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Con Marnane has pulled a few rabbits out of the hat over the years, but turning an €11,000 yearling into the £1.1 million (US$1,410,387, £1=US$1.2821) top lot at the Goffs London Sale undeniably ranks among the biggest touches in horse trading history.
The Thoroughbred in question is the unbeaten Givemethebeatboys , whose natural athleticism has been harnessed by master trainer Jessica Harrington. The colt took his record to two from two with a classy and courageous effort in the Marble Hill Stakes (G3), a performance, along with the booking of a certain Frankie Dettori, that has helped propel the son of Bungle Inthejungle into as short as 3.33-1 for the June 20 Coventry Stakes (G2).
The customary global who’s who gathered in Kensington Palace Gardens for this year’s renewal of the London Sale but nobody was more delighted than the father-and-son duo of Con and Neil Sands, bidding with Hubie de Burgh by the parade ring, after they struck the decisive seven-figure bid. Richard Ryan was left the frustrated underbidder as a hearty round of applause rang around the boutique sales ring.
“I can’t describe how I feel at the moment,” said an emotional Marnane, who watched the bidding battle unfold from the spotters’ podium. “I’m just so happy. Goffs have done an incredible job.
Givemethebeatboys (center) wins the Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh
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“I had no figure in my mind but I knew a lot of people wanted him,” Marnane said. “He’s very special. You don’t get horses like him going to Ascot that are not already owned by the big powerhouses. This is a very special day. This is up there with the biggest I’ve had, but if he wins tomorrow, it’ll be bigger!”
Although it was Marnane’s name on the docket of the €11,000 Goffs Autumn Sale yearling, the man many know as ‘King Con’ was quick to highlight that his daughter Amy deserved the credit for unearthing the youngster, although the transaction nearly never happened.
“Amy was the one who bought him for 11 grand,” he said. “We tried to buy him in Doncaster (at the Premier Sale) and it didn’t happen as he got a bit of a stone bruise and they took him home.
“I just want to thank Jessie Harrington and all her team, and my own team at home that broke him and pre-trained him. My daughter, Olivia, is in college in Dublin and she rides out most mornings so she rides this horse out a lot. I’m just so proud of everybody.”
The Sands family race under the banner of Bronsan Racing and have seen their colors carried to success by the likes of Bated Moon and Nurburgring, both of whom are trained by Joseph O’Brien. The former is due to contest the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) and the latter is set to line up in the Queen’s Vase (G2) Wednesday.
“As prospects come, the day before Ascot, horses like this are really rare,” said Neil Sands. “He’s two for two, he’s an absolute specimen of an animal, and we have Frankie Dettori up tomorrow on his swansong.
“When you look at his pedigree, the way he’s won his two races, he’s incredibly genuine, so we expect that he’ll keep progressing long after Ascot. There’s a lot more in the tank. There’s a fantastic story behind the horse so it feels like the stars are aligning. Jessica Harrington is a world-renowned trainer too, so it’s a special thing to be a part of. We’re hoping we look very clever this time tomorrow!”
Just a couple of lots later the hammer fell at £1.2m, but it transpired that Sauterne , third to Blue Rose Cen in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (G1), had failed to meet her reserve.
The second-top lot is also due to contest one of Royal Ascot’s prestigious juvenile prizes, as the Norfolk Stakes-bound No Nay Mets was knocked down to Liam Culman’s Tuckernuck Stables at £800,000.
No Nay Mets at Goffs
The well-traveled son of No Nay Never made a winning start to his career in the U.S. in the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes at Gulfstream Park, where he was saddled by trainer George Weaver.
The youngster was bred in Ireland by Coolmore and signed for by Bregman Family Racing for €180,000 at the Arqana August Yearling Sale. He was offered on Monday by Jackman Bottom Trading Company.
Culman was joined at the sale by Tom Taaffe, who said: “He’s going to stay with George to run in the Norfolk for a partnership and after that they will sort things out. Liam was bidding in person but he knows the horse and had him vetted. I was helping him out but he’s very happy to get the horse. Now we’re hoping for a good result at the races.”
From 21 offered, 11 Lots (52%) sold for a turnover of £3,770,000 ($4,833,781), an average of £342,727 ($439,434), and a median of £250,000 ($320,543).
