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Coolmore fights off fierce competition for filly by Galileo
A well-related filly by Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) set the ring alight on a gloomy day at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale after Coolmore’s MV Magnier fought off fierce competition from Qatar Racing’s David Redvers, eventually landing a 3,400,000gns blow to take the filly home.
It was no surprise to see Coolmore determined to leave the sale with the filly in tow given she hails from a family Coolmore have had a lot of success with, with the operation winning three Group 1s with the filly’s brothers Japan (Galileo) and Mogul (Galileo).
Catalogued as Lot 436, the filly is out of blue-hen mare Shastye (Danehill) and she has proved to be the perfect match for the operation’s peerless stallion Galileo.
This is the fifth foal by Galileo out of the Listed-placed Danehill (Danzig) that has been offered at public auction, headed by the aforementioned Group 1 winners Japan and Mogul, while her other winners by Galileo are Group 2 winner Secret Gesture and Group 3 scorer Sir Isaac Newton, while she also produced Australian Listed scorer Maurus (Medicean).
She becomes the mare’s third yearling to realise over 3,000,000gns, with Sir Isaac Newton having been purchased for 3,600,000gns in 2013 and Japan made 3,400,000gns in 2017.
Offered for sale by Newsells Park, the filly brings the mare’s progney sold at Tattersalls to an extraordinary 14,200,000gns since 2009, while Secret Gesture was purchased for US$3,500,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and Maurus realised €320,000 at the Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale in 2012.
Shastye herself is out of Group 2 winner Saganeca (Sagace), making her a half-sister to 1998 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Sagamix (Linamix) and other top-flight scorers Sagacity (Highest Honor) and Sageburg (Johannesburg).
"It is a great result for everybody involved, she has been bought in partnership with Westerberg," said Magnier. "She is a very nice filly, she is a very nice mover, like Japan and Mogul. The mare produces great-looking stock and great racehorses, let's hope she does it one more time."
Meanwhile, Newsells Park’s Julian Dollar struggled to hide his emotions after the sale.
"Those are easy to sell,” Dollar said. "The team lead by Mark Grace, the yearling manager, has done a wonderful job. He loves that filly so he will be very sad, but he has done a great job."
Earlier in the day, Coolmore broke the seven-figure barrier for another filly by their superstar stallion, going to 2,800,000gns for the Barronstown Stud-consigned yearling.
Catalogued as Lot 374, the filly is out of the dual Grade 2 winning Showcasing (Oasis Dream) mare Prize Exhibit.
Prize Exhibit herself is out of Listed-placed mare Roodeye (Inchinor), making her a sister to one of this season’s stars in Mohaather (Showcasing), who landed this year’s Sussex Stakes (Gr 1, 1m), before his career was curtailed due to injury. It was announced earlier this week the son of former Haunui Farm shuttler Showcasing would take up stud duties at his owner Sheikh Hamdan’s Nunnery Stud.
Meanwhile, Roodeye is also the dam Roodle (Xaar), who in turn produced 2018 Queen Anne Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) winner Accidental Agent (Delegator).
The successful purchaser saw off a sustained bidding effort from Demi O'Byrne and Tattersalls' Tammy Toomey, but it was David Redvers, who was standing outside and entered the fray late on, but didn’t have the firepower to outlast Coolmore.
"She is a very nice filly, Aidan and all the lads liked her," said Magnier. "Breeder David Nagle has been saying for a very long time how good a filly she is. We are very lucky to have been able to buy her with Michael, Derek, Georg Von Opel and everyone; we are lucky to have her now. She has a great page, she comes from a very good nursery."
"These kind of fillies are collectors' items, with Galileo and how he is doing as a broodmare sire. She is just exceptional. Sheikh Hamdan's horse was a very good horse, and it is a very active pedigree."
A few lots later, Coolmore got their name on the buyers’ list again, this time for a colt by Invincible Spirit (Green Desert), paying 600,000gns for the yearling.
The figure signalled a record result for Violet Hesketh and Mimi Wadham’s WH Bloodstock, with the pair having pinhooked the colt for 375,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale last year.
"He has been very popular all the way along, he has not put a foot wrong, we are delighted he is going to Ballydoyle, he is a really, really special horse and we are thrilled," said Hesketh. "It is our best pinhooking result so far."
Wadham added: "We own a part of him with clients, it is the best result we have had, we are thrilled. He is a very powerful, strong horse and he is going to the right stable. Let's hope he is as good as his full-brother. he is a stand out, and has not put a foot wrong and has come out and shown well every time."
Catalogued as Lot 385, the colt is out of Listed-winning mare Rajeem (Diktat), making him a brother to last season’s Duke Of York Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) winner Invincible Army.
Further back this is the same family as 1994 Prix Morny (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Hoh Magic (Cadeaux Genereux).
