Goffs Orby sale: Montjeu colt brings second-highest price in Ireland’s history

A son of late Coolmore sire Montjeu sold for about $3,880,900, or 2.85 million Euros, establishing the second-highest price in Ireland’s history as the Goffs Orby yearling sale concluded its two-day run with increases in gross and average and only a slight decline in median.

Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier signed the ticket on the colt, who is the third foal out of champion Finsceal Beo. The Mr. Greeley mare won both the English and Irish 1000 Guineas in 2007 and finished second in the French 1000 Guineas. The year before, she received Cartier Award as Europe’s champion 2-year-old filly after winning a Group 1 stakes in France and a Group 2 in England. The colt was bred in Ireland by Mike Ryan, who campaigned Finsceal Beo, and was consigned by Ryan’s Al-Eile Stud. Magnier outbid agent Ross Doyle in the final stages, and expressed satisfaction with his purchase despite the outsized final price.

“[The colt is] a very good mover and the lads all felt he was an exceptional Montjeu,” Magnier said to Racing Post. “It’s plenty of money, but he’s very well bred and Montjeu has been very good to us.”

Overall, Goffs reported 344 yearlings sold for a gross of about $46,821,275 (34,375,500 Euros), which marked a 26 percent increase compared with the 2012 Orby sale, when 303 lots sold for about $35,382,295. The final average price of about $137,575 (101,004 Euros) rose 12 percent from last year, while the median of $76,960 (56,500 Euros) slipped 3 percent. The buyback rate for 2013 was 13 percent, compared with 14 percent in 2012.

The sale topper helped make Magnier and Coolmore the auction’s leading buyer by both gross and average, as the outfit bought five yearlings for over 4.5 million Euros. Al-Eile Stud led the sale’s consignors by gross based solely on its Montjeu lot, while Knocktoran Stud led consignors by average among those with two or more sold at 259,000 Euros.

The sale’s second-highest price also went to Coolmore on Thursday, as Magnier spent $926,200 (680,000 Euros) to secure a daughter of Coolmore’s current international leading sire Galileo. The filly is out of the unraced Theatrical mare Green Room, who has produced two other winners, led by Group 1 winner Lord Shanakill, by Speightstown. Green Room is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Spanish Fern. Irish classic winner Al Bahathri, Grade/Group 1 winners Heatseeker and Hearts of Fire, and Grade 2 winner Geraldine’s Store are members of this family.

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