Holding a Thoroughbred auction during the COVID-19 pandemic has not been without its challenges, and the Goffs February Sale has faced more than most. First, the sale was split into two parts, and the Mar. 2 Part II was re-scheduled for Mar. 11, but as Irish coronavirus restrictions were extended, Goffs had no choice but to move Part II online. Goffs and vendors alike can take heart from the fact that the live online format has achieved some notable results this season, and there are 84 National Hunt and Flat short yearlings set to go under the hammer on Thursday.
Baroda Stud has one of the biggest drafts in the sale and they offer a chestnut colt (lot 303) by G1 2000 Guineas hero Saxon Warrior (Jpn) whose great-granddam is G2 Pretty Polly S. heroine Takarouna (Green Dancer); while lot 431 is a Nathaniel (Ire) colt out of the stakes-placed Snazzy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) from the family of blue hen Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}); and a Zoustar (Aus) filly (lot 453) who shares the stakes-placed second dam Roo (GB) (Rudimentary) with G1 Sussex S. hero Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) is also in the consignment.
Wardstown Stud offers lot 374, a half-sister to listed winner Copper Knight (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}). The daughter of Exceed And Excel (Aus) is from the extended family of the aforementioned Group 1 winner Prohibit.
Only one yearling by the globetrotting Group 1 winner Highland Reel (Ire) has been catalogued, with lot 359 a son of Marah Dubai (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}). The colt, consigned by Acorn Stud, is a half-brother to the group-placed Haky (Ire) (Muhtathir {Ire}). Marah Dubai herself is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Belle et Celebre (Fr) (Peintre Celebre), and the Group 1-placed dam of G1 Derby victor Wings of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}).
Two-time group winner Berkshire (Ire), who has his first runners this season, is represented by lot 414. The colt, from Ross Stables, is a half to G3 Oh So Sharp S. third Hasty (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), already the dam of the stakes-placed Festina Plente (GB) (Toronado {Ire}). The Castlebridge Consignment offers a Gleneagles (Ire) son (lot 470) of Zibeling (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), herself a half to Group 2 winner and Group 1-producer Beauty Is Truth (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}).
Other lots of note on paper include: a filly from Olive O'Connor Bloodstock presented as lot 449 by Adaay (Ire) out of the G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. third Tongue Twista (GB) (Stimulation {Ire}); Grade 3-placed hurdler Bridgequarter Girl (Ire) (Presenting {GB})'s Vadamos (Ire) colt (lot 502) from Hack House; and a colt (lot 510) by Derby hero Harzand (Ire) out of the listed-placed hurdler Cockney Wren (GB) (Cockney Rebel {Ire}), herself a full-sister to Grade 2 hurdle winner Cockney Sparrow (GB) (Cockey Rebel {Ire}) from the Thistletown Stud draft.
In 2020, the short yearling session of the Goffs February Sale grossed €1,978,800 for 153 (64%) from 238 offered. The average was €12,934 and the median was €8,000.
Online bidding on the first lot starts at 12 p.m. local time. Go to www.goffs.com for the full catalogue.
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