John O'Connor showed some stamina to have the final say on the only Dubawi colt in the catalogue (lot 137) who was brought to the ring by La Motteraye Consignment. Bids were fired from all around the ring and David Redvers proved the toughest opponent, only admitting defeat when the Ballylinch principal offered €1,400,000.
The imposing dark bay is the first foal out of the Irish 1,000 Guineas and EP
Taylor Stakes winner JUST THE JUDGE, for whom Qatar Racing and China Horse Club
paid 4.5 million guineas three years ago. "We were very keen to have him," a relieved O'Connor commented.
"He is a beautiful individual by an exceptional stallion and from a family we know extremely well. We actually bred and sold the dam of Just The Judge, Faraday Light, and the family goes back to the days of the McCalmonts. The colt will go into training for Ballylinch Stud and obviously we are hoping to make a stallion."
Ecurie des Monceaux's Lope de Vega colt (lot 94) benefitted from a major update after his two year-old half-brother DARK VISION, still unraced when the catalogue went to press, bolted up on his first three starts for Mark Johnston culminating with a dominating display in the Gr.2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood which prompted his purchase by Godolphin.
While Dark Vision had only achieved 15,000gns as a yearling, it took a bid of €900,000 from M.V. Magnier to secure his year younger sibling.
"He is a lovely, good moving horse and his brother looked very talented at Goodwood," said Magnier.
Another first foal, this time by Invincible Spirit out of the Gr.3 Prix Allez France scorer MAYHEM (lot 161), commanded the same price and went the way of Anthony Stroud acting on behalf of Godolphin. Bred by Brendan Hayes, the relative to CERULEAN SKY, MOONSTONE, US ARMY RANGER et al. was consigned by Ballylinch Stud, who had a busy night both as a vendor and buyer.
"She is an extremely nice filly," said Stroud, bred by Brendan Hayes who does a sterling job.
"I don't know who will train her yet but she will eventually join our broodmare band. "
The second and last American Pharoah to sell at a European yearling sale this
season (lot 158) will race for an all American partnership after falling to
Deuce Greathouse for €850,000. The athletic filly is the first foal out of the Grade 3 winner MARBRE ROSE, which Ecurie des Monceaux raced with Christophe Clément in partnership with Haras de Saint-Pair.
Deuce Greathouse was bidding alongside Cindy Hutson who will partner with Robert Masterson in the Ecurie des Monceaux offering.
"She is, just like her father, an extremely well balanced filly, had a great presence about her and seemed like she had a great mind," said Greathouse.
"My family bred the third dam Mrs. Marcos and raced the offspring so we know the family very well. That was the one we wanted to buy. "
A diversified, international buying bench ensured for a second night of strong trade at the August Yearling Sale and brought results for the two-day Part I very close to matching last year's figures. With the average showing a 10% jump on day 2, the cumulated figure for Part I settled at €234,635, just 1.6% down from 2017, while turnover for the weekend reached €28,074,000. The clearance rate for the first two days of selling was 74%.
