Superlatives and praise are bandied around sales grounds like confetti at a wedding, with almost every big lot described as a standout or the best in the sale. Hyperbole is the language of marketing but in the case of the Sept. 29 record-breaking Goffs Sportsman's sale-topping filly, the hype was justified.
The first-crop daughter of Coolmore's Darley July Cup (G1) and Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (G1) winner Ten Sovereigns smashed the record for the most expensive Sportsman's yearling ever when making €300,000 (US$288,696) to David Ryan on behalf of Jaber Abdullah.
Her price tag eclipsed the previous record of €240,000, which had been set back in 2007, during the heyday of the Celtic Tiger in a very different prevailing economic climate.
The dark bay filly is a three-parts sister to Cadamosto, who was fourth in the Commonwealth Cup (G1) this season for Aidan O'Brien and second in the listed Mahony Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in August on his first start for Joseph O'Brien.
Coolmore made a concerted effort to land the filly, who is out of Saucy Spirit, a daughter of Invincible Spirit who won her only start at 2 for Hughie Morrison, but it was Ryan, the manager of Kilfrush Stud, who had the final say, bringing the hammer down at €300,000.
The filly's star quality was evident for all to see and Ryan was adamant in his assessment that his purchase represented value for money in the context of trade at the preceding Orby Sale.
"She speaks for herself, she was the standout yearling here today, and she should have been in the Orby Sale," he said. "The way fillies were selling at Orby, she's probably value at that price."
The similarity with her brother, on looks and breeding, was another factor which emboldened Ryan in his pursuit of the record-breaker.
"Although she is by a first-season sire, the mare has already worked with No Nay Never so that isn't really an issue," he said. "She will go back to Kilfrush to be broken and then we will decide where she will go into training."
The sale-topper was consigned by Abbeville Stud, the farm owned by Goffs chairman Eimear Mulhern, who was overjoyed for the successful breeders Peter and Carol Henley and Eric McDonnell.
Mulhern said: "She is an absolutely beautiful filly, a real athlete, and a pleasure to have anything to do with. She's a princess. I am delighted for Carol, Peter and Eric, who are long-standing clients and it is wonderful to see them achieve such success."
Her descendant has an interesting pedigree as two branches of the Storm Cat sire line feature prominently—sire Ten Sovereigns comes from the Scat Daddy line established by Storm Cat's Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), Prix Morny Casinos Barriere (G1), Middle Park (G1), and Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes (G1)-winning grandson Johannesburg, while Saucy Spirit is out of Salsa Steps, a daughter of Storm Cat's inimitable son Giant's Causeway.
American Activity Remains High
American buyers had been busy during the two days of action at the Goffs Orby Sale and those who remained at Kildare Paddocks for the Sportsman's Sale continued to make their presence felt.
Torie Gladwell of Top Line Sales doubled her Irish purchases with two €70,000 ($67,362) yearlings added on Thursday to the pair she had picked up earlier in the week.
Her first buy on Thursday morning was a colt from the first crop of Yeomanstown Stud's multiple group-winning sprinter Invincible Army. Offered by Coulonces Sales, whose principal Anna Sundstrom had purchased him as a foal at Goffs last November for €27,000 ($30,565), he is out of Kafaala, an unraced Shamardal daughter of the listed Cheshire Oaks winner Hammiya.
Gladwell, signing this time under the Top Line Southern Comfort banner, was another buyer to be impressed by Ten Sovereigns' first yearlings. She purchased Castlehyde Stud's half sister to Partenit, who was narrowly beaten into second in last year's Prix Daphnis (G3).
"I bought two in the Orby and two in this sale and they are to go back to America for the breeze-ups next spring," Gladwell explained.
"This is my first time at Goffs and I came here in search of the sportier, earlier types of horses. I think that the fillies in particular will do well in the U.S. after their racing careers as their bloodlines will mix well with what we have in America, and this filly is from the Scat Daddy sire line."
Gladwell will be traveling home to Ocala at the weekend having come straight to Ireland from Keeneland. Her Florida base is about three hours' north of where Hurricane Ian made landfall but, apart from torrential rainfall, has escaped the worst effects of the storm.
Statistics
The presence of international buyers and a record-breaking top lot pushed the opening-day figures to impressive gains. From 245 horses offered, 217 were sold, which equates to a clearance rate of 89%.
That helped receipts nudge past six million to €6,094,500 ($5,864,859), which was an improvement of 54% on 2021's first session. The average grew by 32% to €28,085 ($27,026), while the median of €24,000 ($23,095) represented year-on-year growth of 50%.
The 2022 Goffs Sportsman's Sale concludes Sept. 30, with the action getting underway at 9.30 a.m.
