KILDARE, IRELAND – For the second time in Goffs Orby Sale history, a full-sister to Blackbeard led the way – this time with Coolmore's MV Magnier going to €1.9 million to secure the Glenvale Stud-consigned daughter of No Nay Never. It was at this sale in 2022 when Run Away commanded top lot status when selling to Richard Knight for €2.3 million. In the meantime, Blackbeard has made a good impression with his first crop of yearlings while his little brother Charles Darwin has proved himself to be a chip off the old block by posting an impressive victory in this year's Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. Run Away may not be trained at Ballydoyle but she has done her bit for the pedigree by bagging black-type for Andrew Balding on behalf of a partnership that comprises David Howden, Qatar Bloodstock and Monceaux. As €1.9 million purchases go, this one made a bit of sense, and Magnier fought off the attention of Jacob West who filled the role as underbidder on the daughter of Muirin (Born To Sea).“She is a lovely filly and all of the lads liked her,” Magnier said. “Again, No Nay Never is having another brilliant year. He's a very good stallion. Blackbeard was a very good two-year-old and, to be fair to him, he's making very good stock and they are all selling very well. He has had a good sale here and there are a few nice ones heading to Newmarket, so that will be exciting.”He added, “Aidan [O'Brien] thinks that Charles Darwin is a very good horse. I'm not saying he is as good as Albert Einstein but he's a very good two-year-old and we will see the best of him next year. Listen, the family works well and she [280] is a very valuable filly regardless of what she does on the racetrack.”Like virtually every yearling sale so far this year, the Orby experienced sharp rises in its figures across the board. Notably, there were 194 lots that made €100,000 or more compared to 159 12 months ago. Reflecting on the trade at the Orby Sale this week, Magnier commented, “To be fair to Goffs, they have done a good job and all of the right people are here. It's been a good sale. Every year, some very good horses have come out of here.”A case in point being the leading Arc contender Minnie Hauk, who sold at this sale in 2023 for €1.85 million. “Exactly, and she's a champion,” Magnier continued. “Credit to the Sangster family for selling her here a couple of years ago. Goffs always come up with the goods.”Beeby Reflects On “Consistent” Orby SaleA record median and average was posted on what Goff chief Henry Beeby described as being a “consistent” renewal of the Orby Sale. Of the 435 horses that were offered, the clearance rate posted was 89% for 389 sold. The €52,225,500 turnover was up by 2% on last year while the median climbed a massive 23% to €98,000 and the average by 5% to €134,000. Beeby commented, “Consistent. That is the word that probably sums up the Orby Book 1 of recent years. Whereas other sales often rise one year and fall back another, the Irish National Yearling Sale has proved reliably steady making year-on-year progress since the pandemic.“A top price of €1.9 million backed up by two more seven-figure transactions has led two days of remarkably solid trade for a catalogue of good-looking potential winners. Buyers have flowed from the UK with a huge number of British trainers competing with a large contingent of “American visitors and a sizeable number of bidders from the Gulf Region. It was a huge pleasure to welcome John Stewart of Resolute Racing in person along with our leading buyer Kia Joorabchian of Amo Racing, neither of whom were here last year and they did battle with Orby stalwarts like MV Magnier, Godolphin, Rabbah, Al Shira'aa, David Redvers, Joseph O'Brien and Highflyer while another in-person newcomer, Charlie Bond of Bond Thoroughbreds also made his presence felt to great effect. That spread of buyers at the top is another factor that sets this sale apart as the top 10 lots were bought by eight separate entities.” He added, “These leading buyers bid safe in the knowledge that they have bought from a sale that has delivered again and again this season with Classic and Group/Grade 1 winners along with top two-year-olds all serving to promote Orby to a global audience. Add to that the unique Goffs Two Million Series and it's plain to see it's a real no-brainer to attend and buy. The excitement of Saturday's Million Day was a fitting end to the last few months as we have rejoiced in paying out €1 million of Orby Bonuses on twenty race days in Ireland and the UK. The thrill of those top-class wins, and the extra prize money provided by the Million Series has been palpable as both represent “job done” although we always look forward to the next one.“Marketing initiatives are part of what we do but we are nothing without the horses and we are grateful to our vendors who have supported the sale so well. We recognise there are alternatives and take nothing for granted but we exist to provide a global stage for the best Irish horses, and we have been delighted to return some excellent results for so many great people, not least some of the long established farms that have been attending Orby for most if not all of the last 50 years since Kildare Paddocks was launched in 1975. Names like Airlie, Owenstown, Rathasker, Staffordstown and others have been in the indices for as long as any of us can remember and sent stand out lots to us again this week and got well paid. Add to the mix a smattering of UK vendors this year and we can reflect on a sale that has returned improved statistics again with rises in all the key metrics, perhaps most notably the median which has improved by 23%, an impressive 89% clearance rate and a record average to underline the consistent nature of the two days.“As ever we are indebted to every client, both buyers and vendors, whilst also acknowledging the devotion of the superb horsemen and women who present the yearlings in prime condition from start to finish. It's just a joy to be part of it all and we look forward to Orby Book 2 over the next two days.”Amo Racing Spends More Than 3 MillionAmo Racing were responsible for the second of three seven-figure lots on the day, a Night Of Thunder filly out of Group 1 winner No Speak Alexander that was bred and consigned by Noel O'Callaghan's Mountarmstrong Stud. No Speak Alexander, who was bred and owned by O'Callaghan, is best remembered for landing a 25-1 surprise victory for Jessica Harrington in the Matron Stakes. O'Callaghan is convinced that Amo Racing will not have to wait long on her Night Of Thunder filly to hit the track. He commented after the €1 million sale, “We're delighted. I hope she's very lucky for Amo Racing. She'll be early. We're not surprised by what she made and, if she made more, we wouldn't have been surprised either. This is a great industry, isn't it. It's been a very good sale and, if you don't get a kick out of selling a yearling for €1 million, you never will.”Asked how he planned on celebrating, O'Callaghan concluded, “I'm off to Newmarket!”If this week is anything to go by, Amo Racing will also be making its presence felt at Newmarket next week. Kia Joorabchian's operation spent €3,185,000 on nine yearlings, headed by the Night Of Thunder filly on Tuesday.Bloodstock agent Alex Elliott commented, “She is bred to be fast and I would say we will know our fate early because we view her as an Ascot filly. A very sweet and good-bodied filly out of a Group 1 winner and by Night Of Thunder. That's kind of what they cost, isn't it? That's what we expected to pay for her – it was in and around the top of our range. She's going to have to be early because she's [been born in] January. There have been some really good horses here, as always. It's been solid. Goffs do a great job getting people here and, when you look at the board downstairs, from Minnie Hauk and more, a lot of good horses have come out of this sale. We're all pleased that Kia has come back and hopefully we have found him some good ones.”Al Sagar Swoops For €1 Million Lope De Vega FillyThe third and final millionaire lot came deep into the session when, bidding on behalf of Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud, bloodstock agent Hugo Merry landed a Lope De Vega sister to Group 2 winner Mitbaahy and American Grade I scorer Going Global for exactly €1 million. Consigned by Castlebridge, the Lope De Vega filly completed a €1.35 million spend for the major owner this week. Al Sagar said, “Beautiful [pedigree] and, more important than the pedigree, is conformation. [She is] very correct and strong. She is an early type and looks ready today. In addition, the Argentinian bloodline [the dam, Wrood, is by Invasor], for me, is very much important.”The Lope De Vega filly was bred by Nicky Hartery, chairman of Horse Racing Ireland and owner of Caherass Stud. He said, “I am very pleased. She was a lovely filly from the day she was born and I can only hope that she is successful for her new owner. I was hopeful she would do well, and she has. The family has been very good for me. I am delighted.”“I Am Stunned” – Joy For John Tuthill With Sale Of €440k Mehmas ColtThere was a genuine outpouring of emotion towards John Tuthill of Owenstown Stud, widely regarded as one of the best breeders in Ireland, when his Mehmas colt out of Australia mare Quickstep Lady sold to Juddmonte for €440,000. Tuthill had sourced the mare, who reached a rating of 85 for owner Jeff Smith, for just 100,000gns at the December Mares Sale at Tattersalls in 2021.“Of course I am delighted,” Tuthill beamed. “Couldn't have gone to a better home. First living foal, a smasher, and has always been nice since the moment he was born. One of those foals who just has always been nice.”He added, “I bought the mare – she is a queen. I really wanted her and I was lucky to get her and I thought this mating would do quite well. It is a great family. There is an upgrade to the pedigree, too, under the second dam – Planet Seeker (Blue Point) was third in a Group 3 recently. The stars aligned – selling a Mehmas this week was not the worst thing to be doing. The dam is in foal to Pinatubo and she has a foal by Sioux Nation. I am stunned, I am delighted and this makes all the hard work so worthwhile.”As Tuthill alluded to, Wise Approach went some way in reminding everyone what a brilliant stallion Mehmas is when the Charlie Appleby-trained juvenile overcame a tardy start to win the G1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday. Juddmonte's general manager in Europe, Barry Mahon, was one of the many leading buyers to heap praise on the Tally-Ho Stud-based stallion this week.He said, “The owners were keen to support the sale and we had a good look around the other day. This colt looks strong, precocious and fast and is by a very good stallion in Mehmas. It's a good, fast pedigree and he's obviously bred by an outstanding breeder in John Tuthill. We submitted a list to the owners the other day and he was the one that they honed in on. We wanted to try and buy a sharper, more of a two-year-old type.”When it was put to Mahon that the Mehmas colt didn't scream Juddmonte's usual modus operandi, he replied, “I think you have to pay attention and we saw at the weekend in the Middle Park that we have to pay attention to this stallion. He is a very good stallion and Australia is doing well as a broodmare sire. The dam was quick herself, she won over six furlongs so he ticked a lot of boxes. We have bred to Mehmas – we have a couple of two-year-olds by him and there is one in training with Ger Lyons. He hasn't run because he had a small setback but Ger likes him a lot. We've a couple of yearlings by Mehmas as well so we have used him extensively over the past couple of years.”SubplotsPaddy Twomey extolled the merits of Havana Grey after forking out €520,000 on a filly by the stallion from Kildarragh Stud. This is the first season that Twomey has trained two-year-olds by the stallion but he achieved huge success as recently as Sunday when Black Caviar Gold landed the G3 Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh. On top of that, Twomey is understood to have sold Rogue Legend to Resolute Racing for eye-watering money earlier in the season on the eve of Royal Ascot, where the Havana Grey colt finished third in the Windsor Castle Stakes. “Havana Grey needs no introduction,” Twomey said. “We bought five yearlings by him last year. It was the first time we had them this year and we had a lot of success. She's for an existing owner. Havana Greys are sound, tough and able.”Blandford Bloodstock's Richard Brown landed colts by Mehmas and Kingman deep into the session. Having left Goffs early in the evening, it was Tom Biggs who signed for the Kingman from Croom House Stud for €400,000. Roughly 10 minutes later, Biggs out-muscled Amo Racing on Tally-Ho Stud's Mehmas colt at €470,000. Speaking about the market, Brown commented over the phone, “I think the sale has been very good. All year the market globally, certainly in the northern hemisphere, has been very strong. I wasn't at Fairyhouse but that read very strong, and from talking to people who were that certainly seemed to be the case. It was strong at Keeneland, Arqana, it's all following on with very good trade.”A vendor buy-back at €520,000, Glenvale Stud's Wootton Bassett half-sister to Garswood was later knocked down to Al Shira'aa Racing for €400,000. That brought Al Shira'aa Racing's total spend this week to €1,330,000 on four lots.Form Bloodstock struck gold at this sale a couple of years ago when sourcing the unbeaten filly Laurelin for just €160,000 and the American-based ownership outfit landed three yearlings for a combined sum of €570,000 this week. Thought for the dayIt can be easier in life to be critical rather than pointing out when somebody is doing a good job. But in the spirit of being positive, it must be noted that Goffs has assembled a talented bunch of young bid-spotters who are worth their weight in gold. It didn't go unnoticed by a number of leading buyers this week the excellent job that they have been doing. The post ‘Goffs Always Come Up With The Goods’ – Sister To Blackbeard Headlines Orby Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.