A chapter in the tale of Repose closed for Tinnakill House Stud at Goffs on Tuesday with the sale of the mare’s Sea The Stars filly – the final foal produced by the mare for the stud prior to her sale to Juddmonte Farms – for €750,000 to Joseph O’Brien.

The Cantillon family bred Repose, by Quiet American, out of Listed winner Monaasabaat, herself purchased for just €42,000 by the stud as an older mare from Darley. Fruitless attempts were made to sell Repose as a young horse, which meant that she was ultimately retained for the Tinnakill broodmare band, and with great reward when she went on to produce multiple Group 1 winner State Of Rest and dual Group 3 scorer Tranquil Lady.

As anticipated, her fifth foal was one of the highlights of the opening exchanges at the Goffs Orby Sale on Tuesday, ultimately attracting interest from Suzanne Roberts and then Joseph O’Brien following an opening bid of €200,000. As the bidding hit €750,000, it was O’Brien, who handled both State Of Rest and Tranquil Lady during their successful careers, who had the final say.

“She’ll run for an existing client,” said O’Brien. “Obviously we’ve had luck with the family before and I’m really excited to have her as a racing prospect. State Of Rest was a horse who progressed very well from two to three and this filly has a lot of quality. She’s medium sized. We loved her from the first moment we saw her here. 

“Obviously Sea The Stars is one of the best stallions in the world and the mare has proven herself as an outstanding producer. She will make a fantastic racing and long term broodmare prospect.”

With everything going on in the family, the filly does indeed rate as an exceptional broodmare prospect of the future. Repose was sold privately to Juddmonte Farms last summer and has a filly foal by Frankel on the ground. Tranquil Lady, meanwhile, was sold to Godolphin for 2,700,000gns last December and is in foal to Dubawi. Another half-sister, Double Scoop, also visited Quality Road this season.

The Sea The Stars – Repose filly with the Tinnakill House Stud team. Photo – Goffs

Godolphin back

There was a welcome appearance from the Godolphin operation earlier in the session in the purchase of a Frankel colt for €625,000. 

Anthony Stroud had to outbid Mark McStay for the colt, who was bred by his vendor Yeomanstown Stud out of Listed scorer Promised Money and is a brother to the Mill Reef Stakes runner-up Fivethousandtoone. From a family that has served Yeomanstown well over the years, he is also a half-brother to American Listed winner Salimah.

The sale marked Godolphin’s first purchase at this sale since 2019.

“Charlie Appleby, David Loder and myself all saw this horse and we liked him very much,” said Stroud. “He’s a very smooth horse who comes from a very good farm and came within the range we thought he would. He’s a neat, attractive horse who should have a reasonable chance of running next season.

“I’m delighted to be here, we’re delighted to be looking and there are some very nice horses here.”

Godolphin later struck for the sole Dubawi catalogued, a colt out of Listed winner Solage for whom Stroud signed at €400,000. The colt was offered by Ballylinch Stud, who co-bred the youngster with Ecurie des Charmes. A half-brother to recent Deauville winner Opera Mundi, he hails from the Wertheimer family of Plumania and Left Hand.

At the end of play during a steady day of trading on Tuesday, 216 (85%) yearlings had changed hands for a total of €24,237,500 and average of €112,211. The median was €85,000. Each metric was down by 10% from the corresponding day last year.

As anticipated, American interests made their presence felt, notably the partnership of Ramiro Restrepo of Marquee Bloodstock, Jason Taylor Equine and Bo Bromagen, who paid €300,000 for a first-crop son of Earthlight. Sold by Limekiln Stud, the youngster provided a fine profit on the 60,000gns that he had cost as a Tattersalls December foal, when knocked down to the BBA Ireland. Clay Scherer and Stripes Stable also went to €300,000 for a Blue Point half-sister to Group 3 winners Alrahma and Efaadah bred and sold by Barronstown Stud.

Anthony Stroud sings for the €625,000 Frankel colt. Photo – Goffs