Camelot filly – Sheikh Mohammed's personal pick – makes €500,000

Sheikh Mohammed may have been absent from the Goffs ring during Wednesday's session of the Orby Sale, but that did not affect Godolphin's spending habits as the operation's Anthony Stroud made a number of noteworthy purchases, headed by a €500,000 Camelot filly.

The third foal out of Flawless Beauty – an Excellent Art half-sister to Breeders' Cup Turf winner Wrote – was a vendor buyback at just 35,000gns at last year's Tattersalls December Sale.

The intervening nine months have proved a fruitful spell for her sire, however, with the son of Montjeu supplying the likes of Irish Derby hero Latrobe and Grade 1 Belmont Oaks scorer Athena.

"She's one of Sheikh Mohammed's picks and is obviously by a very good stallion," noted Stroud. "She probably cost more than we expected but she's a very nice filly and hopefully she'll be a worthy addition to the stud's broodmare band later on."

Anthony Stroud signs the docket for lot 295, a Galileo filly out of Flawless BeautyCredit: Sarah Farnsworth

The filly was bred by Rob Speers and offered through Glenvale Stud.

Just a few lots earlier Stroud had gone to €350,000 for a colt by flying freshman sire No Nay Never out of Far Away Eyes. The February foal, a half-brother to the winning Istanbul Sultan, had been pinhooked by Lynn Lodge Stud for €82,000 prior to being re-offered on Wednesday.

Godolphin have been among the beneficiaries of No Nay Never's blistering start, with his son Art Du Val, a 120,000gns purchase, looking a smart prospect when carrying the royal blue silks to success on debut at Sandown in August.

Over the two days of trade Godolphin and Godolphin Japan signed for 14 lots at a total spend of €3,980,000. The acquisitions include €1.8m worth of stock by Coolmore stallions such as War Command, Zoffany and Verrazano.

Summing up the state of trade at the Orby Sale Stroud said: "I thought Tuesday seemed really good, there was a great atmosphere.

"I think it's a big help when you get the principals here; Sheikh Mohammed, Sheikh Hamdan and Phoenix Thoroughbreds. When you get the actual owners here I think it's a big help and generates enthusiasm.

"It shows that although the rest of the world is rather uncertain, especially in England with the dreaded Brexit, that these things do keep going."

Lot 397, a Galileo filly out of Maureen bought by David Redvers for €525,000Credit: Sarah Farnsworth

The likes of Phoenix Thoroughbreds and Godolphin were not alone in their quest for the progeny of Coolmore stallions at the Goffs Orby Sale, as David Redvers went to €525,000 for the Galileo filly out of Fred Darling and Princess Margaret Stakes winner Maureen late in Wednesday's session.

The filly is a sister to Mary Somerville, who fetched 800,000gns from Godolphin when offered at Tattersalls last October. The two-year-old was a major eyecatcher when finishing a neck second to Gold At Midnight at Kempton last month.

"She's not over big but she's racy, as you'd expect as the dam was built that way," said Redvers. "Her sister looks very promising. We're delighted to be able to buy a filly like this by one of the two best sires out there."

David Redvers (left) and David Cox of Baroda & Colbinstown StudsCredit: Sarah Farnsworth

The purchase of the filly, bred by Newsells Park Stud and offered by Baroda and Colbinstown Studs, took Redvers' Orby Sale spend to €1.63m for four lots.

BBA back for more

BBA Ireland's team were among the busiest agents during the two days, signing for 26 lots for an aggregate of €2.641m. The operation's biggest purchase on Wednesday came when Eamonn Reilly went to €480,000 for a Camelot filly on behalf of Gerrardstown House Stud's Frank Fahy.

"There's no trainer as yet, but Donie [Fahy's son] will break her in at home," said the youngster's new owner.

The filly is out of the E Dubai mare Enharmonic, a close relation to three winners, most notably Dewhurst Stakes hero Distant Music, who was bought out of the Juddmonte draft at the 2014 Tattersalls February Sale. Blandford Bloodstock signed the ticket on that occasion at 90,000gns.

The filly was bred by Samac and Summerhill Bloodstock and offered through Camas Park Stud

Strong returns

Despite a sizeable amount of pre-sale anxiety about the health of the European bloodstock market, the two days of trade generated a set of returns that were strong by every measure.

By the time the final lot had exited the ring, 327 of 369 offered yearlings had sold for a clearance rate of 89 per cent, up from 86 per cent 12 months ago, when 373 of 433 youngsters sold.

The whole-sale aggregate was up by seven per cent to €43.474m, the average rose by a hefty 22 per cent to €132,948, while the median finished at €80,000 – up from €65,000 in 2017.

In his end of sale statement, Goffs' group chief executive Henry Beeby said: "What an amazing couple of days we have enjoyed at Goffs as the Orby Sale reached unprecedented heights with a trade that was simply extraordinary.

"We took the conscious decision to tighten the catalogue numbers to really focus on quality this year and it's clear that our huge array of buyers from home and abroad agreed with that move."

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