High-class talent Ghostwriter looks set to be the star attraction at this year's Goffs London Sale, which takes place in Kensington Palace Gardens the evening of June 16.
Owned by Jeff Smith and trained by Clive Cox, the 4-year-old son of Invincible Spirit breezed through an unbeaten juvenile campaign that culminated with victory in the 2023 Royal Lodge Stakes (G2).
He has been unable to add to his tally at 3 and 4, but has shown consistently high-level form to reach the frame last year in the Two Thousand Guineas (G1), Prix du Jockey Club (G1), Coral-Eclipse (G1), and Juddmonte International Stakes (G1). Connections explained selling had not initially been of Ghostwriter's 2025 program, but that their heads had been turned after a flurry of inquiries.
"We've had a huge amount of interest in him since his last run (sixth in the Tattersalls Gold Cup)," said David Bowe, manager of Smith's Littleton Stud. "There wasn't a conscious decision to sell him this season, it was just the fact we've had so much interest. The London Sale is the ideal place for him; it's right before Royal Ascot and he has a Royal Ascot entry. It all made sense."
Ghostwriter (Lot 10) is one of 18 London Sale lots with a Royal Ascot entry, with the June 21 Hardwicke Stakes (G2) his intended next port of call. Bowe said much of the interest in Ghostwriter had come from overseas, with his international potential underlined by a close fourth to Soul Rush in this year's Dubai Turf (G1T).
"We all agreed there are probably more suitable races for him abroad where he could win a lot of prize money and put more of a shine on his career," said Bowe. "He's not finished by a long shot and I think he'd suit foreign climes better than Britain.
"Jeff really enjoys his racing in Britain—we occasionally go as far as the Curragh, or maybe the odd jolly to France—but for Ghostwriter to realize his full potential he probably will be better off abroad."
Not only does Ghostwriter boast an official rating of 118, he is backed up by a blue-chip pedigree. He is by Invincible Spirit and out of the listed-placed Moorside, who in turn is out of a sister to Zafonic and Zamindar. This combination of credentials means a future stallion career remains a distinct possibility.
"He's conformationally sound, he's very impressive to look at, and he's got a very nice pedigree," Bowe said. "He could still make the stallion shed if he picked up the right race or two. He's got an awful lot of strings to his bow and he'd be a standout horse in any yard. Any trainer, here or internationally, would be happy to have him as part of their string."
Another set of connections looking to take their chance at the London Sale are the Pompey Ventures syndicate, owners of Bone Marra (17).
The Ollie Sangster-trained 2-year-old registered a striking last-to-first victory on debut over five furlongs at Wolverhampton, and will now test his mettle in one of Royal Ascot's juvenile contests. The Coventry Stakes (G2) was suggested as his primary target, although he also holds an entry in the Windsor Castle.
The son of Starman has already been subject to a host of private offers, but Owen Haly, a founding partner of the syndicate, said the group ultimately decided to test the open market instead.
"The way he did it on debut was so impressive," Haly said. "We thought we'd put him in the sale and if he makes big money he makes big money and we'll move him on. If he doesn't, we're more than happy to keep him. All the big racing powerhouses will be there. Hopefully, he's caught their eye and some of them are interested in him.
"We've had a couple of private offers but we ultimately thought we'd put him in the sale instead and see what he fetches. We've had people putting money on the table but we thought we'd try and go for the big time."
A Tiz the Law gelding holding a Royal Ascot entry is among the offerings. The 3-year-old, named Michael Scofield, was bred by CHC in Kentucky out of the grade 3-winning Cozzene mare Cozze Up Lady, making the gelding a half sibling to grade 1 winner Kimari. Michael Scofield has won two of his three starts in England, finishing fourth last out in his first listed attempt in the Burradon Stakes.
The 3-year-old, campaigned by Rocky Mountain Partnership and trainer Michael O'Callaghan, holds an entry to the Golden Gates Stakes going 1 1/4 miles June 21 at Ascot Racecourse.
