Red Ransom Filly Leads the Way as Goffs Sale Opens

A blue-blooded Red Ransom filly named Red Dune became the first yearling to make seven figures at the Goffs' 2006 Million sale when selling Tuesday for 1.05 million euros to agent John Ferguson, acting for Sheikh Mohammed.

The filly, whose half-sister, Rose Of Petra, won a Brighton maiden last week, is out of Desert Beauty, a half-sister to Group I winners Islington and Greek Dance.

Peter Kavanagh's locally-based Kildaragh Stud consigned the filly - who was described by auctioneer Andrew Nolan as "a collector's item" - on behalf of her breeder, the Weinstock family's Ballymacoll Stud.

One of only two Kingmambos catalogued, a filly out of Polish Precedent's three-parts sister Diali, realised 500,000 euros when Coolmore boss John Magnier signaled the successful bid. Felipe Hinojosa's Loughtown and Chevington Studs consigned the filly.

Other Coolmore purchases included a 460,000-euro Galileo colt offered from Grangemore Stud and a 450,000-euro Pivotal filly out of top sprinter Cassandra Go consigned from James Hanly's Ballyhimikin Stud.

The average price increased by 19% to 115,424 euros, while the aggregate jumped by 33% to 22,046,000 euros after 230 were catalogued for the opening day at the Irish sale, 215 offered and 191 sold.