Galileo Filly Out of Green Room Tops Goffs Orby Day 2

M.V. Magnier and the Godolphin buying team traded blows for the highly touted Galileo filly (Lot 262) out of Green Room during the second and final session of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale Oct. 2, with the former emerging on top at €3 million (US$3,279,929).

Bred by Vimal and Gillian Khosla, the filly was sent into the ring by Ballylinch Stud and is a full sister to last year's Investec Oaks (G1) heroine, Forever Together, and Dubai Fillies' Mile (G1) winner Together Forever. She is also a half sister to the Etihad Airways Prix Jean Prat (G1) scorer and sire Lord Shanakill , by Speightstown .

Magnier, who signed for the filly in partnership with Georg von Opel's Westerberg, said: "Firstly, I would say that I'm delighted for Vimal and Gillian. It's a great result for them, and they've been rewarded for putting a lot of faith in Galileo over the years.

"Obviously, it's been a very lucky family for us already with Together Forever and Forever Together, and this mare has produced another group 1 winner in Lord Shanakill, so she's an outstanding producer and we are lucky to be able to buy a filly like this as she really is a collector's item."

The April-foaled filly was introduced by auctioneer Henry Beeby as "bred in the purple and absolutely matching up to her pedigree," and bids quickly started to fly in from all sides as Sheikh Mohammed and his entourage took their place on the top balcony.

"You couldn't find a better physical specimen—she looks a classic winner all over," called Beeby as the bidding quickly rose in increments of €100,000 and €200,000.

Anthony Stroud and Amanda Skiffington were among the underbidders on the filly, but Magnier was not to be denied from his position by the far-side entrance. 

Von Opel is in the process of building a high-class broodmare band and also signed for the €2.2 million ($2,397,843) session topper Tuesday, a Galileo full sister to three-time group 1-winning miler Alice Springs.

Among the runners so far for his Westerberg operation are the John Gosden-trained Miss Yoda, a 2-year-old Sea The Stars filly who is unbeaten in two starts, and Mythic, a twice-placed Australia filly in training with Aidan O'Brien. 

The top lot is also a full sister to the Karl Burke-trained Do You Love Me, who topped last year's Orby Sale when hammered down to Phoenix Thoroughbreds for €3.2 million ($3,695,689). 

Green Room's progeny have now realized a total of €8.88 million ($9,686,490) for the Khoslas at the Orby Sale since 2013, with M.V. Magnier having acquired Together Forever for €680,000 ($923,304) in 2013 and Forever Together for €900,000 ($1,012,950) three years later.

Green Room's Sea The Stars daughter Signe was the most expensive filly sold at the 2014 edition when purchased by Skiffington for €1.1 million ($1,389,520).

Rub of the 'Green'

John O'Connor was quick to pay tribute to the outstanding producer Green Room—an unraced daughter of Theatrical who was bought by the Khoslas through Templeton Railton Farms for $240,000 at the 2006 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale—and the Khoslas. 

"It was an interesting if predictable battle for the filly," he said. "She's well up there as an individual with her sisters. They're all very good-looking, good-moving fillies, and I'd rate her at least as highly in that department as any of the others.

"Green Room has been with us since Together Forever was a foal. She's a nice mare but tends to breed them nicer than herself, and she has a very nice filly foal by Sea The Stars.

"What we can say is that Green Room is one of the most consistent mares ever. She's thrown top racehorses and sale horses with great consistency.

"It's fantastic for us to have her on the farm, and we're delighted for the Khoslas—they're great owners, they have a great passion for it, and they want everything done to the highest of standards, which makes our job all the more easier."

Perfect Pinhook for Glenvale Stud 

Among the more notable trades on the day was the €525,000 ($573,988) paid by Magnier for Glenvale Stud's Australia colt (Lot 255) out of Gems, less than 12 months after he was pinhooked by Flash Conroy's operation for €56,000 ($63,672) at the Goffs November Sale. 

The colt's pedigree received a significant boost when his No Nay Never half brother Mystery Power landed the group 2 Bet365 Superlative Stakes at the Newmarket July festival on his second start.

The March-foaled youngster was bred by Siobhan O'Rahilly out of her Haafhd foundation mare Gems, whom she acquired for just €5,500 ($7,400) at the Goffs February Sale in 2013.

Godolphin Lands Son of Sea The Stars

Stroud returned to his usual position on the upper level when successfully bidding on a Sea The Stars colt (Lot 391) for €500,000 ($546,655). 

Offered by the Castlebridge Consignment on behalf of Kilcarn Stud, the March-born yearling is the second produce of the listed-placed Invincible Spirit mare My Spirit, a half sister to the Ribblesdale Stakes (G2) scorer Banimpire and the dam of Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) hero Trading Leather. 

"He's a very nice, athletic colt," Stroud said. "We like the sire, and he comes from a very good hotel.

"Sheikh Mohammed saw him himself and really liked him, so we said we'd have a go. We're very happy we were able to get him."

Stroud's purchase was the penultimate lot on offer by the sire in the Orby Sale, with the last into a ring an April-foaled colt (Lot 408) from the family of High Chaparral and totesport.com Dante Stakes (G2) scorer Black Bear Island.

Sent into the ring by Gormanstown Stud, the April-born colt found favor with Demi O'Byrne, who signed for the colt at €550,000 ($601,321) on behalf of Aquis Farm.

Aquis also teamed with Phoenix Thoroughbreds on the €1 million ($1,198,922) Galileo sister to Irish Derby hero Sovereign during the opening session. 

Awtaad Receives Vote of Confidence

The Awtaad half brother (Lot 345) to this year's Tattersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) hero Phoenix of Spain became the most expensive of his sire's offspring to be sold at public auction when catching the eye of Derrinstown Stud general manager Stephen Collins at €400,000 ($437,324).

"He's got an outstanding pedigree and is a half brother to an Irish classic winner," Collins said of Tally-Ho Stud's April-born colt, from his position opposite the rostrum. 

"We stand Awtaad at Derrinstown, and he's got some very nice offspring. We bought a few of his foals last year and have purchased a few more colts and fillies by him at the yearling sales."

The Goffs Sportman's Sale, which promises quality commercial yearlings and 2-year-old types, takes place Thursday and Friday, with selling commencing at 10 a.m. each day. 

Final Figures

The two-day Goffs Orby Sale saw decreases in the key market indicators compared with last year's record-breaking renewal.

Of the 428 lots on offer, 363 changed hands for a clearance rate of 85%, leading to total receipts of €42,797,500 ($46,684,400) at an average spend of €117,899 ($128,607), down 11 %, and median price of €65,000 ($70,903), which last year stood at €80,000. 

Goffs group chief executive Henry Beeby said in his end-of-sale statement: "A superb top price of €3 million heading a quartet of millionaires clearly shows that the Orby Sale sits at the top table of the international yearling market and is the measure of any sale anywhere for the best.

"Orby '18 was a record breaker and ultimately proved to be the best-performing European yearling sale of the year from a statistical viewpoint. From a smaller catalog, demand grew and vendors were very happy.

"That success drove an increased application for places this year, and the 2019 catalog returned to previous year's numbers, which has probably resulted in a small drop in clearance rate, although we would submit that 85% is still a figure that reads well.

"Our average and median have not quite kept pace with last year, but the average is still 8% ahead of the 2017 level (the median is the same), so we are quite satisfied our trade has proved in line with the year to date whether we are looking at results from Kentucky, France, or the U.K. in that the market became stronger the higher the prices climbed.

"It will be interesting to see whether these trends continue and how the market finishes up later in the autumn.

"One of the real stories of Orby '19 has been the huge international interest, and we have welcomed buyers from across the globe following our increased investment in buyer recruitment and the hard work of the Goffs team working in tandem with Irish Thoroughbred Marketing.

"It was wonderful to welcome Sheikh Mohammed back to Goffs along with his brother Sheikh Hamdan, as well as several new faces of note whilst we remain indebted to M.V. Magnier and the Coolmore partners for their tremendous support year in, year out.

"Those big names naturally garner headlines, but we are extremely grateful to every buyer at every level of the market and to each vendor for allowing us to handle their yearlings. As ever, we are nothing without the horses and appreciate every one, along with each bid they attract."