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Bobby Donworth said the new arrival was “a high-quality filly with plenty of substance, she'd encourage you to use Lucky Vega again this season. She's immediately related to champion fillies Rizeena (Ire) and Serena's Song, so it's a superb fillies' page.

The Irish National Stud's Gary Swift said, “It's a tremendous start for Lucky Vega, the firepower this horse has been supplied with in his first and second season in top-class mares is unprecedented; Yulong have done everything to facilitate him becoming the most exciting young stallion around and he is certainly the one to be on.”

A winner of the G1 Phoenix S., Lucky Vega commands €15,000 this year. He also shuttles to Yulong in Australia, and his first foals arrived in the Southern Hemisphere in 2022.

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Classic winner Phoenix Of Spain (Ire)'s first runners will step out on racecourses next year and he has been priced at €12,000. G1 Phoenix S. winner Lucky Vega (Ire) will stand his second season for €15,000, while Group 2 scorer Nando Parrado (GB), whose first foals will also arrive in 2023, will command an unchanged fee of €6,000.

Established stallions Decorated Knight (GB) and Free Eagle (Ire) are both priced at €5,000. They are joined by the trio of Dragon Pulse (Ire), Elusive Pimpernel and Equiano (Fr), all set to cover at €2,000.

“While 2022 will certainly be remembered for strong market performance at all the major sales the headwinds for 2023 suggests the need for a cautious outlook,” said Irish National Stud CEO Cathal Beale. “With that in mind the Irish National Stud are delighted to present an exciting team of stallions with fees maintained or reduced across the board.

“With incredible support from Mr. Zhang's Yulong Investments, Lucky Vega has the ammunition required to make him a champion. Likewise, the Coventry S. winner, Nando Parrado, proved remarkably popular in year one with 130 mares covered. Incredible looks, raw speed, precocity and hailing from the proven Kodiac (GB) sire line, he brings fantastic credentials.

“Phoenix of Spain will have 93 first crop 2-year olds to run. He won his maiden in July, the G3 Acomb in August, placed in the G2 Champagne in September and was a short head second to a future Classic Winner in the G1 Vertem in October. [He is] a top class 2-year old, [and] a 2000 Guineas-winning 3-year old.

“For those seeking proven credentials the roster is stacked with great value options. Free Eagle, Decorated Knight, Equiano, Elusive Pimpernel and Dragon Pulse provide commercial success in the sales ring and high-class performers on the track, all for €5,000 or under.

“And then there is Invincible Spirit. This year brought over 20 2-year old winners including the G2 Railway S. winner, Shartash. His yearling average price was over €150,000 and a new Group 1 winner as a broodmare sire arrived in Breeder's Cup Champion Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).”

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Bolger believes that Poetic Flare is up to the fast turnaround. “He's very well, he only had a furlong and a half of a race, so we expected he'd be fresh after it,” he commented. “He's very durable and has a great constitution. He'd be able to stand up to whatever I throw at him.” Of Mac Swiney, he added, “Mac Swiney was flat in the Derrinstown and didn't perform at all well, but the following morning he had a very copious nasal discharge. That cleared up over the following weekend, he's back in work and is doing very well. I need to get the run into him for Epsom and for him to prove his wellbeing. If he does that, I'll be very happy with him. If he can beat Poetic Flare he can win, but I think at a mile Poetic Flare is the better horse. I'd be very comfortable going to Epsom with him, provided we get a good show at the Curragh.”

Likely favourite at present is Zhang Yuesheng's 2000 Guineas third Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), while Ryan Moore is on Wembley (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who proved such a disappointment when 11th behind him at Newmarket. Godolphin rely on TDN Rising Star La Barrosa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who was runner-up to Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in Newmarket's G3 Craven S. over this mile trip last time Apr. 15. Another TDN Rising Star, Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), will be missing from the Curragh after Joseph O'Brien withdrew Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. hero.

Friday's action sees the last two recognised Epsom Oaks and Derby trials takes place in the Listed Height of Fashion S. and Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Cocked Hat S., formerly known as the Lupe and the Predominate. The Lupe or Height of Fashion was won in 2000 by Love Divine (GB) (Diesis {GB}) and in 2010 by Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab) who went on to Oaks glory days later, but none of the eight entered this time even hold an entry in the June 4 Classic. The Cocked Hat is a different kettle of fish, with live Derby outsiders Stay Well (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) making up an intriguing contest. The former, who is owned by his breeders Ben and Sir Martyn Arbib, scored by eight lengths over 10 furlongs at Windsor Apr. 26 and trainer Hughie Morrison is looking forward to seeing him tackle the extra furlong here. “He was named Stay Well in recognition of the sayings this time last year 'Stay Alert, Stay At Home', not that he would stay well but his mother did stay very well,” he explained. “Martyn and Ben breed to win the Derby, so if you've got half a chance of running in the Derby that's what you do. It's close enough to it but my feeling is, if we were going to the Derby, we'd have to give him a very good gallop some time in the next 10 days. This is his racecourse gallop.”

Noel Meade said of Ballylinch Stud and Aquis Farm's G3 Zetland S. winner Lone Eagle, who was fourth in the G3 Sandown Classic Trial Apr. 23 and who carries a five-pound penalty, “He was a little bit disappointing at Sandown. He just didn't seem to spark, but then again it was his first time back and he is a lazy-ish horse. He does need motivating and he was a bit ring-rusty, so maybe we will see him in a better light. I needed to give him another run. It's not ideal having to carry a penalty. That's not good but at the same time if he's good enough, he should manage with it. I just wanted to get him out and get him running. Hopefully the track will suit him. We'll just see where to go from there.”

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His Group 1-winning stablemate Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and fellow top-level scorers Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) from the Jessica Harrington yard, Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) for Joseph O'Brien and Van Gogh (American Pharoah), one of three for Joseph's father Aidan, are also signed on.

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Scheduled for Nov. 16-18, the three-day sale features 759 foals going under the hammer at Kildare Paddocks in Ireland. The sale will be conducted using the “rising tide” format.

The Ghaiyyath half (lot 683), also a half to GI Man O’War S. heroine Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and out of Classic scorer Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), hails from the draft of The Castlebridge Consignment.

Other Goffs November graduates that have gone on to top level success in 2020 are Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) and River Boyne (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), with a supporting cast featuring Group 2 winners Dark Vision (Ire) (Dream Ahead), Lemista (Ire) (Raven’s Pass), Ubettabelieveit (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Aloha Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Dandalla (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) and GSW & G1SP Miss Amulet (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}).

Quality pedigrees abound in the catalogue, among them a full-brother (lot 636) to Classic heroine and champion Sea of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) from Oak Lodge & Springfield House Stud; and lot 707, an Footstepsinthesand (GB) half-brother to G1 Phoenix S. hero and Goffs November grad Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) offered by Baroda Stud. Also flying the flag for Kingman is a Moyglare Stud-consigned colt out of a SP full-sister to GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. winner Together (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) as lot 748. Ballintry Stud sells a full-sister to GII Mrs. Revere S. victress Nay Lady Nay (Ire) (No Nay Never), and GSW & G1SP Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never) as lot 659; and Swordlestown Little brings a Frankel (GB) sister (lot 673) to MGSW & G1SP Terebellum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Finally, a Make Believe (GB) colt (lot 750) out of MGSW Uncharted Haven (GB) (Turtle Island {Ire}) will sell from the draft of Ballylinch Stud. He is a half-brother to MGSW & G1 Oaks third High Heeled (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and the dam of G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner and GI E.P. Taylor S. heroine Just the Judge (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}).

Established sires are also well represented, among them Kodiac (GB), Dark Angel (Ire), Invincible Spirit (Ire), Lope De Vega (Ire), Zoffany (Ire) and Night Of Thunder (Ire), as well as younger sires Mehmas (Ire) and New Bay (GB). There are also plenty of stallions bringing their first foals to the sales ring including Saxon Warrior (Jpn), Roaring Lion, Zoustar (Aus), US Navy Flag, Havana Grey (GB) and Expert Eye (GB).

During the first part of last year’s sale, 524 weanlings grossed €25,721,800, with an average of €49,087 and a median of €30,000. Topping the sale was a full-brother to Ghaiyyath, who went to Godolphin on a bid of €1.2 million.

“We are delighted with the consistent level of quality throughout this year’s November Foal Sale catalogue which is simply unmissable for buyers seeking world class foals to resell or race,” said Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby. “Goffs November is one of our true success stories and has enjoyed a level of trade that has been unrivalled in recent years. We pride ourselves on providing excellence for all buyers whatever their budget. In this year like no other, we have taken great heart from the fact that Irish foal vendors have overwhelmingly maintained their support of the November Foal Sale with drafts of real depth, diversity and quality.

“We look forward to welcoming vendors and purchasers back to Kildare Paddocks. The November Foal Sale is dominated by Irish buyers while we are also working to ensure the attendance of valued foal purchasers from the UK and further afield along with key international end-users. In addition, Goffs Online will allow participation from all corners of the globe as international buyers link in with agents on the ground to chase the best foals on offer.”

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Of course the sale is not at all about just one or even a handful of horses. Last year’s edition unearthed this year’s G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. winner Lucky Vega (Ire), a €175,000 purchase by BBA Ireland for Yulong Investments as well as that horse’s Group 2- winning stablemate Cadillac (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), a bargain at €40,000. There is equal strength in depth throughout this year’s catalogue and Henry Beeby’s usual optimism and infectious enthusiasm show no signs of abating despite these trying times.

“As usual we have had great support from vendors and we’ve assembled another strong Orby catalogue as a result,” Beeby said. “Just as much work has gone into creating an environment that will allow as many potential purchasers from around the world get involved with the sale and while we were unable to have as much person-to-person contact with owners, trainers and agents as we would normally have had, our phones have been working non-stop and we have been direct mailing people. Thankfully we’ve had a lot of interest from all over the world and while it will manifest itself in a lot less people being at the sale we are confident that between our online bidding and through the use of agents on the ground people will have no trouble buying horses. The online platform is very customer- friendly and it has been used successfully now at several sales here at Goffs UK. We have also organised for videographers to go to as many farms as possible so there are up-to-date videos of most lots available as well as having videographers on site at the sales complex. It’s a case of being adaptable and finding a way through this.”

Beeby continued, “Of course we will be doing our very best to achieve the maximum price for each lot but the metric we will look at most will be the clearance rate and to provide as vibrant a marketplace as is possible at the moment. The top of the market has held up well at Arqana and Keeneland so we are hoping we can replicate that kind of activity. We are fortunate to have a sales complex that rivals anywhere and we have added even more facilities to cater for people. Also Irish Thoroughbred Marketing are treating this as an Irish sale so will be providing support to buyers coming from Ireland, which is another great help. Doncaster is also a very accessible place within England between the motorway network and the train line from London so that is in our favour too. So between the strength of the catalogue we’ve assembled and the record of Orby graduates on the track this year and in the past we are as confident as we can be in this ever-evolving situation that things will go well. There will be no lack of effort from everyone involved so please god we can get a reasonable result.”

Galileo has been prolific at the top end of this sale, siring the highest-priced yearling the last two years and indeed the top two last year headed by the €3-million filly out of Green Room now named Espania (Ire) who is in training with Aidan O’Brien. When crossed with sprinting mares Galileo has produced some top-class horses, notably Cape Blanco (Ire) and Churchill (Ire) to name just two and buyers will have that in mind when inspecting lot 122, one of eight by the sire in the catalogue. The Castlebridge-consigned filly is grey like her very fast dam Easton Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) who won two listed races over the minimum trip for trainer Mike Dodds before being sold for 500,000gns in 2017.

Luke Barry offers a Galileo half-sister to G1 Irish Derby winner Trading Leather (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) through his Manister House Stud as lot 311, while Baroda Stud’s lot 305 is out of Australian Group 1 winner Nechita (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Having topped one yearling session already this season Baroda has a strong hand to repeat that feat and their draft, which is the second-largest numerically, also features a colt by Kingman (GB) out of the German champion 2-year-old Monami (Ger) (Sholokhov {Ire}). Lot 291 has added appeal as a half-brother to this year’s G1 Preis de Diana winner Miss Yoda (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Another Baroda yearling with a close Classic connection is lot 211, a Dark Angel (Ire) colt out of G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Jet Setting (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) while few boast a better page than Baroda’s lot 458. This colt by Frankel (GB) is a half-brother to six-time Group 1 winner Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and his third dam is Doff The Derby (Master Derby), dam of the mighty Generous (Ire) et al.

At the time of writing Dubawi (Ire) was sitting at the top of the table of the leading European stallions of 2020 based on worldwide earnings and Darley’s flagship stallion is represented by just the one offering in the Orby Sale, lot 17 from Kirsten Rausing’s Staffordstown Stud. The February-born colt is out of All At Sea (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a winner of three stakes races in France and a daughter of champion Albanova (GB) (Alzao). All At Sea’s first produce, a 3-year-old filly called A La Voile (GB), has proved quite progressive for Sir Michael Stoute this year winning her only three starts and is now rated 88 with the promise of more to come.

Whether a homebred or a pinhook, stock from Timmy Hyde’s Camas Park Stud demand the utmost attention and hopes will surely be high for lot 102, a colt by Gleneagles (Ire). The son of Daneleta (Ire) (Danehill) is closely related to Group 1 winners Intense Focus and Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy) and his foal price tag of €155,000, when purchased from breeders Airlie Stud at Goffs last year, suggests he looks the part too. Camas Park also offers a full-brother to last year’s champion European sprinter Ten Sovereigns (Ire) as lot 388. The No Nay Never colt’s two older full-sisters have made €600,000 and 320,000gns, respectively, the last two years so his credentials are obvious.

Last year’s G1 Prix de Diane Longines winner Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) slipped through the net at this sale three years ago when sold to Meridian International for just €18,000 but one imagines a bit more attention will be paid to lot 253. This Sea The Stars (Ire) filly, offered by The Castlebridge Consignment on behalf of Pat O’Kelly’s revered Kilcarn Stud, is a half-sister to Channel and comes from a fantastic fillies family with her granddam being the G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Magical Romance (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}).

Lot 114 from Michael O’Flynn’s Rockfield Farm is one that’s certainly bred for speed. The No Nay Never filly is out of Double Fantasy (Ger) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), who has already bred two stakes winning fillies including the Fozzy Stack trained Piece Of Paradise (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). This April-born filly’s year-older full-brother brought 320,000gns as a yearling last year and although unraced so far for Roger Varian and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, his name Jet Engine (Ire) suggests he is showing some pace at home.

Another speedily bred filly with high residual value is lot 223 from Yeomanstown Stud. The Dark Angel filly is a full-sister to the classy and durable 15-time winner Sovereign Debt (Ire) and a half to another stakes winner in Puff (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) while her 3-year-old full-sister Darkest (Ire) broke her maiden at Limerick recently.

The Bolger family have been quite fortunate with updates this year and lot 180 from Clare Manning’s Boherguy Stud got a timely boost when his half-brother Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) won the G2 Futurity S. at The Curragh. The Vocalised yearling colt is closely related to high-class Bolger performers Light Heavy (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Parish Hall (Ire) and buyers should be reminded that Bolger sold this year’s G3 Acomb S. winner Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) at this sale last year for €52,000 to Mark Johnston.

International buyers are vital to the success of this sale and one that could appeal to various overseas markets is lot 259, a colt by Caravaggio from the Castlebridge Consignment. The colt is a half-brother to both Royal Ascot winner Beauty Flame (Ire), (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) who went on to have a successful career in Hong Kong, and Roca Roja (Ire) (Strategic Prince {GB}), who also parlayed her smart Irish form to be a successful stakes winner in America. Another half-sister Roca Roma (Ire) (Australia {GB}) is a 97-rated 3-year-old filly that looks potentially stakes class for Ger Lyons.

With such quality packed into the two days there are dozens more yearlings that will no doubt command a premium while Jessica Harrington’s Cadillac (Ire) proves that there will be plenty of horsepower to be found at all levels of spending.

The sale will begin at 10 a.m. each morning.

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Unveiled as soon as the lockdown was eased by Jessie Harrington, Lucky Vega struck at the first time of asking in the six-furlong Naas maiden June 8 in which Battleground (War Front) was fifth. Jumping on Laws of Indices a touch too early in the Railway, he had been outstayed in the final yards and with that in mind Foley was keen to wait and wait this time. As that rival missed the break this time and failed to fire on all cylinders, there was no genuine threat in front and it was only when the G2 Airlie Stud S. winner Aloha Star arrived on the scene that Lucky Vega was let down for his closing effort. The result was emphatic, placing him undoubtedly in the higher category of winners of this race, particularly as this looked one of the most keenly-contested editions of recent times.

“He’s a nice horse going forward and Shane said he’s getting quicker,” Harrington added. “He probably needed it the last day because he had won his maiden without getting into a battle. The last day when he got into a bit of a battle it just hardened him up. We thought he was working well, but you never know until you go racing and everyone said this was a strong renewal. We’ll have to sit down and think now, but Shane said we’d probably be thinking about the [G1] Middle Park. I think he’ll get seven as well. Last year was all about the fillies, so it’s great this year to come up with a good colt.”

Lucky Vega was further demonstrating the widely-recognised potency of his sire, becoming his 11th top-level winner. Out of the unraced Queen of Carthage (Cape Cross {Ire}), he is therefore a grandson of the classy Satwa Queen (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}) who scored five times in group company, most notably in the G1 Prix de l’Opera. Satwa Queen, whose best performer was the German listed scorer Important Time (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), is kin to the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud hero Spadoun (Fr) (Kaldoun {Fr}) and the Listed Prix Roland de Chambure scorer Anbella (Fr) (Common Grounds {GB}). She is in turn the second dam of this year’s Listed Dragon S. winner Gussy Mac (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Also related to the GI Manhattan H. hero Desert Blanc (GB) (Desert Style {Ire}) and the G3 Somerville S. winner and G1 2000 Guineas runner-up and G1 St James’s Palace S. third Wichita (Ire) (No Nay Never), Queen of Carthage’s yearling filly is by Free Eagle (Ire), while she has a colt foal by Footstepsinthesand (GB).

Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
KEENELAND PHOENIX S.-G1, €200,000, Curragh, 8-9, 2yo, 6fT, 1:13.35, g/y.
1–LUCKY VEGA (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Queen of Carthage, by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Satwa Queen (Fr), by Muhtathir (GB)
3rd Dam: Tolga, by Irish River (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€110,000 Wlg ’18 GOFNOV; €175,000 Ylg ’19 GOFOR). O-Zhang Yuesheng; B-Kilcarn Stud (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington; J-Shane Foley. €120,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $170,033. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–The Lir Jet (Ire), 131, c, 2, Prince of Lir (Ire)–Paper Dreams (Ire), by Green Desert. (€9,500 Wlg ’18 TATFBR; £8,000 Ylg ’19 GOFFPR). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Donal Boylan (IRE); T-Michael Bell. €40,000.
*3–Aloha Star (Ire), 128, f, 2, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Zain Art (Ire), by Excellent Art (GB). (€42,000 Wlg ’18 GOFNOV; €67,000 Ylg ’19 TIRSEP). O-D Keoghan & Partners Partnership; B-Patrick Beirne(Jnr) (IRE); T-Fozzy Stack. €20,000.
Margins: (3HF, NO, HF). Odds: 4.00, 5.00, 14.00.
Also Ran: Laws of Indices (Ire), St Mark’s Basilica (Fr), Bubbles On Ice (Ire), Steel Bull (Ire), Giorgio Vasari (Ire), Admiral Nelson (GB), Ventura Tormenta (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
*Aloha Star was demoted from second.

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