Colts by Lope De Vega and Starspangledbanner sell for 650,000gns and 600,000gns
Tattersalls October Book 2, Day 3
Lot 1303: the sale of this athletic Lope De Vega filly developed into battle between Coolmore and Godolphin, with the latter emerging on top after Anthony Stroud placed a bid of 650,000gns as the dusk started to fall on Park Paddocks.
She was sold by John O’Connor of Ballylinch Stud, the farm having a great day with the top two lots sold today and both by the farm’s stallions.
“Sometimes it just happens like this!” smiled O’Connor. “I knew she’d sell well. I did not expect that, but when you get a clash between two very interested buyers, these things can happen. There there were lots of people on her, too. This is a family we have been associated with a long time – I originally bought Ingabelle [third dam] from Tom Lacy, Tony Lacy’s father, and we have bred most of the black-type on this page.”
The black-type winners in the pedigree include a number of champions and Group/Grade 1 winners – the 2013 European champion two-year-old filly old Chriselliam, winner of the Fillies’ Mile and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She is a half-sister to this filly’s dam Gallitea (Galileo). There is also Very Special, a champion older miler in the US and a Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed. She is by Lope De Vega.
Under the third dam is Eva’s Request, winner of the Premio Lydia Tesio (G1), and Priory Belle, winner of the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) and a joint-champion Irish two-year-old of 1995.
The most recent black-type addition to the pedigree is the filly’s own-brother Oviedo – the two-year-old colt has won and was placed third in Acomb Stakes (G3) since the catalogue went to press.
O’Connor continued: “Lope De Vega’s stock appeals to so many people, he is such a good sire we have been blessed to have him. It is wonderful when things go your way, it is almost a surreal feeling.”
The filly bounced around the sale ring throughout the bidding, kicking out and enjoying herself, and O’Connor said: “That is the kind of energy she has, and still so full of energy after being busy here. She is a filly with lots of resilience.”
The mare had a No Nay Never colt this spring and is back in-foal to Lope De Vega.
Buyer Anthony Stroud said: “It is very exciting, she is very nice, very athletic, it was a good update in the pedigree, she is very light on her feet. She is for Godolphin.”
Lot 1321: Ballyvolane Stud achieved a fine result in Book 2 last year when selling the Time Test colt out of Aurelia for 400,000gns, and John Foley’s farm has bettered that result this year selling this colt by Starspangledbanner for 600,000gns. It is the farm’s best-ever result at Tattersalls.
Last year’s six-figure sum came from a pinhooked yearling – this year it is via first foal, bred by The Great Dame Partnership and out of the mare who inspired the partnership’s name. A daughter of Dandy Man, she was bought by Barry Lynch at the 2019 December Sale for just 28,000gns.
Trained by David O’Meara, she won twice at two, and her wins included the Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes. She is a half-sister to the Group 3 winer Donnerschlag and the Listed winner Izzy Bizu, and an own-sister to De Boss Man, who finished third in the Round Tower Stakes (G3).
John Foley of Ballyvolane said: “She is owned by myself and good friend Jason Kelly, who is David O’Meara’s assistant, and he liked the mare. We bought the syndicate out at the sale and, bred her and this is her first foal.
“I am delighted, he is a lovely, lovely horse – he has always been a mighty sort. He has great action and some of the most respected judges here liked him.”
Foley particularly wanted to give a shout out to his staff: “I have very good staff, a great team both here and at home. They put in a huge effort, they are here at 5am in the morning and selling in the evening at 8pm.”
The mare has a filly foal by Churchill and was covered in the spring by Ardad.
The colt was bought by Richard Knight, who said: “He was the only one we picked out in this sale, thought he was a lovely individual. He is by Starspangledbanner, who I am a big fan of having had The Wow Signal. I like the fact that the mare was a useful two-year-old herself and he looks like he will be sharp. We felt he will be a great addition to the horses we have already bought. He is a horse who should not take a huge amount of time, he is very athletic and vetted very well.”