The key business figures fell short of their 2007 equivalents on the opening day of the Goffs Million yearling sale in County Kildare, Ireland.
The 151 horses that were sold Sept. 29 brought 10,615,000 euros (approximately $15,516,264). The average price was 70,298 euros ($102,757), and the median price was 50,000 euros ($73,087). During 2007’s first session, 162 yearlings were sold for 17,482,000 euros. The average was 107,914 euros, and the median was 70,000 euros.
This meant the aggregate fell 39%, the average was down by nearly 35%, the median dropped 28.5%. The clearance rate slipped from 86% to 75%.
Trainer Jim Bolger has had great success with his Goffs Million purchases to date, particularly Galileo offspring this year through the exploits of New Approach, who has won both the Epsom Derby (Eng-I) and Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-I), and Lush Lashes, has succeeded three times at the group I level.
Bolger secured the last lot (220) of the day by paying 500,000 euros ($730,865) for a son of Galileo related to champion filly Alexandrova from Ballymoney Park Stud.
The first Galileo (lot 12) to be offered at the sale, a half-brother to grade II Kelso Breeders’ Cup Handicap winner Mr O’Brien, was knocked down to Demi O’Byrne on behalf of Coolmore Stud for 330,000 euros ($482,371). The colt was bred by Jack Ronan and Des de Vere Hunt, whose County Tipperary-based Garraun Stud consigned the youngster.
The first Northern Hemisphere-bred to be offered for sale by Encosta De Lago, a leading light in Coolmore’s Australian operation, was another to make a splash. The colt, out of U.S. stakes winner Mary McGlinchey, was consigned from Paul Shanahan’s Ashtown House Stud and was bought by O’Byrne for 280,000 euros ($409,284).
O’Byrne also signed for a 300,000-euro ($438,519) Sadler’s Wells colt from the family of Tobougg sold by David Nagle’s Barronstown Stud, and a 240,000-euro ($350,815) Montjeu three-parts sister to group I Prix Saint-Alary winner Fidelite, bred by Paget Bloodstock and consigned from Clare Castle.
Agent Hugo Merry, who has bought several of trainer Brian Meehan’s best performers, paid 260,000 euros ($380,050) for a first-crop Oratorio colt out of the listed winner Queen Titi, who raced for trainer Aidan O’Brien’s wife Anne-Marie.