Goresbridge has been a happy hunting ground for us from its inaugural sale on May 26th 2006 when we bought a filly called Toboggan Lady. A tricky filly with a mind of her own she won three races for us and, after her racing career was over she became a mum breeding three foals, each of them winning a further six races the yard. We haven’t been to every sale since 2006 and, as everyone knows we haven’t exactly been ‘busy’ buying over the last three years but last week we went on a mission to see if we can add to the tally of winners this sale has supplied us with.
Eighteen / twenty more winners followed Toboggan Lady including Highly Focussed (won five to date) and of course "Willie The Whipper" who attained a rated of 107. As well as winning his maiden he also won a Listed race and possibly ran the race of his life in the French Derby when drawn wide and given a typical Jamie Spencer ‘late’ ride, he had 30 lengths to make up on a quality field and managed to be beaten only six lengths. A different ride, and he would have finished second but I don’t imagine he would have won it.
This weeks sale was a first in that Gorebsidge has been bought by Tattersalls Ireland and moved to Fairyhouse racecourse and sales complex. Video links to all three horses are below with photos to follow tomorrow.
Lot 24 - link
http://db.tattersalls.ie/4DCGI/Entry/Images?EntryID=103772
Lots 24 is a smart looking athletic colt with a good solid pedigree and from excellent producers of winners in “Tally-Ho Stud”. This colt reminded us of another Tally- Ho recruit we trained “Kings Mimic” who we thought a huge amount of.
He is a lovely quality colt and a good mover with the right kind of brain. His pedigree is full of speed with his sire “Sir Prancealot” being a superfast precocious winner of the Flying Childers. His dam is by the great sire Kodiac whose first crop produced a horse of ours called “Alaskan Spirit” who was the first two year in that first crop of horses by Kodiac to be rated 100 (we sold him to Hong Kong).
This colt’s half brother “Fognini” won three races last season as a two year old attaining a rating of 90 - he showed a serious amount of speed and determination in his races. This lad is the second produce from the dam and breezed really well.
Lot 89 link below
http://db.tattersalls.ie/4DCGI/Entry/Images?EntryID=103735
Everyone loves a grey and this boy won’t let the handsome brigade down. Castrated already (saves me a job) he is ready to get on with and his largely French/ American pedigree is impressive. His dam is a full sister to group 1 winner Giant Treasure (winner of 5 races and 1.4 million in prize money, and group winner Jibboom (also winner of 5 races) . He is also from the family of Red Cadeaux, Military Attack, Haafd, Big Orange and Al Bahathri
His sire “Lawman” is proven and hardy. This lad looks as tough as teak and breezed very well, he is ready to get on with and looks every inch a two year old.
Lot 174 link below
http://db.tattersalls.ie/4DCGI/Entry/Images?EntryID=103891
“Sherbourne Lodge” are well respected consignors who have recommended winners to us over the years and we loved everything about this filly from her sweet nature, her athleticism to the way she breezed. Her pedigree isn’t bad either. Her sire “Zebedee” is a stallion we like (George Dryden was by Zebedee) and the dam won as a juvenile (rated 83). She is from the family of “Fortunately”.
She looks every inch a racehorse and needs little more than a set of racing silks, a nice name and an entry - oh and a nice owner!