Kahala lends regal poise to Goffs December National Hunt Sale

Grade 2 winner Royal Kahala will be offered at the Goffs December National Hunt Sale, in foal to the exciting young sire Crystal Ocean.

The seven-year-old daughter of leading stallion Flemensfirth won five of her 11 career starts, with her biggest success coming in the Grade 2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran last season.

Trained by Peter Fahey for the Winning Ways Racing Syndicate, Royal Kahala also won the Grade 3 Irish EBF Mares' Hurdle at last season's Leopardstown Christmas festival, defeating Cheltenham heroine Heaven Help Us.

Royal Kahala was bred by Bobby McCarthy of the Beeches Stud and sold as a foal at the Goffs December National Hunt Sale for €5,500. Her value improved considerably the next time she appeared in the ring, at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale where Winning Ways Racing purchased her from Borotown Stud for €45,000.

She has the pedigree to make an attractive broodmare prospect as a granddaughter of the brilliant Lady Rebecca, three times the winner of the Cleeve Hurdle and also third in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham and Punchestown's Grade 1 Tipperkevin Hurdle.

At stud, Lady Rebecca has produced four winners from six runners, headed by the Listed bumper winner Lord Generous.

Royal Kahala (second right) in full flight at LeopardstownCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Royal Kahala's own dam Leading Lady by Fraam is unraced but so far has foaled four winners from six runners with Collectors Item, her five-year-old full-brother to the Grade 2 winner, making £115,000 to Jonjo O'Neill at last December's Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale, having finished second in a four-year-old maiden at Kildorrery on debut for Colin Bowe.

Leading Lady has a four-year-old full-sister to that pair, a three-year-old daughter by Ocovango and a two-year-old colt from the first crop of Idaho.

Commenting on the news that Royal Kahala is heading to the Goffs December National Hunt Sale, Henry Beeby said: "Royal Kahala is a top-class mare who would grace any farm and we are very grateful that her owners have chosen to sell her at Goffs."

Two years ago, Apple's Jade set a record for a National Hunt broodmare when she was purchased by Bective Stud, and the Goffs CEO pointed to the continuing improvement in returns for the sale.

"The December Sale is the fastest growing National Hunt Sale in terms of quality and results for vendors, with recent highlights including a top foal price of €100,000 and the highest ever price achieved for a National Hunt mare at public auction of €530,000.

"This year’s entries are shaping up very well and the Goffs National Hunt team, led by Gerry Hogan, Neil Walsh, Peter Molony and Kevin Ross, are working closely with vendors to produce a catalogue packed with quality across three days," he added.

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