A Galileo filly and Teofilo colt topped Day 1 of the Goffs Orby yearling sale in Ireland on Tuesday. Both lots sold for 300,000 euros (420,445).
Galileo was responsible for two of the top four lots among the 33 yearlings that made six figures. The opening session average of 70,887 euros (AUD 99,345) was down by 8% and the median stayed the same at 50,000 euros (AUD 70,075).
Coolmore agent Demi O’Byrne secured Galileo’s jewel from the Croom House Stud consignment. The filly’s dam Winning Sequence is a three-quarter sister to the G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Coquerelle (Zamindar). “She’s a lovely, lovely filly and is a fabulous mover,” O’Byrne said. “The stallion speaks for himself.”
The Teofilo – Hundred Year Flood colt was purchased by Sir Robert Ogden from Hawthorn Villa Stud. He is from a winning half-sister to G3 Delaware winner Sweet Hope (Lemon Drop Kid). Teofilo’s breeder, owner and trainer Jim Bolger was the underbidder.
“We had bought one Teofilo already at Deauville, and this horse really showed himself well,” said Ogden’s racing manager Barry Simpson. “He looks to have an excellent temperament and is an exciting type.”
Earlier, Ogden had paid 240,000 euros (AUD 336,360) for the sole Medaglia d’Oro at the Orby Sale. His dam Greeley Appealing is a daughter of G2 Adirondack Stakes winner Regally Appealing (Valid Appeal). “The stallion is very hot at the moment and this colt fit the profile of what we were looking for,” Simpson added. “He really looked like a quality sort.”
Juddmonte sire Oasis Dream has established a reputation for producing a wide range of top-class performers and his colt from Whisper To Dream made 250,000 euros (AUD 350,375) to the bid of agent Alex Cole. His second dam is the stellar Gainsborough mare Hatoof (Irish River).
Cheveley Park Stud took home a Galileo filly out of top-class sprinter-miler Grecian Dancer (Dansili) for 240,000 euros (AUD 336,360). The mare was carrying the Galileo filly when she won the G3 Ridgewood Pearl Stakes at the Curragh in May 2008.
“She’s an especially good-looking filly out of a very good racemare,” Cheveley Park director Chris Richardson explained. “Her pedigree will enhance the broodmare band back home.”
During the first of three sessions, the Maktoum family and Coolmore’s Demi O’Byrne together purchased just seven lots. But Goffs spokesman Bobby O’Ryan said that didn’t tell the whole story. “There was a real buzz in there when a nice horse walked in the ring,” he said. “Those horses were making plenty. I thought it was a good trade.”