The Aga Khan Studs' draft at the Goffs Autumn Horses in Training Sale has long been established as a source of high-class horses for owners and trainers around the world, both on the flat and over jumps.
Last year's offerings clad in the famous green and red livery included Tashkhan, at the time an unplaced 2-year-old Born To Sea gelding but now known as the horse who split Trueshan and Stradivarius in the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup (G2) at Ascot in 2021.
The boutique draft of four horses offered by the Aga Khan Studs at the 2021 renewal of the sale was hotly anticipated and the star of the quartet was the Amethyst Stakes (G3) second Erzindjan. The 3-year-old Lope de Vega colt (Lot 104) sparked a bidding war, with spotters in the auditorium and outside busily announcing increases in price while online bids also flew in.
After the conclusion of a lively sale, where he made €160,000 (US$184,969), Erzindjan will be exchanging the damp Irish winter for the heat of the desert as he was purchased by agent Alessandro Marconi on behalf of an owner with Ahmad bin Harmash.
"He was the best horse in the sale and the one we really wanted," said Marconi after relaying the news of their successful purchase to his clients, who will aim the colt at the Dubai Carnival.
"He's a classy horse and we trust the Irish form. Obviously last week (at Tattersalls) it was very difficult to purchase these types of horses, and we're delighted to buy from the draft of the Aga Khan.
"Ahmad bin Harmash will take great care of him for a client who has several horses in the stable but nothing compared to this one, so hopefully he'll be successful."
The colt is out of the 2015 Platinum Stakes winner Eshera, an Oratorio half sister to the 2018 Moyglare Jewels Blandford Stakes (G2) winner and Longines Hong Kong Vase (G1), Darley Irish Oaks (G1), and Darley Yorkshire Oaks (G1) third Eziyra. His second dam Eytarna is a listed-placed Dubai Destination half sister to the group 1 winners Enzeli, Estimate, Ebadiyla, and Edabiya.
Two years ago the Aga Khan draft contained a Dark Angel filly named Sonaiyla, who was a dual winner for Michael Halford. Sold for €110,000 ($121,796) to BBA Ireland, she went on to win the Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Sweet Mimosa Stakes for Ennistown Stud and Paddy Twomey before finishing third to Glass Slippers in the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes (G1) and selling to Moyglare Stud. This year she added the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club Ballyogan Stakes (G3) to her CV and her 3-year-old half brother by Olympic Glory, Silaiyli (Lot 106), was a member of the Aga Khan draft at Goffs on Monday.
Like Sonaiyla, he was trained by Halford, for whom he won a Dundalk maiden this year, earning him a Racing Post Rating of 95. Silaiyli made less in the sales ring than his half sister, bringing €56,000 ($64,739) from JS Bloodstock for Qatari trainer Ibrahim Al Malki.
The sale, which everyone was pleased to see back live after being forced into virtual reality last year, recorded an improved clearance rate of 78%, with 95 of 122 lots offered finding a buyer.
The aggregate of €1,284,900 ($1,485,420) was up 26% on last year's online sale, which had actually recorded a higher turnover than in 2019. The median of €8,000 ($9,248) was up 14% from 2020 but the average dipped 18% to €13,525 ($15,635).
Henry Beeby, Goffs' group chief executive, said, "Trade today has been buoyant and driven by international interest, with buyers from the Czech Republic, UAE, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Qatar, Scandinavia, Slovakia, the UK and, of course, Ireland. We also accepted bids from Australian interests."
