Galileo Mare In Foal To U S Navy Flag Tops Trade At Goffs

An own sister to top race mare Winter (Galileo) topped Thursday’s trade at the Goffs Breeding Stock Sale when selling in foal to U S Navy Flag for €525,000.

Named Snowflakes, the grey daughter of Galileo won her maiden over an extended mile as a three-year-old and was carrying a first cover to champion two-year-old U S Navy Flag, who began his stallion career at Coolmore Stud at a fee of €25,000.

Despite Grant Pritchard-Gordon’s best efforts, the hammer fell in favour of BBA Ireland’s Eamon Reilly at €525,000. After signing the docket, Reilly said, “She's been bought for an American client who keeps his mares in Ireland. She's by Galileo so she speaks for herself.”

Among BBA Ireland’s other pricey purchases on the day was the winning Galileo mare Julienne, offered in foal to Fastnet Rock, who sold for €160,000. The agency went to €150,000 to secure Copplestone, an own-sister to Irish Derby third Stellar Mass, carrying to Camelot.

Etoile Filante (So You Think) may not have delivered on the racetrack, but the unraced three-year-old may create her own legacy in the breeding shed, after selling to John McCormack for €300,000. The bay was offered by Kiltinan Castle Stud in foal to Mastercraftsman, also known as the sire of Etoile Filante’s brilliant sibling Alpha Centauri.

McCormack later confirmed his purchase was made on behalf of an existing client and would stay in Ireland, before adding, “She's a nice mare and the family is one of the best there is. We're just buying into someone else's great engineering and the hope is that she'll carry the bloodline forward. She's still young and has a good cover inside her.”

Another unraced offering with a fabulous pedigree was Height Of Elegance (Galileo), a three-parts sister to champion two-year-old filly Listen (Sadler’s Wells) and top-flight winner Sequoyah (Sadler’s Wells), also known as the dam of multiple Group 1 winner Henrythenavigator.

Offered by Grenane House Stud as part of a dispersal by the late Peter Magnier, her first foal is now a dual winner, and she carries a covering to Caravaggio, whose first foals were well-received this week. Eaton Bloodstock were declared the successful buyers with a bid of €210,000, with agent Reiley McDonald later commenting, “I think sales like this are a great opportunity to come and buy Galileo mares - there’s no better broodmare sire in the world, so why not?”

McDonald also came away with a Group 3 winning daughter of Danehill in Steel Princess, for whom he parted with €180,000 on behalf of Barronstown Stud’s Diane Nagle. Now 18 years of age, the bay has produced three Stakes winners and is carrying to sire of the moment No Nay Never.

Imad Al Sagar of Blue Diamond Stud was also busy buying on Thursday, his purchases including Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye heroine Gilt Edge Girl carrying to Saxon Warrior. The dam of a Listed winner, she has a two-year-old Galileo colt named Vermilin Cliffs to run for her.

Two mares offered in foal to new sire US Navy Flag reached six figures on the day, with the aforementioned Snowflakes claiming the top spot at €525,000, while €110,000 bought the unraced Galileo mare Bright And Sunny. A full-sister to Group 2 placed juvenile Iberia, she was sold to RJB Bloodstock, who also picked up Stakes performer Nobilis (Rock Of Gibraltar) for €90,000. From the family of Skitter Skatter (Scat Daddy) and Intense Focus (Giant’s Causeway), the bay was offered in foal to dual Derby hero Australia.