Delight as half-sister to exciting Kings Shield brings big profit

The Gutaifan half-sister to this month's impressive Newcastle maiden winner Kings Shield had one of the most striking pedigree updates in the catalogue at the Goffs November Foal Sale and it did not go unnoticed by buyers on Wednesday as she sold to Aidan O'Ryan for €155,000.

The filly was offered by her breeder Gerry Mullins of Ballyduane Stud in Limerick, who had bought her dam, the Miesque's Son mare Gender Dance, for just $7,000 at the Keeneland January Sale in 2016.

Having already produced 760,000gns Tattersalls Craven breeze-up top lot and Group 3 winner Great White Eagle, Gender Dance received another boost when her son by Scat Daddy – the future Kings Shield – headed the prices at this year's Craven Sale when bought by David Redvers on behalf of Qatar Racing for 675,000gns.

Gerry Mullins of Ballyduane Stud: delighted vendorCredit: Goffs

The Gutaifan filly became the most expensive lot produced by one of his own mares that Mullins has sold at auction.

“I'm absolutely delighted,” said the breeder. “I believe she has been bought by Norman Steel and is likely to go into training with Richard Fahey eventually. It's a wonderful price, but she had been talked about a lot.

“It also helped there was a buzz about the first-crop foals by Gutaifan.”

Indeed, 11 debut offerings by Prix Robert Papin and Flying Childers Stakes winner Gutaifan have sold for €50,000 or more at Goffs this week including three who fetched six-figure sums.

The stallion, who stands alongside his immensely popular sire Dark Angel at Yeomanstown Stud, commanded a fee of €12,500 in his first season and is available for €10,000 in 2018.

Click here to read our guide to the European breeding-stock sales, including catalogue previews, broodmare sire stats and more