Demand for Galileo mares drove the top end of the market during a solid opening session of the Tattersalls July Sale in Newmarket on Tuesday.
Michael Donohoe of the BBA Ireland landed each of the top four fillies and mares on offer by the late Coolmore super sire Galileo, led by the 350,000gns session-topper Sweet And Lovely. As is typical of Galileo’s daughters, she boasts fine connections as a sister to the Yorkshire and Irish Oaks winner La Traviata and half-sister to the Middle Park Stakes hero Crusade. They are out of La Traviata, a $1.1 million two-year-olds in training purchase by the Coolmore partners who won the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes at Saratoga.
With a covering to Wootton Bassett also part of the Sweet And Lovely package, it was little wonder that the unraced mare proved so popular within the WH Bloodstock draft, eventually falling to Donohoe at 350,000gns.
“It is a good looking, active happening family – there was another out of it who sold well early today [Over The Rainbow],” said Donohoe. “She has a good cover to Wootton Bassett and he looks as though he is fulfilling the promise. She is carrying a colt – a nice yearling colt at the sales by him would put us in with a chance of getting the investment back in one go.”
He added: “She will board at Baroda Stud in Ireland. She could go back to Wootton Bassett – Coolmore are really banking on the Wootton Bassett cross and John Magnier can certainly make these stallions! We will foal her down and see what the foal looks like, but I wouldn’t bank against her going back to him.”
Sweet And Lovely: headed trade during the first day of the Tattersalls July Sale. Photo – Tattersalls
The same family had earlier shone in the ring thanks to the sale of La Traviata’s granddaughter Over The Rainbow. A Dubawi daughter of Seventh Heaven, she is a sister to the recent Prix de Royaumont runner-up Boogie Woogie. Kieran Mariga’s Coolmara Stables, bidding through farm manager Paul McGrath, struck at 270,000gns for the four-year-old, who was sol by The Castlebridge Consignment in foal to St Mark’s Basilica.
“She has an attractive pedigree,” he said. “Boogie Woogie, her sister, has done little wrong and she has a good cover on top of it. It’s a hard pedigree to get into.
“This is our first Flat mare and we’ll take it one step at a time and see how it goes. We have 28 National Hunt mares but this is a new venture for us. We’ve been discussing getting into the Flat over the past few years so we said we make a dart at it – she wasn’t easily got, we went a bit more than we were hoping, but we are delighted to have her. Hopefully she’ll be lucky.”
With seven lots bought for a total of 1,343,000gns, the BBA Ireland was the day’s dominant buyer. In addition to Sweet And Lovely, the haul included the well-related Galileo fillies and mares Different Light, a sister to Grade 1 winner Deauville who cost 330,000gns, Divinitus, a daughter of Group 3 winner Realtra in foal to St Mark’s Basilica who cost 235,000gns, and Evening Hush, a daughter of Godolphin’s top racemare Wuheida who cost 350,000gns.
The unraced Evening Hush, who is the first foal out of her Gr.1-winning dam, was the highlight of a powerful draft from her breeder Godolphin. Its offerings were as well received as ever, turning over just over 2 million guineas for 30 lots sold.
In addition to Evening Hush, they also included Lancashire Oaks winner Pomology, who was knocked down for 220,000gns in foal to Ghaiyyath to Sam Sangster on behalf of an Irish-based syndicate. The daughter of Arch produced one winner so far at stud but the horse in question, Goldspur , is a quality performer whose performances for Godolphin include a win in the Zetland Stakes and third in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud.
“We thought she was the best mare on the property,” said Sangster. “She was a high class performer herself. I spoke to Charlie [Appleby] and he thinks a lot of Goldspur, and that he will be back racing soon. She has been bought for a syndicate and we are delighted to get her.”
Her price was matched by the winning Kingman mare Whispering Romance, who was sold in foal to Teofilo to Justin Casse, signing as Magnolia Mares. She was the second most expensive yearling filly of the 2020 Tattersalls October Book 1 Sale when bought by Godolphin for 1,450,000gns; her vendor that day, Eddie O’Leary of Lynn Lodge Stud, was among the underbidders on the mare yesterday afternoon.
In all, 188 horses changed hands for a total of 7,179,300gns and average of 38,188gns.
The sale continues today from 9.30am.
Michael Donohoe: busy sourcing Galileo mares
