3 minute read
Stakes-placed son of Galileo makes 200,000gns at Tattersalls
Armando Duarte, who was working on behalf of Mike Moroney’s Ballymore Stables Australia and his brother Paul Moroney, forked out 200,000gns at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale for the well-bred stakes-placed colt Keats (Galileo), who was offered by Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle Stables.
Catalogued as Lot 623, the colt has won two races and been placed at Listed level on two occasions.
Keats is out of Cheveley Park (Gr 1, 6f) winner Airwave (Air Express), making him a brother to Group 3 winner Aloof and Listed winner Orator. Meanwhile, his Listed-winning half-sister Meow (Storm Cat) is the dam of multiple Group 1 winner and now Coolmore Stud shuttler Churchill (Galileo) and fellow elite level winner Clemmie (Galileo) and Group 3 scorer Blenheim Palace (Galileo).
"This horse was our pick of the sale," said Duarte. "We think he might make up into a top miler or might stay ten furlongs. Normally we are looking for a stayer, but this horse could be a miler.
"He has been very highly recommended by Mick Flanagan, who works closely with Coolmore Australia. It was perhaps more than we wanted price-wise, but we think we have got a nice horse and one for the future."
Duarte, who managed to buy Keats on just one bid, explained: "I tried to bid at 130,000gns, but someone beat me at 135,000gns so I said, 'I am out!'. Mike was on the phone to Paul on the other line and said, 'Go one more', it worked and we got him on the one bid."
Bloodstock agent Paul Moroney has spent a lot of time in Newmarket and the northern hemisphere, and Duarte explained how the cross-hemisphere buying relationship for this sale has developed.
"Myself and Paul have known each other for about 15 years, we are good friends and the working relationship has been growing and growing, and this year it has worked in my favour as he is not able to be here," said Duarte. "Paul is in quarantine in Australia having moved to the Gold Coast for the sales. He is making his way back in a caravan to Melbourne where he is based, but it is in lock-down.
"I know exactly what Paul likes and what he does not like so we work well together. I video every single thing which may be a fault and, if he finds something and he says, 'Armando what about this?', then I go back and video again and video again until we make sure we are right. That is why we work together."
