A Montjeu colt, which brought €300,000 ($403,893 in U.S. funds), was the most expensive horse sold Sept. 27 during the opening session of the Goffs Orby yearling sale in Ireland. Sir Robert Ogden purchased the bay yearling from Glenvale Stud.
The colt is the second foal out of the winning Rock of Gibraltar mare Mayano Sophia, who finished second in the 2007 Prix Coronation in France. She is out of the 1997 Irish champion Tarascon (by Tirol) and is a half sister to High Award (by Holy Roman Emperor), who captured the 2010 Investec Woodcote Stakes in England.
The results for the auction’s first session included a gross of €10,706,000 ($14,413,000) for the 176 yearlings that were sold. The average price was €60,829 ($81,895) and the median was €42,000 ($56,545).
The clearance rate was 84.2% for the 209 horses offered.
The average and median for last year’s entire sale were €47,800 and €29,000, respectively.
America-based West Point Thoroughbreds purchased a Footstepsinthesand -- Haute Volta filly for €130,000 ($175,020) and a Shirocco – Novelina colt for €35,000 ($47,121).
Yearlings bought by Sheikh Mohammed’s bloodstock manager, John Ferguson, included a €58,000 ($78,086) Van Nistelrooy – Miss Zafonic filly, whose sire stands at Coolmore Stud’s Kentucky division, Ashford Stud. Coolmore is one of Sheikh Mohammed’s major auction and racing rivals.