Half-sister to Dream Of Dreams proves popular
Late in the evening, US agent Mike Ryan went to 1,400,000gns for a filly by Galileo (Sadler’s Wells), who had a significant pedigree update since the catalogue went to print, with her half-brother Dream Of Dreams (Dream Ahead) winning the Haydock Sprint Cup (Gr 1, 6f) on September 5.
Offered as part of the first draft for Ibrahim and Pinar Arachi's Old Mill Stud and catalogued as Lot 510, the filly is out of the unraced Dansili (Danehill) mare Vasilia, also making her a half-sister to the stakes placed pair Silverheels (Verglas) and Lasilia (Acclamation).
Her second dam is Kangra Valley (Indian Ridge) who is the dam of Group 1 winner Airwave (Air Express) who produced stakes winners Aloof (Galileo), Orator (Galileo) and Meow (Storm Cat), the dam of multiple Group 1 winner and sire and Coolmore Stud shuttler Churchill (Galileo) and fellow elite level winner Clemmie (Galileo).
Being out of a Dansili (Danehill) mare, the filly is bred on the same cross as three stakes winners, headed by LKS Mackinnon Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) Magic Wand.
"I thought she was an exceptional filly, she is by an exceptional sire, from a terrific family – there is really nothing more to add, she was absolutely gorgeous and looks like a runner," said Ryan.
"I knew she was going to be expensive, you know what it takes to buy Galileos and she is a sister to a Group 1 winner. I am delighted we got her because I waited all day for her.
"How many more years are we going to be seeing Galileos? He is the greatest sire in my lifetime, probably in anybody's lifetime for that matter! She'll go back to the states. She'll get a bit of turnout, we'll break her in a month or so – hopefully you'll see her in Saratoga in the summer.
"The first time I saw her was in the rain on Saturday and she blew me away. I saw her two or three times since then – it was a no brainer, there is no real skill picking out a filly like that!
"I have been runner-up to Shadwell, Godolphin, Roger Varian, Henri Devin, we have run hard on some horses to 450,000gns, 550,000gns... but we have bought some very nice horses and I am pleased with what we've got.
"I am very happy to be here, and as I have said before, no disrespect to Japan or Australia or anywhere else for that matter, the best grass horses in the world are here and this is the best sale in the world for top-class grass horses. We've bought some good ones here and I hope the luck continues."
Bloodstock manager Rob Speers of Old Mill Stud was delighted with the sale: "She genuinely is a beautiful filly, she was born and raised with us, she has done everything very easily," he said. "Prep was straightforward for her and she oozes class. We own the mare and have daughter of hers in the paddock, and the mare is just 16 so hopefully there will be more daughters to come.
"It was with a slightly heavy heart when I see a filly like her leave, but she is great hands with Mike Ryan and his team in America, and I wish them every success and I am sure she will be a star."
