Green Desert Filly Tops First Orby Session

After a record-breaking Keeneland September yearling sale, the action shifted to Ireland Monday as the Goffs Orby sale got underway. The top price of the opening session was 650,000 euros Irish punts (about $800,000 U.S.) for a Green Desert filly.

The filly, consigned by Camas Park Stud, was just the sixth hip to enter the ring. She is out of the Mr. Prospector mare Simaat, who is the dam of group stakes-placed Al Ihsas. She was purchased by Demi O'Byrne as agent for Coolmore's John Magnier.

The top-priced colt was by Alhaarth and out of the Castle Quest, by Grand Lodge. Consigned by Croom House Stud, he was purchased for 360,000 euros by John Ferguson on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed.

During the first of five sessions, 79 yearlings were sold for 7,666,000 euros, an average of 97,038 euros and a median of 75,000 euros. The average was down 4% while the median rose 7%.

Full results can be found at www.goffs.com.