Darley stallions in demand at Goffs Orby

Blue Point heads first-season sires; Night Of Thunder proves a popular choice

The 2022 Goffs Orby Yearling Sale concluded in Ireland yesterday and saw a very strong two days of trade for the Darley stallions, both young and proven.

Night Of Thunder was well represented, and all 19 of his yearlings offered found new homes, averaging €169,000 – almost seven times their conception fee.

His top price was €525,000, given by BBA Ireland for Mountarmstrong Stud’s half-sister to G1 winner No Speak Alexander. She was the fourth highest-priced yearling of the sale.

A few lots earlier, Mark McStay of Avenue Bloodstock went to €350,000 to secure a striking grey daughter of Princess de Lune (Shamardal), offered by Roundhill Stud. Princess de Lune is a full sister to G2 winners Queen Power and Puissance de Lune, and a three-parts sister to G1 Prix d’Ispahan hero Zabeel Prince.

Blue Point’s first yearlings have already caught the eyes of buyers this sales season and his early success in the ring continued this week as he averaged €156, 000 – almost €30,000 more than any other first-season sire.

A highlight for Blue Point was when his daughter out of Badr Al Badoor (a half-sister to Profitable) was bought by M V Magnier for €420,000. She was consigned by Mountain View Stud and is already a half-sister to a Black Type winner in Archer’s Dream.

Fellow first-season sire Masar averaged a very healthy €90,000 – over five times his initial fee of £15,000.

The aforementioned Profitable had a very solid sale, with his yearlings averaging over six times their conception fee while Dubawi, Cracksman and Teofilo (together with Night Of Thunder and Blue Point) all matched or bettered the sale median.

The action in the ring continues at Goffs today and tomorrow for the Sportsman’s Sale.