Vegas magic was on display over the weekend as the F1 circus performed under the neon glare of the Strip, but it was the razzmatazz of Vega magic that dazzled at Goffs on Nov. 20 when the first crop of Phoenix Stakes (G1) winner Lucky Vega starred on the opening day of the November Foal Sale.
Zhang Yuesheng’s son of Lope de Vega , who stands at the Irish National Stud, faces the sales ring critics for the first time this week and the reviews were positive for the classic-placed miler, who sired two of the nine lots to hit at least €50,000 at Kildare Paddocks during the first session.
With an average price of €36,000 and an 80% clearance rate for the sire’s stock, which were bred from an advertised fee of €15,000, Cathal Beale, CEO of the Irish National Stud, was very pleased with the reception afforded the sire’s first foals.
“We’ve two Lucky Vegas in the top 10, which is great,” he said. “They’ve sold great and the talk from all of the buyers is very positive. The clearance rate is very good for vendors, which is great, and something we are very conscious about.
“None of the horses sold have fallen below the stud fee and the top-priced Lucky Vega made €65,000, bought by the Lucky Vega syndicate, and it was great to see that support from within.”
Lucky Vega was the leading sire on aggregate and narrowly second to Earthlight to be leading sire on average.
Top billing went to a half brother of Secret Time , who was second in the Prix d’Aumale (G3). Consigned by Irene Scheldt, he was bought by the Lucky Vega team that is here in numbers and offering strong support to their sire.
Skara Stud Leads the Way
Railton’s other Lucky Vega purchase was from Skara Stud, who consigned a half sister to four winners headed by Taamol, whose black-type wins included the King Charles II Stakes. Their dam, Supreme Seductress, is a Montjeu half sister to Oaks d’Italia (G1) winner and Moyglare Stakes (G1) third Menhoubah.
It was an excellent day for the Skara Stud crew, who also consigned the session’s priciest filly. Their daughter of Mehmas was bought by the Tally-Ho team who know a good Mehmas when they see one and went to €80,000 (US$87,546, €1=US$1.0944) to ensure that the filly was going back to Westmeath.
The Mehmas filly consigned as Lot 195 in the ring at the Goffs November Foal Sale
The April foal is the third out of Kissepal, an unraced Epaulette half sister to the 2015 Lowther Stakes (G2) and Princess Margaret Stakes (G3) winner Besharah, who was third in the Cheveley Park Stakes (G1).
Mehmas also reached a milestone in his stallion career with the debut at the sales of foals by his son Supremacy , who defeated Lucky Vega when winning the Middle Park Stakes (G1).
Supremacy stands at Yeomanstown Stud and the first offerings by the Richmond Stakes (G2) winner made a splash in the ring with Tom Whelan’s Church View Stables consigning his best seller on the day. The colt was knocked down to Flash Conroy’s Glenvale Stud for €54,000 and helped Supremacy to third place in the leading sires’ table on aggregate.
Monday’s opening session of the November Foal Sale got the ball rolling on six days of trading at Goffs in a steady fashion. From the 212 foals offered, 158 were sold, which gives a clearance rate of 75%. That generated trade of €3,157,000 ($3,454,784), with an average price of €19,982 ($21,867) and the median at €16,000 ($17,509).
The sale continues at 10 a.m. on Tuesday local time.
