Seven horses up for auction at second Goffs UK Goodwood Sale

Three juveniles fresh off the track from the Markel Insurance Molecomb Stakes and a sprinting mare trained in America are among the seven lots to be sold after racing in Wednesday’s Goffs UK Goodwood Sale.

The merit of their performance could well have a say in the market value of the pair representing Con Marnane and Matthieu Palussiere, who both broke their ducks at the same early-season meeting at Bordeaux.

Gutaifan colt Fan Club Rules (lot 6) has arguably the best form after finishing fourth last time in the Prix Robert Papin, while his stablemate Wheels On Fire (3) was second in a Listed race at Vichy. The third Molecomb runner scheduled to be sold in the paddock is the Brocklesby winner Show Me Show Me (7), a Whitsbury Manor Stud son of Showcasing who was runner-up in the Weatherbys Super Sprint recently.

View Goffs UK Goodwood Sale catalogue here

This is the second time that an auction has been held in this quintessentially British setting and, as has been the case in most boutique events, results will depend on the size of the reserves and the depth of pockets.

Last year’s headline name, Marie’s Diamond, arrived with a Group 3 win and a Richmond Stakes entry but failed to reach his reserve of £675,000. Top lot ended up being broodmare prospect Perfect Angel, who made £400,000.

One of three to be sold 'in absentia’ is the unusual inclusion Holy Legal (8), who is still at the Keeneland stable of trainer Ignacio Correas.

By Holy Roman Emperor out of Hora Legal, a Listed-winning and Grade 1-placed mare in Brazil who has produced several other stakes-class progeny, she began her career in her home country on a hot streak for two seasons, largely in Sao Paulo, before a transfer to Uruguay.

Holy Legal was just as consistent at Maronas racecourse in Montevideo, becoming the country’s champion sprinter during the 2017-18 season, landing the Grade 3 Clasico Jose Martinelli Gomez and signing off in January in the Grade 2 Gran Premio Maronas.

Now in Chinese ownership, she has appeared twice at Arlington Park since a move to America and the stable of an equally well-travelled South American expatriate in Correas, formerly a leading trainer in Argentina who has successfully transferred his talents to Kentucky.

"She’s a pretty good filly," Correas said. "Regarding whether people say, 'Well it was Uruguay', she destroyed the records there, it means something. It’s not that she won the races only and beat the colts, she beat records.

"I’ve had her for four months, she ran third twice, she would have won last time, she lost by a neck and a head, it was really pretty close in an allowance race. We’re looking for her to adapt, she probably needs another month more to get the acclimatisation that you really need."

Correas would be pleased if a buyer kept the mare in his barn, adding: "It’s up to the one that buys her. I like her, and I think we can do good with her.

"The plan was also to go to Korea for the Korea Sprint in September, and the reality is that it’s not a good thing to go straight there, you want to have at least another race before you go, to have her as sharp as you can."

The only other horse who is set to make a physical appearance in the ring is Little Kim (4), who comes having been covered by Showcasing. The Garswood filly, out of the excellent producer Primo Lady, was a winner of last year’s Group 3 Prix du Bois.

Harvey Dent (5) and Red Armada (1) are recent winning three-year-old who complete the line-up.

WHERE/WHEN

Where Goodwood racecourse

When Selling starts after Wednesday’s racing

Last year's stats 6 lots sold from 13 offered (46 per cent) for turnover of £1,425,000; an average of £237,500; and a median of £205,000.

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