Frankel Filly Reigns Supreme At Goffs

KILDARE, Ireland–There was a palpable energy in the air at Goffs on Wednesday morning with the anticipation of some equine future stars changing hands, and so it proved with a daughter of the new king Frankel (GB) stealing the show when selling to Juddmonte Farms for €550,000. Being the strongest day of the four day foal sale, it was important that the gains made in the first half of the week were built on here and it was encouraging to again see trade maintain the strong pace initiated on day one. An 82% clearance rate was in line with the same day last year and while an aggregate of €11,756,000 and median of €52,000 (+4%) surpassed last year, the average of €72,568 (-4.3%) came up marginally short on the 2020 figures.

The sale topper, consigned by the Grassicks' Newtown Stud as lot 652 out of Sanwa (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), could be regarded as a collector's item being a half-sister to Sea The Moon (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a breathtaking winner of a G1 Deutsches Derby and a highly respected stallion, while Monsun (Ger)'s Group 1 winners Schiaparelli (Ger), Salve Regina (Ger) and Samum (Ger) all feature under the second dam. Furthermore, her 2-year-old full-sister Sea The Sky (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire})–who cost €820,000 as a yearling–broke her maiden at Chantilly earlier this month at the first time of asking for Andre Fabre. Speaking after purchasing the Heike Bischoff and Niko Lafrentz-bred filly, Juddmonte's Barry Mahon said, “She is a beautiful filly with an outstanding pedigree and it is not very often that a filly like her comes to the market. Obviously she is by Frankel, who has had a phenomenal year and she will eventually join the Juddmonte broodmare band. We're delighted to have bought her.

“I'm sure you have heard of the Green Book, which is the Juddmonte broodmare band and it is not often a filly of this calibre comes onto the market and they were keen to add her to the Green Book. It's such an outstanding pedigree so hopefully one day she will join the broodmare band and go on to breed good horses for Juddmonte.”

Bischoff admitted to mixed emotions after selling her filly.

“I am absolutely overwhelmed,” she said. “One side of my heart is of course very sad but the other one is happy. She has gone to a lovely owner and I hope they have loads of luck with her. It's a lot of money for a little foal–you can buy a house for that or even more–so you have to be happy. My knees were shaking and I wasn't sure if it was all the tea I was drinking at Sheila Grassick's office or my nerves, but I think it was my nerves. Goffs was a fabulous place to sell her and I am very grateful for the fabulous treatment here.”

 

Stars' Shine Bright

The Wardstown Stud duo of Mark and Elaine Clarke brought a fine son of Sea The Stars (Ire) out of their good producer Holda (Ire) (Docksider) to Goffs as lot 562, and they were well rewarded when the half-brother to GI EP Taylor S. winner Blond Me (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) was knocked down to Camas Park Stud for €270,000. The foal was bred in conjunction with the stallion's owners, Sunderland Holding, and for good measure was even led up in the sales ring by Mark Clarke himself. The pedigree can boast of producing a Group 1 winner in each of the first three generations, and a delighted Clark said afterwards, “It is a very special family day and we are so thrilled. He is a smashing horse and has all the attributes to ultimately make a great racehorse, and we wish the Hydes the best of luck with him. It's a big day for us, and it was a bit surreal leading him up. Even though it was a foal share, when the price starts heading towards a quarter of a million that's new territory to us so it really is exciting. We still have the mare, we also have a daughter of hers called My Brunette (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}) to breed from and even though Holda is not in foal at the moment we have plenty of options to consider for her next year.”

It also took a bid of €270,000 from Frannie Woods to secure another Sea The Stars (Ire) colt offered by Jacqui Norris's Jockey Hall Stud as lot 623. Sold on behalf of breeder Ling Tsui's Sunderland Holding, the colt is the second produce of the unraced Newton's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) whose first foal, a full-sister to Wednesday's offering, was bought by U.S. investors Bridlewood Farm and Madaket Stables last year. The colt will likely reappear at a yearling sale next year for Rathbarry Stud with Frannie Woods commenting, “He is a lovely foal, we've been trying to buy a Sea The Stars for a number of years so now we've finally got one, let's hope everything goes well with him. I didn't think I'd have to stretch so far to get him and hopefully the sister in America might do us a turn in the meantime. The market is strong, which isn't a surprise after the yearling sales and the nice ones are not easily bought.”

Pinhookers Reload

One of the bravest pinhookers in the business, Philipp Stauffenberg, was back in town arming himself for next year's yearling sales and among his purchases this week was a Night Of Thunder (Ire) filly, lot 687. Bought for €240,000, the filly was offered by Oghill House Stud out of the G3 Prix Miesque winner Sweety Dream (Fr) (Dream Ahead). “She is a lovely, strong, precocious-looking filly with great movement and I am delighted to have gotten her,” Stauffenberg said. “The dam was a group winning 2-year-old so this filly has every chance of being a smart, early type. The market is quite strong but I am happy that breeders are being rewarded as they work very hard producing these lovely horses,” he added.

Another very shrewd pinhooker who isn't afraid to spend big on the right article is Michael Fitzpatrick of Kilminfoyle House Stud and the Laois man paid €215,000 for a Blue Point (Ire) colt offered by Limekiln Stud as lot 711. The foal is out of the Galileo (Ire) mare Wild Child (Ire) whose yearling filly by Camelot (GB) was bought by Kenny McPeek in the Orby Sale for €200,000.

Noyelles Delivers Again

The 17-year-old mare Noyelles (Ire) (Docksider) has been very good to Nick and Alice Nugent since the couple bought her for €22,000 in France 14 years ago, and the mare came up trumps again when her Frankel (GB) colt, consigned by Neilstown Stud as lot 626, sold for €210,000 to the Nugent's neighbor Eddie O'Leary's Lynn Lodge Stud. Noyelles is already the dam of two stakes winners and with two young Frankels on the ground and a 2021 Kingman (GB) covering, she could well add to that tally in the coming years.

The solitary Kingman (GB) foal on offer at Goffs this week had a dam-line to match his brilliant paternal influence, being a Moyglare Stud-bred and offered son of Majestic Silver (Ire) (Linamix {Fr}), making him a half-brother to stakes winners Carla Bianca (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and Joailliere (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Lot 598 will return to a sales ring next autumn after being knocked down to Mick Flanagan on behalf of Baroda Stud for €200,000.

“He is a lovely horse with plenty of quality and substance, but as an April foal he should develop more over the winter,” said Baroda's David Cox. “He's a good mover and comes from a great family and we look forward to reselling him next year,” he added.

New Forces

Ballylinch stallion New Bay (GB) is threatening to make the leap into elite territory and he has a big fan in the WH Bloodstock team of Mimi Wadham and Violet Hesketh. The pair combined with Brendan Holland's Grove Stud to acquire lot 554 for €200,000. The New Bay colt out of the G2 Queen Mary S. placed Hairy Rocket (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) is a half-bother to smart Ballydoyle juvenile The Acropolis (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) and was offered by The Castlebridge Consignment. “We love New Bay and this is one of the nicest we have seen by the sire,” Wadham said. “He is a really sharp, active colt and he showed himself well each time we saw him. He will be for resale next year,” she added.

When lot 642, a Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) half-sister to Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) stepped into the ring it was no surprise to see both BBA Ireland's Mick Donohoe and Goffs Scandinavia agent Filip Zwicky emerge as bidders on the Baroda Stud-consigned filly, given their respective involvement with the foal's siblings. It was Donohoe who selected the G1 Phoenix S. winner and rookie Irish National Stud stallion Lucky Vega in this ring at the Orby sale a few years ago, while Zwicky famously pinhooked the Footstepsinthesand (GB) half-brother who made €630,000 to Donohoe's bid at this year's Orby. However, when it came down to the business end, it was Donohoe who won the battle when landing the filly for €195,000. “She is for Yulong Investments and will stay in Ireland to be trained by Jessica Harrington,” Donohoe revealed. “She reminds me very much of her siblings and given the success we have had with the family already I thought she made a lot of sense. Mr. Zhang is very excited about Lucky Vega's stallion career and hopefully this filly will do well for him.”

Early fireworks were provided when a daughter of Ballylinch stallion Waldgeist (GB) from Des Leadon and Mariann Klay's locally based Swordlestown Little Stud stepped into the ring. The late May-born filly out of the stakes placed Ezalli (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) was the subject of a spirited bidding battle but it was Clare Manning of Boherguy Stud who proved successful for lot 534 when the hammer dropped at €180,000. “I've bought her to race and she will carry my granny Jackie Bolger's colours. My granda trained Ezima (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), who is under the second dam, so it's nice to get back into the family,” Manning said.

Swordlestown Little has enjoyed some magnificent returns in this sales ring and a delighted Des Leadon commented, “Mariann and the team did a brilliant job prepping her and she is a classy filly with a lovely temperament. The stallion is both exciting and interesting and we just feel honoured to be involved with such a lovely dam-line that includes the likes of Taghrooda (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}). I am particularly proud that Estimate is on the page because I have been a great friend of Sir Michael Stoute for a long time. I'm delighted the filly is going to such a good home and I remember Eddie Lynam, who trained the dam, saying Ezalli was very fast so hopefully that bodes well for the foal.”

The final day of foal action takes place on Thursday when trade is set to resemble the earlier part of the week.

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Son of Camelot Tops Goffs Day Two

KILDARE, Ireland–The momentum built up on day one of the Goffs November Foal sale carried through Tuesday when strong trade was again the order of the day. The step up in pedigree power on offer further buoyed trade and the trend of an improved set of figures also continued its upward trajectory.

At the close of business, 84% of the 254 offered foals changed hands for a total sum of €7,374,500, a 49% rise admittedly from a slightly larger number offered. This contributed to an average of €34,460 (+23%) and a median of €28,500 (+40%), both significant increases on last year.

Leading the way on Tuesday was a son of Camelot (GB) offered by his breeder Airlie Stud as lot 434 and purchased by Timmy Hyde's Camas Park Stud for €170,000. The February-born colt is out of The Fairy (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who won a 2-year-old maiden at Wolverhampton in 2014 in the colours of Anthony Rogers and who is a half-sister to G1 Moyglare S. winner Chelsea Rose (Ire) (Desert King {Ire}), who in turn is the dam of dual Group 1 winner Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Camas Park have been dealing in high-stakes transactions at Goffs for several decades now and the farm's evergreen owner Timmy Hyde confirmed a return to a sale ring in 2022 would feature in the colt's future. “He is a lovely foal, a great mover and we have bought him for resale,” he said. “He is from a proper family so let's hope he is lucky.”

Tuesday's sale picked up right where it left off the previous evening when the second foal into the ring, lot 247, sold for €130,000. Just like Monday evening's session topper, this Exceed And Excel (Aus) colt, offered by The Castlebridge Consignment on behalf of Shadwell Estate, was bought by the Tally-Ho Stud team. The chestnut is the third foal out of the stakes-placed Ejaazah (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), whose first progeny Elsals (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) showed plenty of promise when third in a 2-year-old maiden at York last month for trainer Richard Hannon. A date at a yearling sale next year under the Tally-Ho banner will no doubt feature in future plans.

The same could also be said for another Tally-Ho foal purchase, lot 270, a Starspangledbanner (Aus) colt sold by the Irish National Stud for €80,000. This chestnut is out of the former Jim Bolger trainee Fiuntach (Ire) (Intense Focus) who is a half-sister to the MGSWs  Steip Amach (Ire) (Vocalised) and Ceisteach (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}).

The O'Callaghans added further to their portfolio when purchasing lot 333 for €75,000. The son of US Navy Flag was bred by Tommy Stack and consigned by Grenane House Stud.

Tally-Ho were also keen to support the progeny of their own young stallion Inns Of Court (Ire), and a half-brother to smart juvenile Gubass (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) offered by Ringfort Stud as lot 450 on behalf of breeder Tom Lacey set the farm back €80,000.

Lot 320, a Camelot colt, was offered by Tipperary based Stanley Lodge Stud and is the first produce out of Lady Magdala (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), a half-sister to G3 Zetland S. winner Max Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) along with two other stakes performers.

“We're big fans of the stallion and this is a lovely foal from a good home,” remarked Michael Gleeson of Aughamore Stud after he signed for lot 320 for €120,000.

Westmeath based Aughamore consists of Gleeson and his brother Laurence and the duo, aided by Matthew Houldsworth, are an emerging force in the breeding and pinhooking sector.

“We bought a Mastercraftsman (Ire) colt here last year from Stanley Lodge and we sold him well at the yearling sales last month so we decided to go back to the same hotel so hopefully he will be lucky for us when we bring him back for sale next year,” Gleeson added.

Although he has already carved out a good reputation in the Southern Hemisphere where he was Champion First-, Second-, and Third-Season Sire in Australia, Zoustar (Aus) will have to do it all over again with his Northern Hemisphere progeny who will begin racing in Europe next year. However, he looks to have plenty of smart recruits to represent him based on sales results so far with his yearlings averaging £75,000 this year.

The appetite for his foals seems to be mirroring that of the yearling demand with noted judges Yeomanstown Stud giving £90,000 for a Zoustar colt. Lot 269 was consigned and bred by Airlie Stud out of the winning Acclamation (GB) mare Field of Stars (GB) and this transaction continues the good run in the sales ring for the mare whose other two offspring have sold for €90,000 and 80,000gns, respectively.

The O'Callaghans of Yeomanstown made another significant purchase later in the session when successfully bidding €98,000 for lot 444, a colt by Advertise (GB) from The Castlebridge Consignment. The dam True To Love (Ire) (Es Que Love {Ire}) was bought in this ring for €47,000 two years ago and is catalogued as lot 1112 in the breeding stock sale on Friday, back in foal to Advertise.

Several former top-class racehorses are represented by their first crops of foals this week and among those to find favour among buyers was 2019 G1 July Cup hero Ten Sovereigns (Ire). Joe Hernon's Castletown Stud offered a colt by Ten Sovereigns as lot 378 and the second foal out of Princess De San (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) was eventually knocked down to John Cullinan and Roger Marley for €90,000.

“We're perennial resellers so this colt will obviously come back to a yearling sale next year,” quipped Cullinan. “He is a good, solid, well-developed colt with a good walk. He has what we all want. Ten Sovereigns was a very talented racehorse and I've been impressed by the few foals I've seen by him. Actually he is part of what looks a very smart bunch of first-crop stallions.”

Cullinan was speaking from experience as he had only a short time earlier struck for another foal by a Coolmore first-season sire in Magna Grecia (Ire). Lot 372, out of the well-related Piscean Dream (Ire) (Dream Ahead), cost the Horse Park/Church Farm team €70,000.

On the day it was revealed that Tally-Ho stallion Mehmas (Ire) would have his 2022 stud fee doubled to €50,000, buyers and pinhookers remained keen to get their hands on his progeny. Among those was Michael Fitzpatrick of JC Bloodstock who went to €60,000 to acquire Grennanstown Stud's filly (lot 285) out of Gracious Lady (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) while six hips later Hillwood Bloodstock bought lot 291 for €70,000.

Meanwhile Tally-Ho stalwart Kodiac (GB), whose fee has been maintained at €65,000, was represented by a filly offered by Phoenixtown Stud as lot 323 that sold to RC Bloodstock for €90,000.

The action continues from 10 a.m. on Wednesday when some individuals with world-class pedigrees are set to come under the hammer.

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Strong Start to Goffs November Foal Sale

KILDARE, Ireland–Unlike last year when it took place the week before Christmas, the Goffs November Foal Sale returned to its rightful place in the calendar and proceedings got off to a very positive start on Monday.

As well as last year's session-topping high price of €75,000 being eclipsed when a son of Mehmas (Ire) sold for €140,000, all the other metrics comfortably surpassed those achieved in an albeit troubled 2020 edition, headed by a 77% clearance rate which yielded an aggregate of €3,384,500, some 55% up on last year. Also well ahead were the average of €19,451 (+41%) and the median of €16,000 (+60%).

The highest price of the day was reserved for the final foal through the ring when lot 245, a colt by Tally-Ho Stud stallion Mehmas (Ire), sold for €140,000 to Tally-Ho's Tony O'Callaghan. Bred by Ms. Vivienne Anne Bird and offered by Paul McEnery's Vinesgrove Stud, the colt is out of the winning Dutch Art (GB) mare Dutch Monarch (GB), whose half-brother Gwan So (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) was a promising juvenile this year, finishing third in the Listed Flying Scotsman S. at Doncaster before being sold to continue his career in Australia.

The foal's yearling half-brother by Galileo Gold (GB) made €95,000 at the Orby Sale and after fending off Willie Browne, O'Callaghan said, “We loved the yearling and we actually tried to buy this foal out of the field in July. He is a cracking foal and will be back for resale. The stallion couldn't be doing any better and we are thrilled with how he is going.”

Starspangledbanner (Aus) will stand for a career-high fee of €35,000 in 2022 after some exceptional international results courtesy mainly of the Joseph O'Brien-trained GI Saratoga Derby and G1 Cox Plate hero State Of Rest (Ire), and it was a daughter of the rejuvenated Coolmore stallion that played a prominent role on Monday when selling for €62,000 to Ciaran Conroy of Glenvale Stud, who stood alongside David Wachman.

Bred and offered by Airlie Stud, lot 125 is out of Sandtail (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}), who has bred one winner so far and is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Zafisio (Ire) (Efisio {GB}).

“We're delighted with that price,” Airlie's Anthony Rogers said afterwards. “My mother bought the granddam Goldthroat (Ire) (Zafonic) and she produced Zafisio so it's been a lucky family for us.”

A colt by Ballylinch Stud stallion Make Believe (GB), offered by the famed Kilkenny nursery, proved popular when selling to Noel Carter of Rathmoyle Exports for €60,000. Lot 157 was bred by Ballylinch manager John O'Connor in partnership with Anne Hallinan and is out of a half-sister to G1 Middle Park S. winner Astaire (Ire) (Intense Focus) in Swish Dancer (Ire) (Whipper), from a family that also includes top-level winners Mohaather (GB) and Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}).

Ballylinch Stud had earlier been in action as a purchaser when acquiring lot 41, a daughter of the farm's Arc-winning stallion Waldgeist (GB) whose first foals have just hit the market. Hailing from Nelius Hayes's Knockainy Stud, the chestnut is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Kodiac Gal (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and was hammered down to Ballylinch for €48,000.

Caravaggio's excellent start to his stallion career through the likes of G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Tenebrism and G2 Debutante S. winner Agartha (Ire) should ensure his stock remain in strong demand and lot 89 by the now US-based Coolmore sire proved one of the more sought after foals of the day when selling to Gaelic Bloodstock for €52,000. Offered by The Castlebridge Consignment, the filly is the third produce out of the former Jim Bolger-trained winner Oh Grace (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) from the family of other Bolger luminaries Teofilo (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}).

Another to fetch €52,000 was lot 119, a colt by Ten Sovereigns (Ire) knocked down to FC Bloodstock. The Arglo House Stud-consigned foal is out of the unraced Rip Van Music (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) and is a grandson of the G3 Park Express S. winner Danehill Music (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).

RC Bloodstock made two significant early purchases, kicking off with lot 28, a colt by Starspangledbanner (Aus) from the Smurfit family's Forenaghts Stud that cost €44,000. The same price was also enough for RC bloodstock to secure lot 46 from Baroda Stud. The good looking daughter of Twilight Son (GB) is the first produce out of the former Cheveley Park Stud owned dual winner Litigious (GB) (Lawman {Fr}), who was bought for £40,000 last year carrying this filly. In the meantime the dam's half-brother Earlswood (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) emerged as a high class performer for Johnny Murtagh, winning the G3 Gallinule S. and the G3 Royal Whip S. at The Curragh during the summer.

The Irish National Stud's Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) is another stallion with his first foals on show and Leona Walsh got €42,000 for her colt foal, lot 221, with Aidan O'Ryan signing the docket for the half-brother to the stakes performer Mattymolls Gaga (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire}).

An early highlight on Monday came via a Profitable (Ire) colt lot 17 who sold to Beechvale Stud for €40,000. The chestnut, offered by his breeder Leaf Stud, received a major pedigree update not long ago when his 2-year-old half-sister Limiti di Greccio (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) won the Listed Staffordstown Stud S. at The Curragh in the manor of a filly that has genuine Group 1 aspirations next year.

The November Foal Sale continues from 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

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Plying A Game-Changer For Jossestown Farm

In life and in bloodstock, the confluence of a few small factors–decisions that may seem minute at the time–can quickly amalgamate into life-changing moments.

Like, for instance, when Martin Cooney and Elaine Shaw opted to raise their hands at €21,000 during the 2018 Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale on an 8-year-old daughter of Hard Spun whose first two foals had not yet found the winner's enclosure; while, simultaneously, another bidder hesitated, and ultimately changed their mind too late.

“Too late, sir,” the auctioneer called, hammering Plying down to Jossestown Farm.

Three years later, Plying will make the return trip from Jossestown Farm in Fethard to the Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale on Friday under much different circumstances. Bidders will be much less hesitant on the mare, in foal to Lope De Vega (Ire) (lot 1185), who is now a multiple stakes producer and the dam of triple Group 1 winner Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never). And the final price will be many multiples of what Cooney and Shaw paid for her.

“We'll be sad to see her go,” Cooney admitted. “She's part of the furniture at this stage, but she's worth a lot of money, we hope, and that money could do a lot for us going forward.”

Cooney, who has dabbled in many facets of the business including riding over jumps and working under the likes of PJ Colville-“a great horseman and person to have on your side”–Mouse Morris, Enda Bolger and Harry Fry, has more recently turned his focus back to Jossestown Farm, where he grew up, with hopes of growing his business of breeding and pinhooking a few National Hunt horses to boarding mares and consigning for clients. A Starspangledbanner (Aus) filly and Dandy Man (Ire) colt sold out of Plying have already helped further than dream, and Cooney acknowledged that capital gained from the sale of Plying would take Jossestown Farm to the next level.

“She's one in a million and they're hard to come across,” said Cooney. “As Jossestown Farm is only starting out you'd love to keep her, but if she's to fetch a huge sum of money it could do a lot for us. I'm after putting up a barn and I want to take in horses for clients and do a bit of everything. I like consigning and pinhooking. I have a few mares for boarding, so I want to go down that line. You need a proper facility and I have that just about finished now. That kind of money would finish it off.”

Cooney and Shaw-who currently works at Kiltinan Castle Stud foaling and prepping yearlings after a six-year tenure with Coolmore–arrived at Goffs in November of 2018 “with the idea of buying a mare that would produce you foals and turn over a bit of money.” From an initial shortlist of five they narrowed it down to two, and after the first went above their budget, it was down to Plying.

Bred by Rabbah out of the listed-placed Fairy King mare Nasaieb (Ire), Plying was knocked down to Mark Johnston for $200,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale as a yearling before ultimately going into training with Henri-Alex Pantall for Sheikh Mohammed. Plying started six times at two in 2013, winning twice at Toulouse and once at ParisLongchamp over 1300 and 1400 metres. Offered by Darley at that year's Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale, Plying was bought by Churchtown House Stud through BBA Ireland for €12,000. Michael Gaffney's Churchtown House was, in fact, getting back into the family, having bred Plying's dam Nasaieb and having sold her to Saeed Manana for 100,000gns as a yearling. Gaffney bred Plying's first four foals, Alcohol Free being the last, before putting both Plying and Alcohol Free, as a foal, into the Goffs November Sale of 2018. Plying was bought by Cooney and Shaw for €21,000 in foal to Starspangledbanner, while Alcohol Free fetched €40,000 from Jeff Smith's Littleton Stud the day before her dam sold.

Though Plying's first two foals had not yet won at the time of their dam's third trip through a sales ring, Cooney said it was the quality of her prior coverings that stood out to he and Shaw.

“Plying had had a couple of foals before she went for sale,” he said. “She had had a Camelot, a Zoffany, and Alcohol Free was sold the day before she was. So she had those coverings that we probably couldn't afford, and those sires would have a great chance of producing a winner. That was why she looked inviting, plus she had a Starspangledbanner in the belly, so we were thinking that if she had an any way good-looking foal, and even if it was a filly, she'd nearly pay for the mare quick enough.”

“There were probably five mares we honed in on,” Cooney added. “It came down to two. We went in after one and she made too much money. We went back and looked at Plying again, and it was down to her. Luckily enough the hammer dropped in time; I actually think there was someone else trying to get a bid in.”

Cooney's and Shaw's logic of leaning on Plying's past coverings soon proved out. The mare's second foal, Alexander James (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), won three times the following season including Chantilly's Listed Prix le Fabuleux. The following February, Plying's Starspangledbanner filly made €40,000 at the Goffs February Sale, having missed her original date at Goffs November after colicking on the day of the sale. She was eventually pinhooked by Knockatrina House Stud for 130,000gns and is now in the care of John and Jess Dance, but the €40,000 she brought for Cooney and Shaw nonetheless covered the cost of both Plying and her next mating, to Dandy Man, “so it was like having a free mare,” Cooney reasoned.

Those results alone would have meant a job well done, but just a few months later along came Alcohol Free to rewrite the entire script.

A debut winner for trainer Andrew Balding in August of 2020, the bay filly was second next out in the G3 Dick Poole S., which would have itself been a welcome result for Team Jossestown. What came next, however, changed their lives in a little more than 1:42: battling the speedy Miss Amulet (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) up the Newmarket straight, Alcohol Free took the overall advantage well out in the G1 Cheveley Park S. but nonetheless held off all comers to win by a half-length.

Three months later, Cooney and Shaw sold their Dandy Man colt out of Plying at last year's Goffs November Foal Sale for €80,000 to Joe Foley, who is retaining him to race. They took the word of Balding, who insisted Alcohol Free's Cheveley Park win was not a one-off, and held onto Plying, who was in foal to Gleneagles (Ire). Plying produced a filly this spring–which Cooney described as “probably the best foal she's had so far”-before visiting Lope De Vega.

Balding's prediction proved correct and Alcohol Free held up her end of the bargain, winning this year's G1 Coronation S. and G1 Sussex S. to established herself among the very best of her generation, male or female.

“It's hard to explain,” Cooney said of the excitement of following Alcohol Free. “You're kind of nervous watching, hoping and praying that it might actually happen, but kind of in the back of your mind you're thinking, 'are you half mad? It probably won't happen.' You start doubting it as you get closer.”

Alcohol Free's ascent has also provided solace for the Cooney family, with Martin's father Jim having been tragically killed in a car accident less than two weeks after Alcohol Free's Coronation S. win.

“Dad would have got a huge kick out of that,” Cooney said. “He passed away this year and he was a big part of the whole operation. He would be the reason I got into horses. He was a great horseman and was great with his animals. Even watching him watching, it would give me a huge kick.”

Cooney said that seeing the pride his father took in Plying was as rewarding as anything Alcohol Free accomplished on the racecourse.

“To be honest, watching the big smiling face on him going out to the mare would excite me as much as watching her races,” he said. “He liked breeding National Hunt foals, he had one or two nice ones but he never had anything like that mare. He would have treated Plying as his own; he'd have been watching her like a hawk.”

While one chapter comes to a close with Plying bidding farewell to Jossestown Farm, another is very much being written. Thanks in large part to her contributions, the future looks bright at the Cooney family's farm.

“I suppose I had it in the back of my mind that my father probably wanted me to come home and take over the family farm, so to be honest it was always in my head to come home,” Cooney said. “To be honest I live and breathe Jossestown Farm. I spend night and day on it.

“Myself and Elaine went to buy Plying with the idea of buying a mare that would produce you foals and turn over a bit of money, and it turned out that we bought a queen. She's one in a million and I might never see one like her again.”

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