Constitution Hill's dam Queen Of The Stage set to attract flurry of online bids

Queen Of The Stage can be described as a genuine collector's item, and the dam of the hugely exciting Constitution Hill will take to the virtual stage in a big way at the Goffs Online Sale on Tuesday.

The daughter of King's Theatre, who was bred by Colette O'Driscoll, was sold initially to Terence Donnelly for just €2,000 at the Goffs December National Hunt Sale in 2010.

Suffice to say, her value these days is considerably more, thanks to the exploits of her son by Blue Bresil, and she is offered for sale carrying a full-sibling to Constitution Hill.

Bred by Sally and Phil Noott, Constitution Hill has risen towards potential superstardom in three starts over hurdles for Nicky Henderson and owner Michael Buckley, who paid £120,000 for him just over a year ago at the Goffs UK Spring Sale.

He was sold there by Barry Geraghty and Warren Ewing, who a few years earlier had acquired him as a foal from Noott, via Throckmorton Court Stud, for €16,500 at the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale.

Constitution Hill has won all three starts under rules, including the Grade 1 Tolworth Novices' Hurdle and Supreme Novices' Hurdle, in which he stormed 22 lengths clear of his toiling rivals.

His dam, who is now 12, was no slouch on the track, winning over hurdles for Robin Dickin and finishing third in the Listed Jane Seymour Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Sandown for Nick Williams after a second success at Exeter.

Queen Of The Stage's yearling filly by Jack Hobbs sold to Alne Park Stud for £50,000 at this year's Goffs UK January Sale, while her four-year-old by Flemensfirth made €60,000 to Stroud Coleman and Jonjo O'Neill as a store last August.

She is selling online on Tuesday through Throckmorton, whose Simon Balding said on Monday: "She's taken everything in her stride. She came back from Ireland about a week ago in foal and looking very settled. We just have to hope everything goes to plan.

"It's a unique situation with her tomorrow. We're all getting on with our jobs like nothing is happening, although hopefully it will be a big day for her, Sally and Phil.

"She's settled into being a broodmare for a few years now so let's hope she can produce a few more Constitution Hills – although that's a very tall order!"

Sally Noott was asked last week about Constitution Hill and the sale of his dam when collecting the Peel Bloodstock Trophy at the TBA’s National Hunt Breeders’ Awards in Doncaster, the Cheltenham Festival winner having been named 2021-22 leading novice hurdler.

"He's what every breeder dreams of, and it's incredible for a small breeder like me,” she said. “I'm very lucky and have been guided well.

"He was a pleasure to have as a foal but was very quiet; you just don't know how they are going to turn out.

Constitution Hill: rising star of the National Hunt sphereCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"Selling Queen Of The Stage will be bittersweet, but the good ones pay for the not-so-good ones."

Henry Beeby, group CEO of Goffs, said: "Constitution Hill has been one of our flagbearers over the last 12 months because he passed through our sales ring last May, so his dam carrying a full-sibling is obviously a huge feather in the Goffs cap and we're delighted to have the opportunity to sell her."

More on Queen Of The Stage, including her full pedigree and footage, is available on the Goffs Online website. The sale takes place from 11am and closes at 1pm.

Read more

Justify off the mark as Tahoma powers to success at Santa Anita

Every option available to the Irish Guineas winner Homeless Songs

'It was great to have bred her under our own names' - breeding novices off mark (£)