The offspring of Galileo commanded the highest prices during the Tattersalls December yearling sale Nov. 22 in England. A colt out of the Slew o' Gold mare Golden Coral and a filly out of the winning Cozzene mare Cozzene’s Angel each brought 140,000 guineas ($234,831 in U.S. funds).
Demi O’Byrne of the Coolmore Stud buying team purchased the Galileo colt from Barronstown Stud. The bay yearling is a half brother to Irish champion Aleagueoftheirown (by Danehill Dancer). Their dam, who failed to win in three career races, is a full sister to European champion Golden Opinion, who was a group I winner in England.
Charlie Gordon Watson bought the Galileo filly from Watership Down Stud. The chestnut yearling is a half sister to Toccet (by Awesome Again ), who captured five added-money events, including the 2002 editions of the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) and Hollywood Futurity (gr. I). Their dam finished second in the Junior Champion Stakes at Monmouth Park and third in the Salem County Stakes at the Meadowlands in 1996.
The auction’s results included a gross of 3,574,600 guineas ($5,995,910) for the 261 yearlings that were sold. The average price was 18,426 guineas ($30,907) and the median price was 9,000 guineas ($15,906). Compared to a year ago, the gross rose 2.5%, but the average fell 19.1%. The median declined 18.2%.
In 2009, the 195 horses that were sold grossed 3,486,700 guineas. The average was 22,789 guineas and the median was 11,000 guineas.
The clearance rate fell to 74.3% this year from 78.5% in 2009.