Racehorse TALK

Irish Yearlings Day-1: $808k Giant's Causeway Filly
Agent Hugo Merry (acting on behalf of Dr Jim Hay) out-bid BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe & Coolmore's John Magnier to pay top price of €475,000 (A$808,000) for a filly by former Coolmore shuttler Giant's Causeway (the 2nd foal out of Gr1 Irish 1000 Guineas-winning Pivotal mare Saoire) during the opening session at Ireland's 3-day Goffs Orby Yearling Sale overnight. The filly (consigned by Cahermorris Stables) will go into training with England's Tom Tate & Merry told racingpost.com: "Jim Hay & Tom Tate arrived here yesterday & asked me what I liked. I put this filly to them & they very generously allowed me to buy her. She's an absolute queen. I've only ever bought 2 Giant's Causeways before today. Both of them have been good & one of them First Passage is a very smart filly in America. Let's hope this filly continues the run." (Sep 30)

Irish Yearlings Day-1: $714k Montjeu Colt
John Magnier paid €420,000 (A$714,000) for a colt by dual-Derby winning Coolmore sire & former NZ Windsor Park shuttler Montjeu (out of Ela-mana-mou mare Welsh Love) consigned by Pat O'Kelly's Kilcarn Stud from its famous Salsabil family. The colt is a half-brother to French Gr1 Grand Criterium winner Second Empire. Coolmore's Demi O'Byrne told racingpost.com: "He was a bit of a standout. The mare is old but this colt measured up very well & we know the family well already through the likes of Second Empire. There's not much more you can say about the sire either." (Sep 30)

Irish Yearlings Day-1: $510k Sadler's Wells Filly
Agent Richard Frisby paid €300,000 (A$510,000) for a filly by Sadler's Wells (out of Nashwan mare Alba Stella) consigned by Staffordstown. The filly (out of a half-sister to multiple Gr1-winning fillies Alborada & Albanova) is also from the family of the 2007 sales-topping €2.4 million (A$4.08m) filly out of Albanova & Frisby told racingpost.com: "She's a collector's item with the pedigree that she has. I've bought her for a client of mine & she will probably be going into training in England." (Sep 30)