Yulong returns for Lucky Vega's three-parts sister for €195,000

Queen Of Carthage is fast becoming the queen of Goffs with the Cape Cross mare’s progeny regularly setting the sales ring at Kildare Paddocks ablaze.

The third session of the November Foal Sale was no exception with her daughter from the first crop of the Irish National Stud’s Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Phoenix Of Spain the latest of her progeny to shine under the Goffs’ spotlight.

Not only was the pedigree familiar but the consignor and buyer were too; Baroda Stud, which offered Lucky Vega as a yearling at the Orby Sale, consigned his three-parts sister while the buyer was Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland for Yulong Investments, in whose green and
white silks Lucky Vega won the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes last season and for whom her Footstepsinthesand half-brother will race.

“The Footstepsinthesand colt is an exceptional individual and buying this filly made a lot of sense. She is a very good physical specimen like her brothers,” remarked Donohoe of the filly who cost €195,000.

“They are all big, strong, powerful individuals and this filly, like the
Footsteps colt and Lucky Vega, has a great mind. She will stay in Ireland and she will go to Jessica Harrington [trainer of Lucky Vega] in time. We are very happy to get this filly.”

The March-born filly strongly resembled her Footstepsinthesand half-brother who was the subject of one of the most audacious pinhooks from this sale.

Consigned by Baroda Stud last December, he was purchased for €300,000 by Filip Zwicky on behalf of clients who were delving into the business of pinhooking for the first time.

Brought back to Goffs for the Orby Sale the colt became the most expensive yearling ever by Footstepsinthesand making €600,000 to Donohoe and Yulong and sparking joyous and emotional reactions from Anna Sundstrom and the Coulonces team, who consigned him on behalf of Zwicky’s Danish clients John Christensen and Alice Weiste.

Lucky Vega's Footstepsinthesand half-brother set pulses racing at Goffs OrbyCredit: Elise Fossard

Lucky Vega was retired to Yulong’s Australian base after reaching the podium in both the 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes earlier in the season.

He will shortly return to Ireland where he will stand alongside Phoenix Of Spain and Donohoe emphasised the strength of Zhang Yuesheng’s faith in the son of Lope De Vega who was also second in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes.

“We are extremely excited about Lucky Vega coming back to the Irish National Stud, we think he has all the attributes to make a top-class stallion and Mr Zhang’s belief in him is borne out by the fact we bought his half-brother by Footstepsinthesand here at the Orby
Sale and now his three-parts sister by Phoenix Of Spain,” he added.

Lot 642 is the most expensive foal to date from the first crop of Phoenix Of Spain while her dam, Queen Of Carthage, was covered by Night Of Thunder in 2021.

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