Ballylinch Stud to the fore at Arqana

2 min read

John O'Connor of Ballylinch Stud signed on the dotted line at €1.4 million (lot 137) for a son of Dubawi (Ire) out of Just A Judge (Ire). The dam, now owned in partnership by Qatar Bloodstock and China Horse Club, won the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas in 2013.

“He was a gorgeous, imposing colt with a great walk, all the things I like in a horse,” said O’Connor.

Coolmore's M.V. Magnier signed for the joint second most expensive yearling of the day, a Lope De Vega (Ire) colt (lot 94) bred by SF Bloodstock.

“From day one he was a tremendous foal,” Tom Ryan of SF Bloodstock told TDN. “He was born at Baroda Stud and then raised at Monceaux and he’s a flawless colt. I saw his dam this morning and she looks amazing with another quality Lope De Vega (Ire) colt at foot and she’s now in foal to Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). We’re pretty excited about her now.”

"I saw his dam this morning and she looks amazing with another quality Lope De Vega colt at foot and she’s now in foal to Almanzor." - Tom Ryan, SF Bloodstock

Lope De Vega is also responsible for Vega Magic, who is being pointed at The Everest.

Anthony Stroud extended to €900,000 for a daughter of Invincible Spirit (Ire) (lot 161). John Gosden had conducted the bidding on behalf of Godolphin.

The second American Pharoah (USA) yearling of the sale was snapped up by the American-based Deuce Greathouse at €850,000 (lot 158). “American Pharoah was such a well balanced horse, and this filly is very similar," said Greathouse.

“American Pharoah was such a well balanced horse, and this filly is very similar," - Deuce Greathouse

Figures for the sale were broadly similar to last year's renewal. The average experienced a slight decrease at €234,735 (-2%). The median of €170,000 was an improvement on last year’s €160,000 (+6%). The aggregate for the two days, from a total of 117 horses sold, was €27,464,000 (-3%).