A posse of high-rolling pinhookers appeared when the Ghaiyyath half brother to recent listed winner Pipsy was presented on Nov. 21, Day 2 of the Goffs November Foal Sale.
The Morrins from Pier House Stud were involved beyond the €175,000 mark, as were Michael Fitzpatrick and Barry Mahon, who operate under the banner of JC Bloodstock. But after a string of €5,000 increases it was the O’Callaghan family from Tally-Ho Stud who had the final say at €200,000 (US$218,245, €1=US$1.09).
The youngster is the fourth foal out of Experte, an unraced High Chaparral half sister to the Wertheimers’ Grand Prix de Deauville (G2) winner Ziyad , and the pedigree goes back to the Wildenstein family of Artiste Royal and Aquarelliste. The dam’s first runner looks a good one as the Ger Lyons-trained Pipsy was last seen landing the Legacy Stakes at Dundalk.
The six-figure result continued a long and successful association between Goffs and the company’s longest-standing foal vendors, the Finegan family of Milltown House Stud in County Meath.
“My dad Noel is 93 and has been selling foals at Goffs for 60 years or more, even before the company came to Kill and was still based in Ballsbridge,” said Jill Finegan, whose son Jack led the colt through the ring.
“He should have been here today but had a hospital appointment and couldn’t make it. He’s fine, though. He’s out in the yard every single morning with me and still telling everyone what they should do!
“The farm is now run by three generations, with Jack helping out while doing his final year of college. We also have Jean O’Leary here with us assisting at the sales every year, so it’s a real team effort.”
She added: “Eamonn Reilly bought the dam for us [for €42,000] and we sent her to Kodiac for a few years and we thought we’d change tack with Ghaiyyath. We’re always striving to upgrade the stock and get better results. I’m delighted that Tally-Ho Stud bought the colt as we’ve had a lot of dealings with them over the years and they’ve always supported us in that time.”
The Tally-Ho team have already enjoyed some big results with the progeny of Ghaiyyath, having sold one of his daughters to Godolphin for 500,000gns (US$644,550, 1gn=US$1.2891) during Book 1, while Peter and Ross Doyle went to €360,000 for the filly out of Shenoya at the Orby Sale. The latter had been pinhooked from Ringfort Stud at a cost of 130,000gns.
“The stallion has been lucky for us before and this colt has a great pedigree and comes from a good farm,” said Tally-Ho’s Roger O’Callaghan. “We’ve been doing business with the Finegans since before my time. My dad and Jill’s father, Noel, go back a long way.”
The first crop of Ghaiyyath proved commercial catnip during this year’s yearling sales, with 55 sold lots generating an average price of £129,615 from a fee of €30,000. The group was headed by the colt out of Tickled Pink who sold to Godolphin for 1,050,000gns on Day 1 of Book 1.
Day 2 followed a similar thread to Monday’s trade, with the average down but the median up. The second session saw 250 foals come under the hammer, and 206 changed hands at a clip of 82%. Turnover reached €7,608,500, which was down 9% against the corresponding session in 2022, while the average slipped by 4% to €36,935. The median went in the opposite direction by three points to settle at €31,000.
