Intikhab colt tops Goffs foal sale session

Tuesday's opening session of the Goffs November Foal Sale saw a son of

Intikhab hold sway when selling to Redpender Stud for €33,000. Consigned by

Caherhugh Farm Stud, Hip No. 216 is out of Poppys Footprint (Titus Livius [Fr]),

a half-sister to stakes winner Moyenne (Ire) (Trans Island).

"Intikhab is a sire I like, although I haven't been able to buy one over the

last few years," buyer Jimmy Murphy said. "This was a good colt, and I just

thought that he fitted the bill. He'll be back for sale again next autumn."

The Intikhab colt's pricetag topped the €26,000 paid by Mark Dwyer's Oaks

Farm Stud for Abbey Leix Stud Farm's Hip 69, a colt by Acclamation whose dam

Appleblossom Pearl (Peintre Celebre) is a half-sister to the Grade 3-placed

Godolphin performer Rabi (Ire) (Alzao).

"He's a grand, straightforward type of horse," Dwyer commented. "If

everything went the right way, he will hopefully be the type of horse that could

go to Doncaster next year."

Of the fillies, Hip 47 was in demand, and that daughter of Kheleyf from the

draft of Mount Pleasant Farm was snapped up by Paula Flannery for €25,000. Her

sire is also responsible for the recent Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte (Fr-G2)

runner-up Ascot Glory, who features under the second dam.

"It's a family that has been lucky for us before," explained Flannery, who

achieved a smart return on the €16,000 paid for her yearling half-brother by

Elusive City when selling at £90,000. "The Elusive City is with Richard Fahey,

and he's there to run for the family next year, and the three-parts sister

(Ascot Glory) is a good two-year-old in France. This filly will be back for

resale next year."

Whitwell Bloodstock was the name on the docket for Ballybin Stud's Hip 135, a

colt by Hawk Wing whose dam is the stakes winner Halicardia (Halling).

"He's a good colt and he will be resold next autumn, either here or in

Doncaster," commented Nicki Howarth after paying €20,000. "He's out of a good

racemare and was just a very nice horse."

With the foal part of the November marathon trimmed to four days from five

this year, comparative figures are not available, but the average of €6,808 was

respectable, given the clearance rate of 42 percent.

Selling continues Wednesday. Full results can be found at goffs.com.