Night Visit, dam of 2013 Irish Derby (Ire-I) winner Trading Leather, sold to agent Hubie De Burgh for €975,000 ($1,333,819 in United States funds) to top Goffs February sale on closing day Feb. 13.
The sale of the 10-year-old Sinndar mare, offered in foal to young sire Intense Focus, helped send figures soaring in three main market indicators for two-day sale. Average price rose 69%, total receipts increased 46%, and median gained by 27% compared with the 2013 auction.
Goffs reported 256 horses sold €4,218,100 ($5,769,618), an average of €16,477 ($22,537). The median price was €7,000 ($9,575).
The clearance rate improved from 68% last year to 69%.
"The Goffs February sale continues to attract a diverse entry to appeal to an international buying bench," Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby said. "The statistics have taken another significant step forward to record double digit rises in turnover, average, and median, so starting 2014 on the same positive note that was so evident here last year."
Night Visit, who was unraced, was offered in Jim Bolger's Redmondstown Stud consignment and bought for an unnamed client. She is out of the Irish River mare Moonlight Sail, a half sister to 1994 United States champion turf female and English classic winner Hatoof and grade I winner Irish Prize.
A son Teofilo, Trading Leather was third to eventual Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) victor Magician in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) before winning the Irish Derby by 1 3/4 lengths. He closed last season with back-to-back runner-up finishes at the group I level--to Declaration of War in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at York and The Fugue in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
A colt by Big Bad Bob led sales at the yearling session Feb. 12, selling to Trickledown Stud for €90,000 ($123,104).
Offered by Dooneen Stud, the bay colt is out of the unraced Bering mare Shine Silently. He is a full brother to group III winner Bible Belt and stakes winner Bob Le Beau, who was group III-placed.
