Star Colt Leads Strong Demand For Footstepsinthesand

‘The best yearling’ BBA Ireland’s Michael Donohoe has ever seen topped an outstanding day for sire Footstepsinthesand when selling for €630,000 on the opening day of the Goffs Orby Sale.

The Coulonces Sales-consigned bay carried the weight of his €300,000 pinhook price into the sales ring, where Donohoe saw off the attentions of Michael Kinane acting on behalf of the Hong Kong Jockey Club. After signing the docket, the agent confirmed the colt had been purchased on behalf of Zhang Yuesheng’s Yulong Investments, who raced half-brother Lucky Vega to win the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes.

“He’s the best yearling I have ever seen – that’s the truth,” Donohoe said. “I’ve been watching him all week. He’s phenomenal physically and he has an amazing temperament.”

Footstepsinthesand proved a shrewd choice for breeders Tipper House Stud, with the son of Giant’s Causeway representing the same sire line as Lucky Vega, while commanding €10,000 in 2019. Footstepsinthesand was responsible for three other lots on Tuesday; all of them reaching the €100,000 mark and bringing an average of €240,000.

The Premier Consignment enjoyed a super result earlier that day when their homebred full-sister to the 107-rated Qatari Hunter (Footstepsinthesand) sold for €130,000. De Burgh Equine and Linda Shanahan signed for the chesnut filly, who also counts Listed winner Paint Island (Zoffany) amongst her siblings.

Just three lots prior, Alex Elliott went to €100,000 for Abbeville Stud’s Footstepsinthesand half-brother to Stakes winner Warnaq. Magnolia Racing paid the same price for Kilpatrick Farm’s half-brother to The Lir Jet.