First Foals By Crystal Ocean Impress At Tattersalls Ireland

The first foals by World Champion Racehorse Crystal Ocean made waves at Tattersalls Ireland on Tuesday when a pair of colts sold to Aiden Murphy for €80,000 apiece.

The top-class son of Sea The Stars was the busiest new stallion in 2020 and Lot 641 was an example of the high calibre of mares in his first book. Offered by Hillview Stud, the bay colt is out of a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Pingshou and multiple Graded winner Magic Of Light. Carrowmore was covered by Crystal Ocean once again in 2021.

Murphy’s other €80,000 purchase was a colt offered by Oliver McLoughlin, and marked a terrific result for the first foal out of Hour Before Dawn (Yeats). On this particular colt, Murphy commented, “This is a nice colt with a good walk and a good pedigree. He'll be offered for resale.”

On the appeal of the young sire, the agent added, “Crystal Ocean looks like he's producing good stock, I've seen a number of them. You have to pay that bit extra, and it makes a big difference, for that extra spend you get three times the horse.”

John Kilbride had also purchased two foals by Crystal Ocean by close of business on Tuesday, the most expensive of which was Yellowford Farm’s colt out of Blixt (Yeats). €70,000 bought the April-born foal, which is out of a half-sister to the great Hurricane Fly and to the dam of Grade 1 winner Tornado Flyer (Flemensfirth).

“I think he has the best action in the sale,” Kilbride later said. “My thinking about Crystal Ocean is this, when the best horse in the world retires straight to National Hunt, then you have to take note.”

Other shrewd buyers who successfully secured Crystal Ocean’s progeny on the day included Timmy Hillman, Lakefield Farm and Redpender Stud. They contributed to an average price of €44,385.