A Galileo half-brother to G1 winner Lahaleeb topped Day 2 of the Goffs Orby yearling sale at 800,000 euros on Thursday.

Form Bloodstock’s Jehan Malherbe bought the colt after seeing off Coolmore Stud agent Demi O’Byrne.  “We just can’t get products like this back home in South Africa,” Malherbe said.  “We’ve got confidence in the products we buy here.  The horse will be trained by Mike de Kock.”

His older half-brother Lahaleeb (Redback) won the 2009 G1 E P Taylor Stakes in Canada.  The Galileo colt bettered the Day 1 price of 775,000 euros paid for the New Approach sister to star juvenile Dawn Approach.

Mandore International purchased a 500,000 euros Pivotal colt on Wednesday and backed up with another half-million euros on Day 2 for a Montjeu colt out of a half-sister to G1 winner Allegretto.  Form Bloodstock was next best with another 470,000 euros for a Galileo half-sister to Group performer Tenth Star.

It capped a superb sale that witnessed 9 lots exceed last year’s top price.  The overall average sky-rocketed 47% to 90,331 euros and the median jumped 38% to 58,000 euros.  The clearance rate was 85%.

“The first vote of thanks goes to our vendors as they have provided us with a catalogue of true quality,” Goffs CEO Henry Beeby said.  “On countless occasions in recent times we have sent out a call to Irish breeders to send us their best and this year we were repaid with a catalogue of the class and depth equal to any.

“It’s no secret that last year’s sale left us a little deflated and we took a long look at the format for 2012.  We really focused on quality to ensure that the Orby kept its position as a premier sale of the best in Ireland.”

Currency converter:  1,000 euros = AUD 1,251