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Galileo Mare In Foal To Mehmas Leads The Way At Arqana

The stakes-producer Rasmiya (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), in foal to Tally-Ho Stud's Mehmas (Ire), topped the second and final session of the Arqana February Mixed Sale on Thursday.

Offered by the sale's top vendor Haras de Bouquetot, lot 308 made €315,000 from the sale's leading buyer, BBA Ireland. Already the dam of the French listed winner Jouza (Ire) (Toronado {Ire}), the 10-year-old is a half-sister to group winners Above Average (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Sent From Heaven (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), as well as the listed winner Freyja (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and a full-sibling to the G3 Bart Cummings H. second Granddukeoftuscany (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

“She's a very nice mare,” said BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe, who was buying in tandem with fellow BBA Ireland agent Eamon Reilly. “She'll first go to Ireland have her foal, and then we'll decide afterwards which stallion she'll be covered by. She's been bought for one of our clients.”

The leading buyer with nine acquired for €743,000 over two days of selling, BBA Ireland also signed for lot 249, Zerziyna (Fr) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), at €200,000. Part of the Aga Khan Stud's draft, the unraced 4-year-old filly is a granddaughter of G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar).

Reilly said, “We've bought her for an Irish client. We're very happy–she's a lovely filly from a great family. She'll be covered by Lucky Vega {Ire}).”

Rounding out the top three was a colt (lot 264) from the first crop of Persian King (Ire), who sold to Hamish Macauley Bloodstock for €105,000. Hailing from the consignment of Camille and Guillaume Vitse's Normandie Breeding, the bay is a half-brother to G3 Prix Texanita heroine Alistair (Fr) (Panis). Group 1 winners Goldmark (Lyphard), Gabina (Caro {Ire}) and Galetto (Fr) (Caro {Ire}) are part of the extended family.

“He's a lovely colt and very athletic,” said Reilly. “He'll go to Tally-Ho Stud, with the objective to give him a bit of time before putting him through the sales again later.”

Wednesday's stats were similar to the 2022 edition, with 128 sold from 159 offered (80.5%) for a gross of €1,981,000. The average rose 3.3% to €15,477, but the median ticked down marginally to €5,500 (-1.5%).

From a smaller overall catalogue that offered 68 fewer horses, the clearance rate was essentially unchanged at 80% for 245 sold of 307 through the ring. The gross was €3,806,000, while the average and median improved by 15.3% (€15,535), and 8.3% (€6,500), respectively.

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Air De Valse Tops Tuesday’s Arqana February Session At 240k

The group heroine Air De Valse (Fr) (Mesnil Des Aigles {Fr}) took top honours during the first session of the Arqana February Mixed Sale on Tuesday.

The Bridge Consignment shelled out €240,000 for the 7-year-old G3 Prix du Petit Couvert heroine from the Corine Barande-Barbe draft. Placed in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye in 2021, Air De Valse is a daughter of listed winner Air Bag (Fr) (Poliglote {GB}).

Jérôme Glandais, the Director of Haras du Logis Saint-Germain said, “She's been bought for Mr. Benaroussi, who continues to invest in breeding. For the moment we haven't decided what stallion she will go to or where she will be boarded.”

Shalaa (Ire) mare Majal (Fr) (lot 173) changed hands for €102,000 to Eamon Reilly of BBA Ireland. Offered by Haras de Bouquetot, the winner is a half-sister to G3 Prix La Force victor Pao Alto (Fr) (Intello {Ger}), while her dam, a winner at Group 3 level in Germany, is a half-sister to G1 French Oaks heroine Palmas (Ger) (Lord Of England {Ger}).

Reilly said, “She's a lovely filly, that moves nicely and has an exceptional pedigree page. She'll come back to Ireland and start her broodmare career.”

The winning jumper Santa Fix (Fr) (Saint Des Saints {Fr}) (lot 118) was signed for by Paul Basquin for €92,000 on behalf of a partnership between Haras du Saubouas and Haras d'Etreham. She is a half-sister to listed-winning jumper Fixe Le Kap (Fr) (Kapgarde {Fr}), as well as A Mi Manera (Fr) (Great Pretender {Ire}), a dual graded winner over jumps.

“She's a magnificent filly that moves really well,” said Paul Basquin. “She's from a lovely family and by Saint des Saints, an excellent broodmare sire. She's been bought for a partnership between Haras de Saubouas and Haras d'Etreham. She'll be covered by Paradiso (Fr), a stallion that we estimate and want to support by sending him mares of this quality.”

The fourth dearest lot of Tuesday's session was lot 70, a nomination to Group 1 sire Camelot (GB) to aid the Red Cross in Syria and Turkey. Offered by Coolmore, the nomination was snapped up by Rahinston Stud for €62,000.

“I've bought it for a client of the farm, an owner/breeder who wants to breed the nomination to race if all goes well, said Rahinston's Harry Fowler. “We're delighted to support such a worthy charity, especially one that is at the forefront of all our minds. When the opportunity arose for such a lovely stallion and such a good cause, we felt we should support this very generous offer from Coolmore. It's also great of Arqana to facilitate the sale. A stallion like Camelot is not easy to get into; he's a beautiful horse and has a phenomenal record. We've an idea which mare we will send to him but we're not 100% sure, let's see how they all foal. But the progeny will be kept to race.”

At the close of trade, 111 lots sold from 148 offered (75%) for a gross of €1,805,000. The average rose 38.2% to €16,261, while the median rose by 50% to €9,000 from last year's opening session.

The second and final session of the February Mixed Sale begins at 11 a.m. local time. For the complete sale results, please visit the Arqana website.

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Galileo Mare Tops Goffs February Sale As Baroda Completes Clean Sweep

Baroda Stud finished as strong as it started at the Goffs February Sale by sending out the top three lots on Thursday, headed by Galileo (Ire) mare Red Azalea (Ire) (lot 482A), knocked down to Mick Donohoe of BBA Ireland for €340,000.

Red Azalea was a supplementary entry to the sale. A winner in her own right when trained by Donnacha O'Brien, she is a daughter of the classy Music Box (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who scored at Group 3 level.

Donohoe also signed for the unraced Frankel (GB) filly, Nomadland (GB) (468), while Barry Lynch secured black-type performer Romanosa (GB) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) (lot 410), as Baroda's mares played starring roles late in the day.

Lynch said, “Romanosa is a very nice filly and has a good back pedigree. I think she'll make a lovely mare and she'll come back to auction next year in foal to a high profile stallion, fingers crossed. She's been bought by a number of guys who want to buy a mare to reoffer at a public auction so fingers crossed it will all work out.”

Earlier in the afternoon, Boherguy Stud enjoyed a good result with a Blue Point (Ire) colt (lot 256) selling to Hamish McCauley for €60,000 while Jill Lamb went to €52,000 to secure a Too Darn Hot (GB) filly (lot 266)) from Clare Manning's draft.

Lamb, buying on behalf of Mike Watson's Trebles Holford Thoroughbreds, also snapped up a €56,000 Dandy Man filly (lot 328) from Church View Stables with Lamb labelling the visit as productive.

She said, “I absolutely loved the Dandy Man (Ire) but didn't think it would cost that much to buy her. She looks a real racey filly. We may keep her to race or we may reoffer her as a yearling. I loved the Too Darn Hot as well. She had a great pedigree and I am very keen on Too Darn Hot's yearlings. Hopefully she will come good. They are for Mike Watson who has Trebles Holford Thoroughbreds. It's been a productive afternoon and I'm really pleased with the two fillies I've bought.”

Goffs chief Henry Beeby was particularly pleased to see Lamb and her fellow raiders in action at the two-day sale where turnover dropped 28% to €4,348,550.

The caveat being that there were 66 less horses offered at the February sale this year compared to in 2022. Of the 424 offered, 273 were sold, which represented a 64% clearance rate. The average over the two days was €15,929, down 7% on last year, while the median stayed the same at €9,000.

Beeby commented, “Goffs February fulfils an important function in the sales calendar as it provides another opportunity for foal (weanling) sellers and buyers. Sometimes the youngster needed more time and on other occasions they did not make our superb November or December Foal Sales for some reason or failed to hit the target on that visit to the ring.

“When November and December are strong it sometimes leads to a weaker February as orders might be filled and/or the better lots already sold. Whether or not that is the case this week is debatable but the common theme over the last two days has been a vibrant trade for those that held most appeal, especially to the pinhooking fraternity, but an altogether different story for those deemed not to be as commercial. Suggesting otherwise would be foolhardy as it is very much the case in the times in which we live.”

He added, “We probably enjoyed a post pandemic bounce last year in terms of numbers with the expansion to three days for the first time since 2018 and so this year's two-day affair was always going to show a reduced turnover. However, it is interesting to note that the median price remained the same as 2022 which demonstrates a consistency to the market for a sale in which the size of the entry is largely reactive to the autumn sales.

“Trade for the breeding stock session mirrored the weanlings with keen competition for some and less interest in others but we have been pleased to welcome another strong overseas contingent to Kildare Paddocks who are enticed year after year by the enduring quality of Irish bloodlines and the endeavours of ITM working alongside the Goffs Buyer Recruitment Team and our excellent international agents.

“The market leading status of Goffs February has been confirmed once again with the highest February prices for Flat weanling, NH weanling and breeding stock with the latter recording the fourth best price for this sale and the best since 2014. As ever, we extend our thanks to each vendor and all our purchasers for we are nothing without them.”

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Small-Time Irish Breeder Molloy Over The Moon With American Oaks Winner

Small-time breeder Kevin Molloy was provided with the best possible Christmas present late on Monday night when Rhea Moon (Ire), the first produce out of homebred Callisto Star (Ire), became Starspangledbanner's fourth top-flight winner of 2022 when battling to Grade I American Oaks glory at Santa Anita.

Rhea Moon began her career for Ken Condon in Ireland, for whom she showed bundles of potential when placing in six-furlong maidens at Dundalk and the Curragh before being purchased privately by BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe and international bloodstock agent Niall Dalton to join Philip D'Amato.

Monday night's success was described by Molloy, who sold Rhea Moon through Ballybin Stud for £24,000 to BBA Ireland at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale in 2020, as his best experience in racing.

He said, “I stayed up to watch the race with my family and it was very exciting. We were concerned about the draw but she has that turn of foot which gets her out of trouble.

“It was my best day in racing. To win a Grade I and to have that on the page is great. They are keeping her in training and I see more improvement coming so it's quite exciting.”

Peter Kelly of Ballybin Stud sold Rhea Moon along with her winning full-sister There's The Door (Ire) for €80,000 at the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale last year and the Magna Grecia half-brother who commanded €145,000 to Johnny Hassett's Getinthegame syndicate at this year's Sportsman's Sale at Goffs.

He recalled, “I know from talking to Ken Condon that he was mad about Rhea Moon and he went hard trying to buy the full-sister last year and the Magna Grecia this year as well. I thought she'd be a good filly but I never dreamt she could go on and win a Grade I, so it's great.”

Kelly added, “Rhea Moon was a gorgeous, big filly as a yearling. Big, scopey and strong but she was a small bit turned in in front, which spoiled it a little. I remember her being a gorgeous filly in the lunge ring-she'd a huge big action on her-and you just knew she was going to be good. I remember trying to put a few people on her. Every now and then you get a glimpse of what could be a good one and she was one that I really liked at home.

“The dam Callisto Star has had an exceptional start and I'm delighted for Kevin as he has three mares all of whom are from this family. The sister has won for David Evans and is not far off black-type while Johnny Hassett bought the Magna Grecia colt at the Sportsman's Sale off us. I'm delighted for Johnny as he was a big fan of the colt and hopefully this pedigree update will help them achieve a nice profit at the breeze-up sales next year.”

It has been a bountiful year for the progeny of Starspangledbanner. Rhea Moon capped a memorable season for the Coolmore sire by joining Aristia (Ire), State Of Rest (Ire) and California Spangle (Ire) by claiming success at the highest level.

Rhea Moon's dam Callisto Star is back in foal to Starspangledbanner with Molloy excited about what the future might bring for a family he has nurtured for generations.

He explained, “There's stamina in the dam's side and, if you go right back, there's the Mill Reef influence in there as well. I think the match is very good and I was advised by Christy Grassick in Coolmore to bring Callisto Star to Starspangledbanner. Thankfully, the mare is back in foal to Starspangledbanner, which is good news.

“Callisto Star was unlucky during her training career. She was with Jim Bolger but got injured. To get off to a start like she has, with her first produce bagging a Grade I win in America, is great.”

Molloy added, “Her second foal, There's The Door (Ire), has won for David Evans and was not far off getting black-type. She had a lovely Magna Grecia colt sell to Johnny Hassett's Getinthegame partnership at the Sportsman's Sale in September. He was a lovely colt with a great temperament and it will be interesting to see how he breezes for them.”

Molloy's enjoyment at seeing Rhea Moon achieve big-race success in America was heightened by the fact that he is surrounded by the family at his base in Luttrellstown in Dublin.

He said, “Rhea Moon is a Dublin girl. She was born in Coolmore but she was raised here in Luttrellstown. I only have a small operation here. I have kept a few different broodmares from different lines but gradually got out of them. The one line I kept is from Mohican Princess (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}).

“Mohican Princess produced a number of good horses, including dual Group 3 winner Satchem (Ire) (Inchinor {GB}) and Eye Of The Storm (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who despite only having one eye, was a very talented horse. I kept Livia Galilei (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) out of Mohican Princess and I have some of Livia Galilei's daughters here as well. I've only got three broodmares altogether.”

Molloy added, “I take a lot of advice from Peter's Dad Paddy Kelly. I am guided by him and Christy Grassick. I get good advice and it's very enjoyable to have the mares around me. As I am speaking now, I am looking out the window at Rhea Moon's dam. That adds a lot. There are ups and downs but, to be able to go out and pet these mares on the nose, it gives you a lot of satisfaction. You get very close to them all.”

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