Galileo heads Goffs Foal Sale

The final session of the Goffs November Foal Sale sprang to life on Thursday after two quiet sessions earlier this week at the Co. Kildare complex.

A Kodiac colt topped Day 1 at 35,000 euros and an Iffraaj colt led Day 2 at 62,000 euros before the fireworks started on Day 3.

Not surprisingly, it was Coolmore Stud’s champion sire Galileo who led the way on Thursday with a 260,000 euros colt from G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Miss Beatrix.  He was consigned by JK Thoroughbreds and sold to Mertoun Paddocks for 260,000 euros.

Sheikh Mohammed’s principal bloodstock buyer John Ferguson went to 240,000 euros to secure a Nayef half-brother to Sheikh Hamdan’s 2010 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Bethrah (Marju).

The colt was consigned by Jockey Hall Stud on behalf of the breeders Tullpark Limited.  His dam Reve D’Iman (Highest Honor) is a winning sister to G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Reve D’Oscar.

Nayef’s sire son Tamayuz was also in demand with his first foals.  He was a French G1 winner at Chantilly and Deauville and the filly from Desert King mare Chelsea Rose made 220,000 euros.  Tamayuz was raced by Sheikh Hamdan and agent Stephen Collins was acting on behalf of the Shadwell Estates principal.

The final average was up 14% to 25,401 euros on a 68% clearance rate.

“The selective nature of the market was very much a reflection of the 2010 European yearling sales in general,” Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby said.  “But what is remarkable is that Goffs has achieved such a vibrant trade against the wider back drop of some real turmoil both for Ireland as a country and for the world economy in general.”

1,000 euros = AUD 1,379