy. Her dam Moon River Gal (Malibu Moon) was a winner in America and she has a 2-year-old filly by American Pharoah waiting in the wings.

There are also a number of supplementary lots added to the sale and they include lot 140A from Ballintry Stud. This is a yearling colt by Sea The Stars (Ire) out of Fly On The Night (Ire) (Equiano {Fr}), who was champion 2-year-old in Italy in 2015.

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