Goffs February sale gets underway on Tuesday, 6 with many of Darley’s young roster represented. It may not be perceived as the optimum time to buy yearlings but a look at it’s history suggests there are some gems to be found.
All from early crops of their sires, you could have picked up the three-time G2-winning Balthazaar’s Gift (Xaar) for only €6,000, he would go on to earn €745,000 in his career, or Embossed, a G3-winning son of Mark Of Esteem for only €11,000. Even if you pocket stretched a bit further, the €110,000 spent on Calming Influence (King’s Best) would have netted you over €629,000 in prizemoney after a victory in the G2 Godolphin Mile.
More recently, the Botti’s paid only €9,500 for Alambra as a two-year-old in 2016, the daughter of Shamardal has since repaid that over seven times over in money won, with a series of Stakes places including an honourable third in the G2 Oaks d’Italia.
The common link to all the stallions above were they are top-notch milers so the one yearling by 2,000 Guineas hero Night Of Thunder could be well worth a look. Consigned by Baroda & Colbinstown Stud, Lot 378 is a half-brother to the three-time US G1 winner Obviously.
Two brilliant Australian Guineas winners Hallowed Crown and Shooting To Win have eight yearlings in the sale with Lot 97 of particular interest. Consigned by Ballybin Stud on behalf of Oonagh McKeever, the well-made son of Hallowed Crown is a half-brother to the Stakes-winning and G1-placed filly Absolute Blast.
Fellow reverse shuttler Brazen Beau has two yearlings in the sale. The Champion three-year-old sprinter in Australia is represented by a half-brother to the G1 July Cup second The Cheka (lot 192), and a colt from the family of top-class juveniles Wi Dud and Tariq (lot 203).
Other young stallions well worth are second look are Slade Power, whose first yearlings last year sold with distinction and he is represented by two lots, Breeders’ Cup hero Outstrip, who is also represented by two yearlings, and Kildangan Stud Club stallions French Navy and Fulbright.
