Cover image courtesy of Sarah Farnsworth
At A Glance
Day 2 of the Goffs Orby Sale presented a €1.85 million (AU$3.1 million) session topper by Frankel, the colt proving the sale's overall bestseller when bought by M.V. Magnier.
The second-best of the sale was a €1.65 million (AU$2.75 million) New Bay filly, a full sister to Saffron Beach, who sold to Amanda Skiffington.
Turnover for the two-day Orby Sale climbed seven per cent to €53,645,500 (AU$88.8 million).
The average was up two per cent to €123,893 (AU$205,000).
Of the 497 total lots offered, 433 were sold, representing a clearance rate of 87 per cent (down two per cent on last year). The median dropped two per cent to €85,000 (AU$141,000).
Across the two days, fillies averaged €156,057 (AU$260,000) while colts averaged just €121,442 (AU$200,000).
Nine different buyers were responsible for the top 10 lots over the two days. The included M.V. Magnier, Amanda Skiffington, Joseph O'Brien, Godolphin, Kim Valerio (as agent for Commonwealth), Hong Kong Jockey Club, de Burgh Equine/Glen Hill Farm, Qatar Racing/China Horse Club and Form Bloodstock.
Frankel filly tops Day 2
Day 2 of the Goffs Orby Sale on Wednesday saw a Frankel (GB) filly top the session when selling to M.V. Magnier for €1.85 million (AU$3.1 million). It occurred as Storm Agnes ripped through much of southeast Ireland, with only industry die-hards remaining around the ring to the bitter end.
The Frankel filly, Lot 525, was consigned by Camas Park but bred by the Sangster family. She boast a wonderful pedigree, being out of a half-sister to Kingman (GB), that stallion supplying one of the major lots earlier in the day.
Lot 525 - Frankel (GB) x Multilingual (GB) (filly) | Image courtesy of Sarah Farnsworth
Magnier was forced to be strong to see off the attention of Kieran Lalor of Al Shira’aa Farms. He said old ties with the Sangster operation was a factor in the filly’s purchase.
“We have a long history with the Sangster family and have been very lucky buying off them in the past. She is a very nice filly and Frankel is doing exceptionally well. She’s very well-bred and we’re delighted for Ben (Sangster) and all the guys.
“She really has everything so let’s hope she’s good. A Frankel filly with that pedigree; it’s a lot of money but it was probably a fair price for her.”
“She (Lot 525) really has everything so let’s hope she’s good. A Frankel filly with that pedigree; it’s a lot of money but it was probably a fair price for her.” - M.V. Magnier
Lot 525 is out of the Dansili (GB) mare Multilingual (GB) and, as well as being a half-sister to Kingman, this mare is also a full sister to the Group 3 winner Remote (GB) (Dansili {GB}). This is the same family as the top sprinter and fellow Juddmonte stallion Oasis Dream (GB).
Magnier’s Frankel filly became the outright sale topper, following an earlier transaction that saw a full sister to Saffron Beach (Ire) make €1.65 million (AU$2.75 million) when selling to Amanda Skiffington on behalf of owner-breeder Fiona Carmichael.
Kingman colt well-sought
Debut consignor Philipp Stauffenberg enjoyed spirited bidding for his Kingman half-brother to the Scat Daddy (USA) horse Skitter Scatter (USA), the colt eventually bought by Godolphin for €650,000 (AU$1.075 million).
Philipp Stauffenberg | Image courtesy of Sarah Farnsworth
Godolphin was returning to the Orby Sale after a four-year hiatus, and it fended off David Redvers and China Horse Club for the Kingman colt, Lot 313, which Stauffenberg had bought at the November Foal Sales for €550,000 (AU$910,000).
Anthony Stroud, bidding for Godolphin, said the operation had almost bought the colt at the foal sale.
“We looked at him as a foal and debated buying him. We thought we’d just leave him and see what he was like this year. It was reassuring that he came back with Philipp Stauffenberg, so we had a chance to look at him again. We thought he progressed well in the year. Happy with him.
“We looked at him (Lot 313) as a foal and debated buying him. We thought we’d just leave him and see what he was like this year.” - Anthony Stroud
“I don’t think we were going to go much further (than the price realised). That was what we valued him at.”
Godolphin bought six yearlings at the Orby Sale over the two days to the tune of €2,505,000 (AU$4.15 million).
Wootton Bassett colt for American owners
Donnacha O’Brien has been decided as the designated trainer for Lot 367, a Wootton Bassett (GB) colt, that sold for €500,000 (AU$830,000) during Wednesday’s session to American agent Kim Valerio, buying on behalf of Commonwealth.
Chase Chamberlain, the co-founder of Commonwealth, an ownership vehicle that has been associated with the Kentucky Derby winner Mage (USA) (Good Magic {USA}) and such good types as Country Grammer (USA) (Tonalist {USA}), revealed ambitious plans to ramp up Commonwealth’s involvement in Irish racing, principally with Donnacha O’Brien.
The Wootton Bassett colt, consigned by Glenvale Stud, is out of a sister to Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and The United States (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and he was high on Valerio’s list.
“He’s beautiful and he was my top choice,” the agent said. “He looks like an American horse and I kind of migrate towards those. He’s light on his feet and is super smart, so I like that.”
“He’s (Lot 367) beautiful and he was my top choice. He looks like an American horse and I kind of migrate towards those. He’s light on his feet and is super smart, so I like that.” - Chase Chamberlain
The Wootton Bassett colt will be the second Commonwealth horse in Ireland, and Chamberlain explained how he hopes the syndicate can grow in time.
“We want to find great horses for people and that starts with conviction. We had the same conviction about Country Grammer and Mage. We have great partners and trust people like Kim to help us make great decisions. Hopefully some magic can happen, but it starts with quality horses
“Kim (Valerio) has been busting her hump working this sale. He’s (Lot 367) going to head to Donnacha O’Brien. He has been crucial in the process.”
Starspangledbanner colt a ‘buy of the day’
Lot 322, a Starspangledbanner colt from the Slade Power (GB) mare Deira Surprise (GB), proved one of the good buys of the second session at €170,000 (AU$280,000). Consigned by Deerpark Stud, he was bought by Richard Ryan and will head to trainer Joseph O’Brien.
O’Brien has enjoyed notable success with Starspangledbanner progeny, including the Newgate sire and Cox Plate winner State Of Rest (Ire).
Deira Surprise is a full sister to the Listed winner Power Of Beauty (Ire), while her half-sister, the Sepoy mare Unforgetable Filly (GB), won the G2 German 1000 Guineas. Her half-brother is the G3 Dubawi S. winner Raven’s Corner (GB) (Raven’s Pass {USA}).
Four colts to Hong Kong
Mick Kinane, sourcing colts for the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), ended up with four across the two-day Orby Sale worth €1.19 million (AU$1.96 million). They included a Mehmas (Ire) colt from Kellsgrange Stud for €500,000 (AU$830,000).
Mick Kinane | Image courtesy of Sarah Farnsworth
Kinane also landed an Invincible Spirit (Ire) colt for €170,000 (AU$280,000) from The Irish National Stud, an Acclamation (GB) colt and a No Nay Never (USA) colt, the latter two secured in the opening session.
By the close of the Orby Sale, Henry Beeby, Goffs CEO, said that the two-day yearling sale is never in doubt as a world-class event.
“What we strive to do is to grow and evolve with each year, as it is imperative that Goffs is the first choice for increasing numbers of the top yearlings in Ireland,” he said. “That is our raison d’etre.
“What we strive to do is to grow and evolve with each year, as it is imperative that Goffs is the first choice for increasing numbers of the top yearlings in Ireland.” - Henry Beeby
“Every spring we travel the length and breadth of the country and further, discussing, inspecting and selecting with leading breeders. We know there are alternatives so it means a huge amount to us when we are chosen to handle the sale of any stand out yearling.
“We judge the sale in totality and have been pleased to return figures that have improved on last year's superb sale, which grew by 24 per cent following a remarkable recovery in 2021. In summary, Orby is once again consistently delivering for vendors and purchasers.”
