Ol' Man River was purchased for €2.85million at the Goffs Orby Sale twelve months ago© Photo Healy Racing
The 2014 Goffs Orby Sale, Ireland's most select yearling sale, commenced with a bang on Tuesday when Lot 19, a Galileo full-brother to four stakes performers sold to Coolmore for €1.5 million.
Offered from trainer Jim Bolger's Redmonstown Stud, the colt numbers Irish 1,000 Guineas-placed Cuis Ghaire and Gile Na Greine amongst his full-sisters, while another three-parts brother McGuigan is evidently highly thought of by Bolger, given he was due to make his debut in the Group Two Beresford Stakes on Sunday, only to be withdrawn owing to unfavourable ground conditions on the morning of the race.
The top lot of the day was knocked down to Coolmore principal John Magnier's son MV, who said "He's a very nice horse, the lads really liked him and he's by Galileo. He's very well bred and everybody knows how good Jim Bolger is at training horses and breeding horses.
"In fairness, he invented Galileo and he's responsible for a lot of where Galileo is today. He's out of a Danehill mare and comes from a good family, good farm, good everything, so hopefully he'll do something. We'll bring him home but most likely he'll go to Ballydoyle."
Magnier will be hoping lightning can strike twice as he also purchased last year's sales topper at this venue. Ol' Man River cost €2.85 million and is currently challenging for Derby favouritism following his win in the Beresford at the Curragh.
Trade continued to be strong throughout the day and just six lots from the end, a colt by champion racehorse and this year's sire sensation Sea The Stars, sold to the China Horse Club for €850,000 which, although €2 million shy of the 2013 record price, still eclipsed the 2012 record at this sale by some €50,000, which is an indication of how far the industry has come in just two years.
Teo Ah Khing, chairman of the China Horse Club, is also part-owner of this season's dual Derby winner Australia and connections indicated the plan was that the colt would stay in Ireland to race.
The third highest price on the day was given by Tony Nerses, who beat off stiff competition from Stephen Collins representing Shadwell as he parted with €520,000 for a Lawman three-parts sister to stakes placed Cable Bay, who finished second in last year's Dewhurst.
Nerses is best known for his Epsom Derby winner Authorized, whom he purchased for Kuwaiti businessmen Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar, in whose colours this filly will most likely race.
Irish bloodstock agent Joseph Burke commented: "Goffs must be delighted with the opening day. The average was up 22% on the same day last year, whilst the median showed an increase of 38%, which is absolutely outstanding in any year."
